Children's Books

Dahl, Roald; Walt Disney [Bill Justice]

The Gremlins. From the Walt Disney Production. A Royal Air Force Story.

New York : Random House, 1943.

First edition of Dahl’s rare first book, with 14 vibrant full-page illustrations by Walt Disney Productions. Quarto, original half cloth, pictorial endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Disney animator Bill Justice on the half-title page with a large drawing of a Gremlin, “Sorry Ray That’s a lousy Gremlin Bill Justice.” Justice joined Walt Disney Studios asContinue reading "The Gremlins. From the Walt Disney Production. A Royal Air Force Story."

Alcott, Louisa May

Little Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo’s Boys.

Boston : Roberts Brothers, 1871.

First edition, first issue of the second book it Alcott’s Little Women trilogy. Octavo, original green cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel, illustrated with plates including tissue-guarded frontispiece. In near fine condition. A desirable example.

Brothers Mayhew

The Magic of Kindness; Or, The Wondrous Story of the Good Huan.

London : Darton and Co, c. 1849.

First edition of this classic tale with illustrations by George Cruikshank. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Illustrated by George Cruikshank and Kenny Meadows, tissue-guarded frontispiece. In very good condition.

dePaola, Tomie

Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.

San Diego : Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1986.

First edition of Tomie de Paola’s Christmas children’s classic. Quarto, original illustrated boards, story and pictures by Tomie dePaola. Lengthily signed by the author opposite the title page, “‘It’s just like you,’ said Strega Nona. Big Anthony smiled. ‘Christmas has a magic of its own.’ Tomie 2016.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. With aContinue reading "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona."

Rosen, Michael. Illustrated by Quentin Blake

Quick, Let’s Get Out Of Here.

London : Andre Deutsch, 1983.

First edition of Michael Rosen’s children’s classic. Quarto, original illustrated boards, with illustrations by Quentin Blake. Signed and dated by the author on the front free endpaper, “Michael Rosen 12/10/85.” In near fine condition, small name.

Dahl, Roald; Illustrated by Quentin Blake

The BFG: Illustrations by Quentin Blake.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1982.

First edition of this Dahl classic, which has sold over 20 million copies. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Quentin Blake. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front pastedown, “Nicola Love Roald Dahl.” Additionally inscribed by the illustrator Quentin Blake opposite Dahl’s inscription. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon signed by bothContinue reading "The BFG: Illustrations by Quentin Blake."

Rosen, Michael. Illustrated by Priscilla Lamont

Lovely Old Roly.

London : Frances Lincoln Limited, 2002.

Early printing of Rosen’s story about a beloved family cat, old Roly. Quarto, original illustrated boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated by Priscilla Lamont. Signed and dated by the author opposite the title page, “Michael Rosen August 15 2006.” In fine condition.

Grahame, Kenneth

The Golden Age.

London : Thomas Nelson & Sons, c. 1920.

Finely bound example of the author of Wind and the Willows, Kenneth Grahame’s collection of short stories for children. Small octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over cloth covered boards with gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, engraved frontispiece, top edge gilt. In very good condition.

Pullman, Philip. Illustrated by Peter Bailey

I Was A Rat! …or The Scarlet Slippers.

London : Doubleday, 1999.

First edition of Pullman’s classic adventure story. Octavo, original illustrated boards, illustrated by Peter Bailey. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Eileen – greetings! Philip Pullman.” In fine condition.

New Brunswick Readers: The Second Reader.

Toronto : W. J. Gage & Company, 1900.

First edition of The Second Reader in the New Brunswick Readers series, prescribed by the Board of Education for use in the Schools of New Brunswick. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Very good in a very good dust jacket from Hall’s Book Store in St. John, New Brunswick. Ownership inscription to the front free endpaper.

Schulz, Charles M

I Need All The Friends I Can Get.

San Francisco : Determined Productions, Inc, 1964.

First edition of this charming ‘little classic’ featuring Charles Schulz’s endearing Peanuts characters. Small octavo, original boards. Boldly signed by Charles M. Schulz on the front free endpaper. Book design by Jim Young. Photograph by John Arms. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Jarrell, Randall; Illustrated by Burkert, Nancy Burkert

Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs.

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972.

First edition of this classic illustrated retelling of the tale from the Brothers Grimm. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Signed by the illustrator Nancy Ekholm Burkert on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light shelfwear. Translated by Randall Jarrell.

Johnson, Crockett

Harold and the Purple Crayon.

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1955.

First edition of the first book in Crockett Johnson’s Harold series. 12 mo, original half cloth, illustrated throughout. Fine in a very good dust jacket without the price to top of front flap, with code “30-60 / No. 5671A” to front flap and “No. 5672A” to rear flap. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box madeContinue reading "Harold and the Purple Crayon."

Rowling, J.K

The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Translated from the Original Runes by Hermione Granger. With Commentary by Professor Albus Dumbledore.

London : The Children's High Level Group, 2008.

First edition, limited issue of this wizarding classic. Signed by J.K. Rowling on the half-title page, with the authentication hologram. Octavo, original brown morocco-patterned boards with silver metal cornerpieces and central ornament accented with faux blue gems, silver metal clasp, marbled endpapers, green silk bookmark, illustrated. Housed in the embroidered velvet bag within the publisher’s calfContinue reading "The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Translated from the Original Runes by Hermione Granger. With Commentary by Professor Albus Dumbledore."

Disney, Walt

Walt Disney’s Cinderella.

Stuttgart : Bluchert-Verlag, 1951.

First German edition of the classic retelling of one of the most celebrated Disney films. Octavo, original illustrated boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated throughout. Boldly signed by Walt Disney on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Laid in is a business card of the publisher with a note referencing this wasContinue reading "Walt Disney’s Cinderella."

Green, Hannah [Joanne Greenberg]

I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.

New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964.

First edition of the author’s semi-autobiographical modern classic novel. Octavo, original cloth. Lengthily signed by the author as Joanne Greenberg and her pseudonym “Hannah Green”, as follows, “I never promise lies and the rose-garden world of perfection is a lie, and a bore too.” “Hannah Green” Joanne Greenberg.” Near fine in a very good dustContinue reading "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden."

Seuss, Dr. [Theodor Seuss Geisel]

The Seven Lady Godivas.

New York : Random House, 1939.

First edition, first printing of this classic Dr. Seuss title. Quarto, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated throughout. Association copy, inscribed by the author opposite the title page, “For Josephine Kimball Godiva with very best thanks – Dr. Seuss.” The recipient, Josephine Dodge Kimball co-founded the first book store to specialize in children’s literature, Young Books,Continue reading "The Seven Lady Godivas."

Travers, P.L

I Go By Sea, I Go By Land.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1941.

First edition of this classic work, a fictional diary of Sabrina Lind, an eleven-year-old English girl who is sent on the long voyage across the sea to her aunt in America. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “K. Jean Bourne, P.L.Continue reading "I Go By Sea, I Go By Land."

Johnson, Crockett

Harold’s Circus: An Astounding, Colossal, Purple Crayon Event!

New York : Harper & Brothers, 1959.

First edition of the fifth book in the author’s beloved series. 16mo, original cloth, illustrated. Fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Scarce.

Rosen, Michael; Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt.

London : Walker Books, 1989.

First edition of this modern children’s classic. Oblong quarto, original cloth, illustrated endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by Michael Rosen on the title page, “Hello Eileen Michael Rosen was here Oct 4 1996.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Rare and desirable signed.

Cleary, Beverly

Henry and Ribsy.

New York : William Morrow & Company, 1954.

First edition of the third book in Cleary’s classic Henry Huggins series. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Signed by Beverly Cleary on the title page. In very good condition. Illustrated by Lois Darling.

Knight, Hilary

Original Hilary Knight Butterfly Prince Painting.

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Large original painting of Hilary Knight’s Butterfly Prince. Gouache and gold paint. Signed by Hilary Knight in the lower left corner of the painting. In fine condition. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 19 inches by 21 inches.

Kimmel, Eric A.; Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.

New York : Holiday House, 1989.

First edition of this Caldecott Honor-winning classic. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated. Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, To Ann, Eric A. Kimmel.” Additionally signed below by the illustrator “Trina Schart Hyman 1990.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Ford, Lauren

The Ageless Story.

New York : Dodd, Mead & Company, 1939.

Signed limited first edition of Lauren Ford’s beloved retelling of the birth of Christ. Octavo, original boards, illustrated. One of only 350 copies, this is number 311. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper with an original watercolor drawing of a singing angel. In near fine condition. Housed in the original slipcase whichContinue reading "The Ageless Story."