Weekend Window Shopping at Birdhouse Books - November 14, 2015

Happy Saturday!   I have some great new arrivals at Birdhouse Books on eBay to share with you today.   I have a LOT of new items listed this week, and am just sharing a few here.

Butternut Bill is a 1965 vintage school reader by Edith McCall.

The Power of Light is a lovely collection of Hanukkah stories for children by Isaac Bashevis Singer.

Claude the Dog is a 1974 Christmas picture book for children about a basset hound who shares with a homeless dog.  This special book is hard to find in hardcover format!  

McDuff Moves In is a children's picture book about a West Highland White Terrier who finds a loving home.  The illustrations have a 1940's theme.

Rabbits and Raindrops is a lovely picture book about bunny rabbits by Jim Arnosky.

C.W. Anderson's Favorite Horse Stories is a lovely 1969 vintage horse book for children.

Christmas - A Color and Activity Book is a fun, unused Landoll coloring book.

The Christmas Bears is a big unused coloring book by Landoll (1986).

A Guide to Homemaking is a 1952 book by Stanley Home Products for the Girl Scouts.  It was designed to help Girl Scouts complete their homemaking badges.

An Action Fun Pop-Up Riddles Book is a fun vintage pop-up book for children.

This fun Bucilla kit is number 83664.  It is a felt applique kit - Mr. and Mrs. Santa felt Christmas ornaments

This very cute Christmas decoration is by Fitz and Floyd.  It is the Holiday Cheer Sentiment Tray.

I hope you'll take a few moments and browse Birdhouse Books - these items (and many more!) are there.

Dear Abby - "The Dachshund" by Edward Anthony (a poem)

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a happy week.  Mine has been lovely except for a roof repair.  (I barked my instructions to the roofers.  Momma said she is sure that they appreciated it!)

I wanted to share one of my favorite poems with you this week.  It is called "The Dachshund" by Edward Anthony.   I found it in one of Momma's books here, The Golden Treasury of Poetry (her copy is from 1968).  She said it is a very cute book.  I am certain she is correct about that, but mostly this is what you need to know:  it has a great poem about a dachshund.

Here is the book:

And much more important, here is the poem!   I like that little dachshund illustration!

The Dachshund - by Edward Anthony

 

Because I waddle when I walk,
Should this give rise to silly talk
That I'm ungainly? What's ungainly?
I'm really rather graceful - mainly.
The experts have been known to state
That there's a twinkle in our gait.
One said "They have a clumsy grace,"
Which after all is no disgrace.
My funny features may abound:
Short legs, long body, low-to-ground,
But I'm about the perfect pal
For man or woman, boy or gal.
I'm gentle, very playful, kind,
I housebreak fast 'cause I'm refined,
I'm smart but never sly or foxy -
No, do not underrate the dachsie!

What do you think? Did the poet capture the personality of the dachshund? I like the phrase "a twinkle in our gait." I also like the lines: "... I'm about the perfect pal for man or woman, boy or gal." Yes, that is true.

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts in comments below. And -- I hope you have a great day!

 

Love,

 

Abby xoxoxo

 

 

Throwback Thursday: Can You Identify This?

Here's a fun question for you today:  can you identify the picture above?  Do you remember this?   As a clue, it could be found at a dimestore or a grocery.  I always liked it as a child. 

Let me know in the comments below!

Wordless Wednesday: White Kitten Vintage Christmas Card

Found at Birdhouse Books:  Vintage Christmas Cards Featuring Cats

Did You Know Tuesday: Sesame Street Day

Did you grow up with Sesame Street?   I just missed it (Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room were my childhood shows), but I do recall watching it with children while babysitting as a teenager.  I think Sesame Street is a great way to make learning fun for young children, and always have vintage Sesame Street books in my store, Birdhouse Books.

November 10 is Sesame Street Day, in honor of the show's premiere on November 10, 1969.  Here are a few fun facts about the show:

The show was created by PBS documentary producer Joan Ganz Cooney.  She modeled the show's format after Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, with short, funny segments and a mix of animation and live characters.

Puppeteer Jim Hensen was hired to create the famous Sesame Street puppets that are now beloved.  These famous characters include Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Elmo, and Bert and Ernie.

The original show address was 123 Avenue B.  This was changed because it was a real address in New York City.

Sesame Street was named after the Arabian Nights phrase "Open, Sesame!"

"Sing A Song" (later recorded by The Carpenters) was intended as the show's theme song.

James Earl Jones was the first celebrity to visit Sesame Street.

Oscar the Grouch was originally orange.

Big Bird is not a canary;  he is actually a yellow condor.

Big Bird's height?  A whopping 8'2".

Ernie had a hit song with "Rubber Ducky" (1970);  it charted at #16 on the Billboard chart.

The Count's love of numbers was inspired by vampire lore.  Vampires are said to have arithmomania -- a strong need to count objects.

The Wicked Witch of the West made a visit to Sesame Street and Oscar the Grouch fell in love with her.  The episode was deemed too scary for children, and it was banned.

Four first ladies have visited Sesame Street:  Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. 

Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?  Do you have any memories of the show to share?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.