Thursday, December 11, 2008

indulge me, will you?

This is purely a nostalgia post, I think. Well, maybe a little more than that. But still...


We've been reading this book almost every night before bed. I love it, and so does Tsia. I think the story itself is elegantly told, with just enough detail for a preschooler without overwhelming her. And is it just me or are the illustrations really beautiful? Do I just think that because I grew up with this book, or are they honestly great?

I don't know, but I can tell you that I found a reprint of the book on ebay, and when it arrived I discovered that the illustrations had been replaced with someone else's poor imitation, with some unfortunate results. We're sticking with this version. (Why do great books like these go out of print, anyway? Hello, Brambly Hedge?)


Our copy is well-loved, and the binding has broken so the pages are falling out. Does anyone know how to go about having it repaired? This isn't one of those projects I'm willing to experiment with by myself.


And this is what makes the book special, to me at least: my Dad must have purchased it for me on one of his early (and annual) trips to Antarctica via New Zealand, and he gave it to me when I was about Tsia's current age (yeah, yeah; don't do the math, ok?). So 35 years later I re-inscribed it to her.



I guess that's how traditions develop, right?

P.S. Dad is on his way back to Antarctica right now, and every time I read the story I think of him.

12 comments:

  1. those illustrations are so lovely, and I love how you are getting to enjoy it again with a little one!!!

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  2. That is so sweet! And what a special book!

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  3. The illustrations are beautiful. I have friends with your maiden name -- any Midwestern kinsfolk?

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  4. Oh my goodness i remember that book. And more than the pictures, i love the lyrical language. It's so simple and plain and perfect. I want a copy!!!

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  5. You could send it out to be rebound. It would be expensive, but it would be good for the next 35 years at least!

    Word verification: reogicis. It's geocaching for dyslexics.

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  6. That is such a beautiful tradition! And I am sending your family great traveling mercies. Antartica... wow!

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  7. Anonymous3:59 PM

    Oh I love your little book, what a great thing to cherish.

    Thanks for sharing!
    Cheers!

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  8. it's wonderful liesl! i don't know how to fix it thought. hope you're well! happy holidays!

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  9. http://www.centerforbookarts.org/

    I'd try asking these folks if I were looking for a new binding for a treasured book. Might be overkill for what you were thinking, but that's where I'd start at least.

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  10. My husband had a couple of his childhood books rebound and it wasn't that expensive considering their great sentimental value. Actually it wasn't that expensive anyways! Definitely worth it to preserve the book and ensure many more Christmas readings to come.

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  11. This is so sweet! I love traditions that include the real Christmas story. I wish we had one from my childhood, but we did start our own new tradition with a gorgeous pop-up version. By the time New Year's came, Emma had almost memorized it!
    Merry Christmas. Anna

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  12. I did the same thing with a mini copy of "The Night Before Christmas" for my kiddo. Eventhough she's only 4, she knows the first five stanazas of the poem by heart. :) What a lovely post!

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