The Tall Book of Make-Believe

On my 6th birthday, my grandmother (whom we called Goochie) gave me The Tall Book of Make-Believe.  Over 40 years later I still have that exact copy, with my grandmother’s birthday wishes inscribed in the front.  It has been one of my all time favorite books and I love it as much today as I did when I was six.  The poems and stories are accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Garth Williams which held me spellbound when I was little.  Unfortunately the book is now out of print, however I did find four used copies for sale on the internet.  My copy has all the wear and tear you might expect from a book lovingly read over and over again.

The inside cover

Moon Song

The Land of Counterpane

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

The Mermaid

The very first book ever given to me specifically, sometime when I was three, of which I have a strong memory, and which I also still have today, was a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.  It is battered now, but still beloved.

My very old copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. Frederick Warne & Co., Inc. New York.

Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail went down the lane to gather blackberries.

One of my favorite pictures from the book, with text emphasis by myself.