A Vintage Christmas: The Nutcracker by E.T.A. Hoffmann Retold by Veronica Tennant - Illustrated by Toller Cranston

Veronica Tennant is a Canadian producer, director, filmmaker and former prima ballerina with the National Ballet of Canada. Tennant's retelling of E.T.A. Hoffmann's The Nutcracker is full of decadence and splendor. From the lavish Christmas party to Clara's journey through fantasy land, each page sets the stage for an extravagant imaginary performance. The rat king makes a quick appearance to start off Clara's delirium that is soon filled with music, dancing and the feasting of sweets.

The high energy and exuberance of this story is matched with colourful and psychedelic art by Toller Cranston (1949–2015). Cranston was a Canadian painter and figure skater. He is a six-time Canadian Champion, 1970-1976, has won the 1974 World bronze medal, and the 1976 Olympic bronze medal. Cranston's fluid lines morph and bend into art that could be described as mesmerizing and surreal.

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McClelland and Stewart 1985
Hardcover 48p
10.75" x 9.5"

The Fog Catcher's Daughter by Marianne McShane - Illustrated by Alan Marks

In this modern fairy tale by Marianne McShane, readers are whisked away to the coast of Ireland and to the mystical island of Lisnashee. Superstition and fear of the fairy folk have the villagers using charms and special herbs to deter bad luck. A powerful element used for protection against the supernatural is magic water collected from the fog at Lisnashee. Young Eily learns the skills of a fog catcher early as she braves the storm and her fears.

Watercolour paintings by Alan Marks sweep through the pages of this original tale as magically as the fog at Lisnashee. The wind, the mist and the waves feel cold and alive; illustrated with a sophisticated style often reserved for an older audience.

This compelling picture book recalls a simpler time when there was no dependency on technology, where most things were handmade and magic was the cause and cure for the unexplained. With a thoughtful, brave and quick-witted hero like Eily, readers will be guided through the fog to a satisfying end. Recommended for ages 5+.

More about Marianne McShane and Alan Marks.

Related post: Books by Horseback

 

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Candlewick Press 2022

Hardcover 48p

11" x 9.75"

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Centennial Anniversary

Margery Williams Bianco (1881-1944) was an English-American author. The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real was her first children's book and most famous piece of work. This endearing tale of a toy rabbit who through a child's love is magically transformed into a real being was first published in 1922 by George H. Doran Company. It continues to be published to this day and has been adapted numerous times for film and television. To celebrate the centennial anniversary of The Velveteen Rabbit, presented are two new special edition books and two older treasures. They each contain the complete classic story and is illustrated by a renowned artist. When comparing all four books side by side, the style differences are clear but a favourite is difficult to choose.

The Velveteen Rabbit 100th anniversary edition from Applesauce Press is illustrated by Charles Santore (1935–2019). This new design is streamlined to fit in nicely with their other newly published classic children's picture books and it does so very well. A soft lavender hue cover and an updated layout that displays all of Santore's original illustrations in a fresh setting. The book dimensions are the same as the 2013 version however, a sturdy cardboard slipcase and ribbon marker make this possible gift a tad more special. There are 21 beautiful illustrations painted in pastel colours; most are full page. The slightly larger text and thicker paper stock are always welcomed. A matte cover and case with spot varnish adds a classy touch to an overall clean look and is well worth the redesign.

 

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Applesauce Press 2022

Hardcover 48p

10.5" x 11"

 

The 2007 Christmas edition published by Running Press has an elegant gold on red cover that is truly inviting. Don Daily (1940-2002) illustrates this book as well as the standard edition originally published in 1997. Some of the finest examples of Daily's legacy lies within these 24 superb illustrations. The painted human figures have natural poses and facial expressions while the rabbits are just the loveliest. The art is bright and uplifting. Daily excels at illustrating animals and delivers on The Velveteen Rabbit's poignant message. The text double spacing is easy on the eyes. The paper stock could be thicker.

 

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Running Press Kids 2007

Hardcover 56p

10" x 13.25"

 

Rich and luminous paintings by Donna Green accompany this edition published by Vermilion in 1998. These illustrations are the most realistic of the four books discussed here. Green's oil paintings have a warmer feel and much softer look; the toy rabbit appears more velvety and huggable. There are 18 full page illustrations that evoke innocence and wonder; especially magical is the one of the young nursery fairy. The text is large enough but a little tightly spaced. Donna Green's website.

 

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Vermilion 1998

Hardcover 48p

10.75" x 12.25"

 

The 100th anniversary edition from Doubleday is illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Erin Stead. The art is created using woodcut printing in two colours and pencil. By using a lot of white space to frame the illustrations; the effect is uncluttered and focused. Elegant in its simplicity, the 16 illustrations accentuates the melancholy of Williams' tale. While being a much smaller book than the previous mentioned, it holds a quiet and understated charm. Erin Stead's website.

 

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Doubleday 2022

Hardcover 48p

8.25" x 10.31"

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The Velveteen Rabbit remains a favoured classic for its celebration of love and friendship. Relive the magic with these beautiful editions.

Shirley Barber's Fairy Tales Treasury

Shirley Barber's fairies and magical beasts make a reappearance in her new book Fairy Tales Treasury. This is a compilation of Fairyland Treasury and Wonderland Treasury. Her gentle stories with themes young children can relate to and of course her magical art have received an updated look. The cover uses lenticular printing for a 3D effect in lieu of a dust jacket.

Collected are thirteen very short stories and five poems. These have been previously published in her older books. Barber's books are popular and sell out very quickly. They were out of print for many years and now are seeing new life through a different publisher. Children and fairy lovers have been delighted by her work for decades and can now enjoy it in a new layout with borders eliminated. The last image shows the difference between the old and new layout. The older book in the back is from Shirley Barber's Fairy Collection, which includes an audio CD. The main characters are the fairies but other fantastic creatures like mermaids, unicorns and dragons also appear. Barber's artwork is also published as jigsaw puzzles and calendars. Recommended for ages 3+.

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Brolly Books 2020
Hardcover 96p
8.8" x 11.8"

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi - Illustrated by Roberto Innocenti

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Lorenzini, known by his pen name as Carlo Collodi, was first published in an Italian newspaper for children in 1880. The story is of a puppet carved from a magical piece of wood, whose self-serving behaviour leads him on a series of misfortunes. He is guided by a fairy to help him learn about action and consequence. Only after being tricked many times and the fairy’s promise of transforming him into a human boy does Pinocchio begin to repent and finally in the end, truly feel.

This lengthy fairy tale is illustrated by Roberto Innocenti. With fifty-six gorgeous illustrations in varying sizes and a clean layout, make this story seem anything but long. The setting is old Italy with aged buildings, villagers at work and country life. To show the passing of time, the different seasons are shown. The colours are mostly in darker tones, expressing the grim and solemn scenes. The detailing for the illustrations is fantastic and many have Roberto Innocenti’s signature perspective view.

Recommended for ages 5+. Some scenes can be a little dark like the part where Pinocchio gets hanged or when he sees an apparition of black rabbits carrying his coffin. The story was translated in its entirety from Italian to English by Mary Alice Murray.

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Creative Editions 2005
Hardcover 192p/dust jacket
8.8" x 11.6"

Edmund Dulac's Exquisite Illustrations for Cinderella or The Little Glass Slipper

Edmund Dulac (1882-1953) is one of the foremost artists during the Golden Age of Illustration. Born in Toulouse, France, he moved to London, England in 1905 to illustrate the collected works of the Brontë sisters; his first commission. He studied Law at the University of Toulouse but his real passion was painting. He won several art competitions at the École des Beaux Arts. Some of his finest works were for Hodder & Stoughton and Leicester Galleries; these illustrations were published in deluxe children’s books. One of those titles is The Sleeping Beauty and Other Fairy Tales from the Old French retold by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch published in 1910. It also contains three other stories: Cinderella, Bluebeard, and Beauty & the Beast. Reproductions of this book can be found through the links below. The illustrations here are more abundant and vibrant than those from The Little Mermaid. Enjoy our version of Cinderella adapted from Andrew Lang’s The Blue Fairy Book based on Cendrillon by Charles Perrault.

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