Vintage Childrens Book: Bring in the Pumpkins, Dahlov Ipcar

Today's vintage children's book Bring in the Pumpkins was originally titled Hard Scrabble Harvest. I think the first title more accurately depicts the story of

a farmer and his wife who struggle to protect their crops from birds and beasts, as they plant, raise and harvest their crops. 

Nice composition on the title pages!

I like all the patterns and repetitions in Ipcar's illustrations.

Bring in the Pumpkins

Written and Illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar

Read about: Dahlov Ipcar

Vintage Children's Book: How Animals Sleep, illustrated by Jack Keats

I feel like a curmudgeon for saying this, but what is happening with girl's toys and play costumes? Everything is pink, glitter and bling. I understand many little girls of a certain age love the color pink and go through a princess stage. But it looks to me like a rather disproportionate number of girls toys are promoting limited ideals for girls: be a princess, rock star or a celebrity. 

Where is this all going? I don't know. It would take up too much time and space on this post and I'm sure you don't want to read it. But I do like books like this one illustrated by Jack Keats - How Animals Sleep. It's interesting and real life. There. Off my podium. Nuff said.

How Animals Sleep

By Millicent Selsam

Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

Scholastic Book Services, 1962