My Book Of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes Illustrated By Jennie Harbour

Mother Goose – The Old Nursery Rhymes is a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, penned by the legendary (and only some claim imaginary), ‘Mother Goose.’ They have inspired many folklorists and illustrators (including Arthur Rackham, Jessie Willcox-Smith and Jennie Harbour) – as well as countless generations of children and parents. Harbour’s Mother Goose was originally published in 1900, to instant critical acclaim. Jennie Harbour (1893 – 1950) was an immensely talented and popular illustrator. Despite this, very little is known about her life. She managed to capture the public’s imagination with her delicate and ethereal illustrations. They most commonly featured subtle yet bold washes of colour, with few of the thick black outlines so common in other illustrations of the day. Vibrant colours and Art Deco patterns full of energy and emotion characterise Harbour’s work. The illustrations are presented in conjunction with the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes – both aspects further refining and elucidating the other. Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration from the 1880s to the 1930s. Our collection showcases classic fairy tales, children’s stories, and the work of some of the most celebrated artists, illustrators and authors.

Originally published in 1922, Hans Andersen Stories, is illustrated with the magnificent colour and black and white illustrations of Jennie Harbour. This collection contains some of Andersen’s best stories, including such well-known and loved tales as ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’, ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’, ‘The Ugly Duckling’, ‘The Snow Queen’ and ‘The Princess and the Pea’. Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was a Danish poet and author celebrated for his children’s stories, but perhaps best known for his fables and fairy tales – meant for both adults and children. They were frequently written in a colloquial style, using idioms and spoken language in a manner previously unseen in Danish literature. Though simple at first glance, Hans Andersen stories often convey sophisticated moral teachings, in equal measure heart-breaking and heart-warming. Jennie Harbour (1893 – 1950) was an immensely talented and popular illustrator. Despite this, very little is known about her life. She managed to capture the public’s imagination with her delicate and ethereal illustrations. They most commonly featured subtle yet bold washes of colour, with few of the thick black outlines so common in other illustrations of the day. Vibrant colours and Art Deco patterns full of energy and emotion characterise Harbour’s work. Presented alongside the text, Harbour’s illustrations further refine and elucidate Andersen’s captivating narratives.

Hark! hark! the dogs bark,The beggars are coming to town;Some in rags and some in tags,And some in a silken gown.Some gave them white bread,And some gave them brown,And some gave them a good horse-whip,And sent them out of the town.Little Jack Horner sat in the corner,Eating a Christmas pie;He put in his thumb, and pulled out a plum,And said, oh! what a good boy am I.

Traditional rhymes and stories have been collected under the wing of Mother Goose for centuries. This collection contains the old favourites from "Jack and Jill" to comic alphabets and the fearful fate of Anthony Rowley.

Charming watercolor illustrations enhance a delightful collection of sixty classic Mother Goose rhymes, including "Hey Diddle, Diddle," "Pat-a-Cake," "Little Jack Horner," and many others.

Wondrous Deeds of Bygone Days – Illustrated by Harry Theaker is written by M. Dorothy Belgrave and Hilda Hart. This book contains a beautiful collection of short stories and legends from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Harry G. Theaker (1873 – 1954) was a British illustrator, painter, designer, and decorator for pottery. Born in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, he was the son of George Theaker whom was headmaster of the School of Art in Burslem from 1869-94 and designer for pottery. Theaker was also best known as a successful illustrator, particularly of children’s books. His first known published works date from about 1911, and most of his further illustrations date from the 1920’s and 1930’s. These include works such as; The Ingoldsby Legends, Children’s Stories from The Arabian Nights, The Water Babies, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Theaker also made hand-coloured plates from Sir John Tenniel’s original illustrations to Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass for editions published between 1911 and 1930.