The Strange Voyage of Neptune's Car

The Strange Voyage of Neptune's Car

Joe Lasker 1977

 This is a pretty incredible true story about young Mary Patton who took over command of her husband's clipper ship, Neptune's Car, when he became ill.  Not only was she only 19 years old, but she was pregnant at the time!  Able to navigate and read charts, Mary brought the ship to harbor in San Francisco after rounding the most treacherous path of Cape Horn.  Joe Lasker's retelling is accompanied by his illustrations that resemble old photographs.

This World of Ours

 I got to hold my sister's brand new baby and go to an antique mart with my mom (where I found this book!).  If that isn't a great weekend, I don't know what is!

I thought this would be more of a story book or musings about nature, but it's in fact a kind of science book teaching about weather and how soil is made and mountains and the air around us.  It's a thicker Little Golden Book with more pages, but all the better because that means more illustrations by Eloise Wilkin!

This World of Ours

Jane Werner Watson

pictures by Eloise Wilkin 1959

Bonkers about Beetles

 Beetles are some of my very favorite kinds of insects.  I was thrilled to get my hands on this Owen Davey's book all about them!  

Bonkers About Beetles

Owen Davey 2023

Other books by Owen Davey:

Obsessive About Octopuses

Peter Pan

The Picture Story Book of Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie

pictures by Roy Best 1931

From 1931 comes this illustrated storybook of Peter Pan.  Based on the original play (not the Disney version), it's quite fun to read.  

Isn't this just a beautiful picture?!

Nell Plants a Seed

Nell Plants a Tree

Anne Wynter

illustrated by Daniel Miyares 2023

 A sweet reflection of family and time passing and the nurturing of each other through nature and a hope for the future.  As a group of kids (cousins perhaps?) climb and explore a big pecan tree, we are reminded that it all started when "Nell picks up a seed" and "waters the soil" and "plants a tree".  I've always loved books like this, that center on a place and the generations that pass through it.  Both the author and illustrator share their own family remembrances at the end.

The Midnight Panther

 Gorgeous illustrations accompany this story about a panther who wishes he was like the other big cats- fearless like tiger, blazing like lion, dazzling like leopard.  His attempts to adorn himself like the other cats fail.  But one night he climbs high in the trees and the moon helps him to see his own sparkling beauty.  A nice celebration of recognizing what makes you special and uniquely wonderful.  Each page is a stunning work of art!

The Midnight Panther

Poonam Mistry 2022