Book Bargains

We love to read at bedtime and contrary to traditional Waldorf bedtime routines, we like new stories... almost every night.
I'm sure if I had started earlier with reading only the same couple books, my daughter's love for the new and exciting would not have been ignited.  She still likes books with pictures but is able to create an image in her mind's eye of what I have read from books without any.

I like to find vintage books with beautiful illustrations along with mode of goodness storylines.
Many modern children's books have garish drawings, silly stories, adult sarcasm or are recreated from the original book after it had been made into a movie.  We love to find treasures at Half Price Books.  I'm still waiting to find beautiful books by Elsa Beskow and Sibylle Von Olfers and I look every time.
We feel fortunate to have found some special ones below.

Here's a beautiful Waldorf-style Snow White book:



It's the traditional Grimm's tale with the wicked queen visiting 3 times.  I love Snow White in a long white linen dress. The dwarves are very adorable and also quite elemental looking.  From my 80's media-rich upbringing, they look like the California Raisins, but I did not mention that to my dear daughter.

Rudolf Steiner had recommended books with moving pictures or components that the child could move. Making Picture Books with Moving Pictures looks like a fun resource for those who would like to explore the craft. It teaches you how to make interactive books.
I found this delightful reproduction of a vintage Merry Magic Go Round book where you can turn a circular disc to see a changing scene.




Here's one example....watch the bowls on the left..there is no one eating.



Then see the bowls on the right and the Three Bears having their porridge.



The book below is a 1947 vintage craft, fingerplay, jump rope song, wonder book.
We even found a song that my daughter sings in Kindergarten.


Oats, peas, beans and barley grows,
Oats, peas, beans and barley grows,
You nor I nor nobody knows
How oats, peas, beans and barley grows.

Here the farmer sows his seed,
Then he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his foot and claps his hand,
And turns around to view his land.

I have also found some early childhood education gems like "You Are Your Child's First Teacher" (an older edition from the 80's) and "Children At Play".   You can sometimes find older Goldenbooks as well that show children actually engaging in imaginative play.  Our favorites we have found are Little Mommy, Nurse Nancy and Doctor Dan, the Bandage Man

Wishing you wonderful books and the precious time spent reading together!
Cristina