Rose Schreier

LIS 721 Fall 2010

Decades Project Bibliography: The 1960s

Go, Dog, Go! Written and illus. by P.D. Eastman (1961)

This classic picture book featuring a lovable cast of humorously nuanced anthropomorphic dogs succeeds
in its mission of introducing children to a bank of familiar vocabulary words directly related to the action
on the pages. The early era 4-color illustrations are realistic yet whimsical, and Eastman’s use of
repetition avoids slipping into the realm of tedium. A versatile, ideal selection for both a one-on-one
session and group story time.

Where the Wild Things Are, Written and illus. by Maurice Sendak (1963)

Sendak's genre-breaking tale of a young boy in a world of rumpus-loving monsters has left an indelible
impression on the latter-20th century collective cultural consciousness. The simple storyline takes a
backseat to imaginative illustrations whose slightly muted color palette and attention to texture add a
realistic element to the decidedly fantastical storyline that every child, regardless of time or place, hopes
would unfold in his or her own bedroom. Read before bed, if you dare.

May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illus. by Beni Montresor (1964)

Never has the simple request of “May I bring a friend?” been taken to such lengths by a seemingly
obedient young boy, and received by perhaps the most welcoming royalty in all the land. Children will
appreciate the deft weaving of fantasy and reality in this tale, as well as the familiar rhyming refrains.
Montresor’s alternating mono- and poly-chromatic illustrations evoke surprise, whimsy and imaginative
musings on what happens when the zoo comes to you. Indicative of a trend in children’s publishing
toward full-spread, vividly colored illustrations.

Tom Tit Tot, Written and illus. by Evaline Ness (1965)

In a folksy riff on Rumplestiltskin, Evaline Ness has reinterpreted the English folk tale ‘Tom Tit Tot’
employing a curious Black Southern patois and equally curious yet whimsical illustrations. Ness’s wood-
cut block drawings seem to complement the ‘rustic’ nature of the folk tale, and certain lines of text receive
similar treatment for emphasis. An older reader with a flair for the dramatic willing to read the text aloud
would serve as an ideal vehicle for achieving this story’s maximum potential.

Drummer Hoff, by Barbara Emberly, illus. by Ed Emberly (1967)

This entertaining story employs a fulfilling consonant rhyme pattern to continuously build the story about
the components and characters involved in the building of a magnificent cannon, which is ultimately fired
off by Drummer Hoff. Drummer Hoff’s quizzical posture lends children to investigate further, until the
entire page spread explodes in a frenzy of intense, jewel-toned hues. Abstract wood-cut drawings pique
children’s curiosity and directly reflect the color palette and aesthetics of the era.
Never Talk to Strangers, Written by Irma Joyce, illus. by George Buckett (1967)

Nothing like being invited to the coolest, most tripped-out tea party with purple, foppish dandy llamas
and Studebaker-riding whales in ascots, only to be told that you can't talk to them at all because they're
strangers. Such is the sad life of the human child characters of this bizarre book, who are presented with
tantalizingly approachable fantastical creatures but ultimately restrained by the story's repeating refrain
of "Never talk to strangers" at the end of each page's rhyming 4-line stanza. An interesting commentary on
picture books dipping into the grim themes of reality despite their cheery images.

What Do People Do All Day?, Written and illus. by Richard Scarry (1968)

This volume composed under the meticulous hand of Richard Scarry is a cavalcade of anthropomorphized
animals demonstrating the various facets professions both timeless and contemporary (for the era). The
storyboard-style scenes depict the players, equipment, and procedures involved in each, incorporating
both familiar and industry-specific vocabulary (which may not be retainable, but rounds out the work
nonetheless). Brief vignettes explaining the procedures facilitate the absorption of any unfamiliar scenes.
Ideal for preparing for a field trip to any of the places in the book, or in a unit on what grown-ups do for
work.

Swimmy, Written and illus. by Leo Lionni (1968)

Advocating for the underdog and promoting all the places and faces one experiences as a solo traveler are
the themes presented in this delightful tale of a clever black fish in a sea of red-hued dullards. The visually
stunning illustrations in Swimmy employ a mixed media approach, combining a highly developed sense
of texture, cutwork and color to produce abstract yet recognizable forms. Ideal for an art class or group
story time.

Pop Corn and Ma Goodness, Written by Edna Mitchell Preston, illus. by Robert Andrew Parker (1969)

This curiously sinister picture book features loosely-drawn characters Pop Corn and Ma Goodness doing
God’s honest work, as set to the theme of a country-fied rhyme illustrative of the ‘rural hillbilly’ trend
popular during the era. The children (brats all a-snippitty snippety) whup one another (a-bippitty
boppetty, naturally) and chase the old hounddog (a–yippitty yoppetty, of course), and the book’s haunting
refrain Doon the hill (around which every event is centered) leaves readers pondering a simpler (but
necessarily better?) time in America’s past. A notable book for a discussion of stereotyped lifestyles.

Journey to the Moon, Written and illus. by Erich Fuchs (1969)

Journey to the Moon provides a brief primer on the components of recent innovations in space travel to
arm young astronauts before artistically blasting off into the stratosphere. Leaving its initial black-and-
white informational text and functional small-scale illustrations behind, the entire rest of the book is a
wordless journey through the author's artistic renderings of the recent Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The
vivid, slightly abstract full-page illustrations pique children's imagination at this recent fascinating
historical event (and are ideal for non- or beginning readers), and the book serves as an excellent class
discussion piece on the history of space travel.