Obscure Scan Sunday: A Day in the Woods

A Day in the Woods

National Geographic
By Ronald M. Fisher
Photographs by Gordon W. Gahan
Illustrations by Tony Chen
1975

The Boog loves BUGS! We have an extensive library on the subjects of bugs/insects/nature. Natural Science has encompassed our daily lives since she was about 4 years old. This is probably very common in little ones, as they have such healthy appetites for knowledge. What she loves more than anything though are realistic picture books. Informational picture books are at the heart of our collection right now. Stories where children interact with other children are especially gobbled up with enthusiasm.

I am a Bunny

I am a Bunny
by Ole Riesom with illustrations by Richard Scarry
Published 1963 by Golden Books

Since my last post was a tad bit dark I decided to lighten things up a bit. I am a Bunny is a vivid account of Nicholas, a little bunny that enjoys the seasons, and shares his experiences throughout the year. In the spring he likes to sniff the flowers, and in the summer watches the frogs in the pond. In the fall, he watches the animals getting ready for winter, and in winter, watches the snow falling from the sky.


This is one of my favorite Richard Scarry books because the illustrations are so vivid but the real credit should be given to Ole Riesom, who was one of the most influential publishers of mass-market books for children. Mr. Riesom was vice president and art director of Golden Books Western Press from 1952 to 1972 and then vice president and associate publisher of the juvenile division of Random House from 1972 to 1990. Although he was most famously associated with Richard Scarry, he also worked with Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson and Sesame Street books, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Leo Lionni, Laurent de Brunhoff, Charles M. Schulz and Marc Brown. He also gave numerous young artists, like Joan Walsh Anglund, their start. The bunny in this book is named after his son Nicholas and remains in publication to this day.