childrenslitumn

[childrenslitumn]

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We are moving most of our image-sharing over to Instagram. If you are interested in following us, we will be posting from the University of Minnesota Libraries account (@umnlib). Most of our posts also share on our Facebook (Children’s Literature Research Collections ) and Twitter (@childrenslitumn) pages.

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While you're eagerly awaiting the premier of Black Panther, why not catch up on the history of the series with some comics?

In addition to the first issue of the self-titled series, released in 1977, the John P. Borger Collection holds many issues of the comic, including many from Christopher Priest's classic volume, published between 1998 and 2003.

For more information on comics held within our collection, check out the full Collection Guide: http://archives.lib.umn.edu/repositories/4/resources/5774

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Every day is National Cat Day when you work in a library!

Ink illustration, The Hotel Cat by Esther Averill

Esther Averill Papers, Kerlan Collection, Children's Literature Research Collections

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It's nearly Halloween! Enjoy some ghostly original illustrations from "The Spooky Halloween Party" by Tomie dePaola!

Tomie dePaola Papers, Kerlan Collection

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One of our processors ran across this 1950s gem in a new collection today!

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Selection from a small cache of letters in our collection written by Laura Ingalls Wilder between 1949 and 1952 to Evelyn Wenzel, a graduate student who was writing a Master's thesis on Wilder's books.

"The old spirit of sturdy independence seems to be vanishing. We all depend too much on others. As modern life is lived we have to do so and more and more the individual alone is helpless. One is always at the mercy of others instead of being sufficient unto himself. A conflict with nature and the elements is a clean fight, but a struggle against man and his contrivances is something very different. At times I have a homesick longing for the old days and old ways. However, I know there is no turning back. We must go on."

The Evelyn Wenzel Collection of Correspondence from Laura Ingalls Wilder, Children's Literature Research Collections, University of Minnesota Libraries

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Opening boxes today and ran across this beautiful study by Stephen T. Johnson for Hoops!

Stephen T. Johnson Papers, Kerlan Collection, Children's Literature Research Collections

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These two beautiful pieces of concept art by Gustaf Tenggren for Pinocchio are currently on display at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as part of their current exhibit "Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters." If you are interested in learning more about the art and life of Gustaf Tenggren, the Assistant Curator of the Children's Literature Research Collections will be giving a free talk as part of the University of Minnesota Libraries' First Friday lecture series on Friday, April 7th at noon in Elmer Andersen Library, Room 120. 

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The handwritten first draft of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Ruth Stiles Gannett Papers, Kerlan Collection

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Any code-breakers out there? Astrid Lindgren wrote her manuscripts in Swedish and shorthand!

Astrid Lindgren Papers, Kerlan Collection

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Original illustration from Barbara Knutson’s version of the Swahili folk tale How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots.

Barbara Knutson Papers, Kerlan Collection

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Tiny accordion-folded dummy of Charles Mikolaycak's illustrated version of Alfred Noyes's poem The Highwayman.

Charles Mikolaycak Papers, Kerlan Collection 

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Lovely sketch from Marla Frazee’s  illustration for Clementine and the Spring Trip, by Sara Pennypacker.

Marla Frazee Papers, The Kerlan Collection

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Happy Spring from the Children’s Literature Research Collections!

Cover illustration for Runaway Bunny. Clement Hurd Papers, The Kerlan Collection.

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This original illustration by Louis Darling from The Swimming Hole, written by Jerrold Beim, sure has us longing for summer!

Louis Darling Papers, The Kerlan Collection

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Have you ever wondered where books come from?

Well then, let me show you, because that’s what I do for a living.

Right now, it’s this time of the year, and the little ones have just freshly hatched:

You’ll notice they’re still blind and naked when they hatch. So I make them little coats to keep them warm during their first winter:

See how they happily line up to put them on:

See? Better. Now they’re ready to go and explore the world.

And if they make it through the winter and we take good care of them, they will grow up to be strong and wise like their older fellows:

So, in case you were ever wondering, now you know.

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Charles Perrault was a French author born on this day (January 12) in 1628. He wrote many of the classic fairy tales we all still love and read today, including Blue Beard, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood. Happy 388th birthday!

#bookstagram #instabook #fairytales #charlesperrault #cinderella #littleredridinghood #bluebeard