339C: Lost Maiden Wanders Castle

Looking for a peek through picture book. I owned this book as a small child in the 80’s or early 90’s at latest. My family lived in both Europe (Italy) and US, and the book had English text. The book wasn’t aged, so the printing must have been recent to the 80s.

Story: minimal text and background. A beautiful young girl is lost or just wandering in the woods. In the forest she comes upon a seemingly abandoned castle or ruin. She wanders through halls and grounds covered in vines with broken branches. She meets no one but passes a suit of armor, an owl, possibly a fancy clock (may be confusing clock with The Last Unicorn). There might be a wizard or something in the background, but not sure. The page cutouts are windows or broken walls showing part of the next page. The book has a somber, ominous tone but she finally finds a way out.

Character: Not sure if she has a name, maybe Elsa, Ilsa, Ella Beautiful maiden with dark flowing hair. Wearing a simple dress, maybe white dress. See examples: storyberries. com/fairy-tales-little-snow-white-by-brothers-grimm/ pookpress. co. uk/shop/beauty-and-the-beast-john-hassall/

Book: a gorgeous picture book with intricate cut outs or peek throughs. The top of the pages form a layered forest of trees, ruined walls and arches. Think something like A Walk Through The Woods by Louise Greig barnesandnoble. com/w/a-walk-through-the-woods-louise-greig/1127544173 Thicker pages to support the cut outs. I’d think the book was intended for 4-9 years old

Illustration style: Vintage fairy tale. Limited color palette: black hair, white dress, cream/tans/brown/gray walls, green vines and leaves I’d love to figure out this book. I had a number of well done peek through books and panorama books as a child. It doesn’t seem like there are as many of these books available today.

4 thoughts on “339C: Lost Maiden Wanders Castle

    1. Jen

      Hi Kelly,

      Thanks for the reply. I’ve looked at Jane Ray’s books and don’t see the one I’m thinking of. Her artwork seems more whimsical, impressionistic and detailed than the book I remember. I also don’t see any peek through books among her work. Thanks for trying!

      Reply
  1. Jen B

    OP here. Thanks for the suggestion, Kelly W. At first glance, none of her books are a match. Jane Ray has lovely, whimsical drawings that are more elaborate than the book I’m remembering. I think the illustration had a simpler color palette and not as many elaborate details.

    Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Jen B

    OP here. Thanks for posting Kelly. I don’t think Jane Ray is a match from what I see online, but I’ll keep looking.

    Jane Ray’s illustrations seem more elaborate, colorful, whimsical than the book I remember. My book had a more reduce color palette and the drawings were less impressionistic.

    Thanks for looking!

    Reply

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