Category Archives: 1980s

203E: Surrealist landscapes for kids

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I’m looking for a picture kids book from probably the 70’s or early to mid 80’s. It was like traveling through surrealist or magical realist landscapes. Lots of architecture, like archways and pillars/columns, and far off landscapes, lots of lavender and greys, maybe had a feeling of Magritte paintings with lots of sky in the pictures, and men in suits, and some flat water.

I think it had a landscape orientation. It might possibly be one that has those weird half pages inside of it that show the picture in a different way when you turn the page, similar to Jacko, but it was much larger than that, and I’m not sure. I mostly remember the feeling of the images — surreal and weird landscape. Rob Gonsalves art somewhat reminds me of it: http://bit.ly/1CI0Xyu
Might have even had a man in a suit or bowler hat, maybe a weird statue garden. or an angel or woman.

Not sure if this is enough to go on.  Very cool site, hope you can help me as this has bothered me for decades!

 

194B: A walk in New York City

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In the late 1980’s t had a lovely book about a middle-aged woman who lived in an apartment with a cat. She gathers up her coat and shopping bag and purse and goes for a walk throughout the city including a stop at the Guggenheim Museum. There was no text, only the loveliest muted color drawings. I’d love to be able to share this book with my grandchildren.

192A: Where’s Charlie (We think)

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It is a hardback children’s book that we read to our now 36 year old son in the late 70’s to mid 80’s.

It is about a little girl who has a pet mouse. One day she could not find him. Page after page, room after room she lloked for him; in the stove, refrigerator, closets, microwave, etc. . . . . NO CHARLIE! she finally found him asleep in the be in her doll house.

Please confirm the title and author for us so we can purchase them.

191G: Scary UFOs, Nice Paintings (Solved!)

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The book I’m after was a spooky children’s book picked up at a R.I.F. book fair in the early 80s. It was from a UK line of books and I believe was titled, simply, “UFOs.” It was perfectly square, tiny (a bit larger than a piece of toast), softcover, short (maybe 24 pages or less), and had realistic and creepy paintings of supposedly true UFO case files. Lots of art, light text. The cover was entirely midnight blue, and either had no art at all, or perhaps just a small clip of art from within, probably a “grey” alien face if anything. I had another book from the line that I believe was called “Dinosaurs,” and followed the same format, but had a vivid green cover. It was definitely an entire line of small books. Oh, and I remember the UFO book was the first place I ever heard of the Men in Black, though they seemed a lot creepier in the book than in the movie. I think the entry on their mysterious origins (it was acknowledged no one knew if they were extraterrestrial or government agents) mentioned one of them putting his fingers in a cup of coffee as if he didn’t understand it. Or something like that!

189D: British Children’s Short Story Treasury from ‘80s or ‘90s (Solved!)

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This was a large, white-bound treasury of short stories and craft ideas, likely published in the 1980s or very early 1990s. The stories were all in British English, but took place around the world. One story was about a brother and sister exploring Montreal’s Underground City during the winter (I believe the brother’s name may have been Sean, with an accent on the e). Another story was about a girl named Tracey who had a pair of silver sandals that never got used. The sandals were sad when they saw her wear all her other shoes day after day, but they finally got worn for a fancy party. I would love to find this collection again! Thanks for your help!

180E: Children (Fairies?) positive thoughts pocket-size book: late 1980s/early 1990s

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Smallish, pocket-sized hardcover book with, I believe, fairies (or just children? – can’t remember if they had wings or not), showing fanciful ways things came to be(showed them pinning clouds in the sky, and painting wings on butterflies). There was a sweet positive saying on each page spread. Not a lot of pages in the book, maybe 14-20 pages max. This was a specialty book like the kind you’d get on a rack in the middle of a bookstore – with other books with sayings/aphorisms. I remember at least one fairy (girl?) with black hair.

I believe there were also greeting cards that had these same characters and artistic style for a period of time, with, again, a sweet saying or aphorism.

180C: Book containing stand-up comedy scripts. (solved)

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This was a paperback book published (probably) in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s. It included stand-up comedy transcripts from many different famous comedians. I think a Bill Cosby routine may have been in there, and I’m pretty sure I recall the Smothers Brothers’ “Mom Liked You Best” as well. Other people in the book may have included George Carlin and Robert Klein, but I can’t remember precisely.

Any help locating this title would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

175D: boy, ghost, orchard (solved)

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i don’t know the title or author, which is why i need you. this is a YA type mystery or horror (not sure how they categorized things back then) from the late 70s early 80s. I probably got it through scholastic at school (i was in 4th or 5th grade at the time). i’ve searched and searched book covers for years and am hoping you can help.

i don’t remember much, but finding this book means so much because of events surrounding it during that period. dark green cover with a broken gravestone on it, possibly a crow, possibly trees (an orchard or grove) as well. the story itself was a boy gone to live with his grandparents (? or relatives in general?) and befriends a ghost in the walls/closet/something in the house. ends up in the orchard out back. finds the boy’s grave. god that’s not a lot to go on!

Thank you in advance!!