Category Archives: Unsolved

102I: Angry Sun

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This was a library book I read in elementary school in the early 1970’s, so I am guessing the book was likely published sometime in the 60’s.  To the best of my memory, it involved a brother and sister in South America who somehow offended the sun (it could have been the moon, but I am pretty sure it was the sun) and the sun came right out of the sky and rolled after them, chasing them up and down hills.  I remember the sun being quite scary and it having a mouth that was illustrated very similar to a zipper on clothing.  Any help you could provide would be much appreciated.

 

102F: Miniature World of creatures with sci-fi technology

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1980s children’s picture book I loved as a boy. It had wonderful, intricate illustrations of a miniature world (possibly in a tree?), where little humanoid creatures lived. I’m fairly certain there were certain sci-fi elements to it, and possibly some conflict between differently-colored factions. The illustrations included cutaways of tunnels and little cities etc. There may also have been bears with technology (rocket suits?), but that might be mixing up with another book. I’d love for someone to help – I’m a children’s book illustrator now and this was an early influence and inspiration for me.

Thank you!

102E: Young Girl Who Attends a Catholic School

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Her name may start with an “E”. Nuns at her school would go on about proper nail care – i.e, not showing “half moons”. Girl would also see movies with her friend by using a nickel or a dime and they had strange ratings like “A”, or “B”. May have taken place from 60s – to 80s.

 

102A: Sophie and Her White Lamb

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One of my favorite books when I was young was a big book filled with pictures and stories. They were about children living in the same country house, I believe they were siblings and cousins. One of the little girls was named Sophie and I think she had black hair she wore in pigtails. One story was about her white lamb rocking horse that another child dumped black ink on. In order to find out which child had done it, all of the children had to line up and put their hands in a hidden box, which they were told would find the culprit. The box had flour or something in it, so all the children’s hands were covered in flour except the little boy who did it, because he was too nervous to put his hand in the box.

I feel like the book belonged to my mother or grandmother, and I have vague memories of reading it and thinking the clothing and wording seemed “old-fashioned.” I am 27 now, but I have no idea when the book was published.

I hope you can help!

Thank you!

100D: Children’s Stories Including Excerpt of ‘The Hobbit’

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I have been looking for a copy of the following book for a long time, but hardly know where to begin. I am afraid that, for a start, I do not know its title nor when it was published, although I imagine it was some time during the early 60s.

I can however describe it.

It was an illustrated collection of stories and excerpts from children’s novels, very lavishly illustrated in colour, in red cloth-bound hard covers. The title, which was something like “The Illustrated Collection of Children’s Stories” was in gold caps on the spine.

I think it was about 7 cms thick and about 28 cms long by 16 wide.

The stories included the opening chapters of “The Hobbit”, “Thumbelina”, “Snow White and Rose Red”, I think some fables from Aesop, and a lot more. Many different artists were involved. “Thumbelina” for instance included full-page watercolours, whereas the Aesops were pen and ink sketches.

Does this ring any bells? I imagine Unwin will know which publishers had permission to use “The Hobbit”.

I had this book when I was very small and I think it was secondhand. From the style of the art I remember it was about 1962, but possibly early. It had long since lost its dustjacket.

I’d be delighted to find out what it was – the pictures were beautiful.

Thank you very much.

 

100C: Katie and Her Guardian Angel

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I am trying to locate a book I had as a child. It’s about a little girl named Katie who accidentally breaks a church stained glass window. Her guardian angel follows her around in the book, cleaning up her messes, and of course, now the window. My parents kept it with our Christmas books, so it may talk about Christmas in the book.