Dean's New Gift Book of Nursery Rhymes

by Janet Grahame-Johnstone

Dean's New Gift Book of Nursery Rhymes

76 pages, Board book

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

The twins, Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone, were born in 1928 to successful British portraitist and costume designer Doris Zinkeisen and her husband, Captain Edward Grahame Johnstone. They attended the Heathfield School in Ascot, Berkshire during World War II where their artistic talent was nurtured. Later, they attended Saint Martin's School of Art in London, where they studied period clothing styles before moving to Suffolk in 1966. The twins never married and would both live with their mother until their deaths.

Janet died in 1979 due to smoke inhalation following a fire in the kitchen, leaving Anne on her own for the first time in her life. Their brother, Murray, described them as one and a half of each other, rather than two people. Suddenly Anne was solely responsible for their entire business enterprise and managed to honour all their outstanding commissions. She had to master the techniques for drawing and painting animals, particularly horses, which had been the specialty of her sister. Eventually she became so good at it that she was elected a Member of the Society of Equestrian Artists in 1998. Anne died of liver cancer in Badingham, Suffolk on 25 May 1998.

Reviews

[Ilze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book at a charity shop ... a lot of the artwork is a repeat of what the illustrators have done in other books. Since this one was on its last legs, I've used some of the images (with acknowledgements) on my cards:

Cards may be bought from Blue Wave Words a.o.

[Ume Hermanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

These illustrations are sensational, with fairy-like daintiness and hints of Milne-esque cuteness. The poems are classics, compared to other similar poetry books, the Grahame-Johnstone twins' gorgeous artworks are my favourite!!!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still have the copy of this book that my dad bought me. I thinks I probably started to read this about 1971 but probably had enough skill to read these myself in 1974. Loved the book and always will.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this as a girl when I had my tonsils out. I still have it after all of these years. The illustrations are just beautiful.