An Alphabet of Old Friends ; And, the Absurd ABC

by Walter Crane

In the first of these two volumes, the letters of the alphabet are presented through illustrated traditional nursery rhymes and in the second, they are introduced with humorous illustrations and verses.

Genres: Childrens, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Walter Crane was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered, along with Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery motif that the genre of English children's illustrated literature would exhibit in its developmental stages in the latter 19th century.

His work featured some of the more colorful and detailed beginnings of the child-in-the-garden motifs that would characterize many nursery rhymes and children's stories for decades to come. He was part of the Arts and Crafts movement and produced an array of paintings, illustrations, children's books, ceramic tiles and other decorative arts. Crane is also remembered for his creation of a number of iconic images associated with the international Socialist movement.

Reviews

[Zai Zai]

Amazing art. This is a charming children's book that deserves more recognition.

[Cheryl]

Took me back to my childhood!

[Nancy]

This 2-part book is reproduced from Walter Crane’s 1874 original illustrations by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The first section uses the letters of the alphabet to introduce familiar nursery rhyme characters like Jack Sprat and Simple Simon. The second half also uses nursery rhymes, but with a twist of humor.

[Purviben K. Trivedi-Ziemba]

Old friends indeed. Reading the old rhymes again is like meeting old friends.