Babies, books, and Eloise Wilkin

Having a glimpse into a baby's introduction to the world of books is a very special thing. For most, it seems to come so natural to love pictures of animals (baby animals, farm animals, pets...) and to turn the thick pages of beloved hardboard books to see the familiar shapes and faces over and over. I wish I had a nickle for everytime I read "And what does the doggie say?" I think little Dove began barking and mooing before "bye-byeing". Heather and I found a wonderful children's book of nine of Eloise Wilkin's books (she is my favorite children's illustrator). Eden and Ella just love this book. The drawings are of beautiful, rosy-cheeked, chubby-faced little ones who delight in the wonders of a star-lit sky, stepping in a puddle, studying a bug or a flower, taking care of "Baby Dear", a brand-new baby doll, just the way Mommy takes care of the new baby brother or sister just brought home. Mrs. Wilkins captures the sweet innocence of children whose faces truly do "hold wonder like a cup". We watch them help mommy do all her household chores and their house comes alive with daintly patterned wall paper, braided rugs, flowered tea sets, curtains blowing in the windows, slippers beside the bed, ... Ella, especially, absolutely loves this book. When I come for my visitis to Chattanooga, after she greets me, she heads right for the shelf where this book better be, expecting me to sit right down and read it to her. She will sit quietly for 200 pages! Then slide down for a little play, but very soon head back to read it again. She never tires of seeing busy Timmy climb in his sandbox, be joined by a robin, a squirrel, and a bunny, "eat all his supper with no help at all", climb into bed all by himself, and lots of other things for "Timmy is a big boy." She loves to see over and over the little boy looking at birds in a nest, the little girl on her swing on the big, blossoming tree in her yard... (Josh has taken to hiding this book some times to encourage some other books and activities!) I remember another little girl (who turned 29 today!) who especially loved The Visit, another book by Eloise Wilkin. I think Linda felt as if she too walked right in the door of Great-Aunt Lavinia's large, Victorian house and made wonderful discoveries in all the rooms, so carefully decorated and furnished. Right up to the attic with its collection of antique toys. So maybe that love for those pictures passed on to little one-year old Ella.