My Resolutions is a reprint of a 1908 title by comic pioneer R.F. Outcault.  The comic strip featuring Buster Brown ran from 1902 until 1921 and inspired books and other products, including of course Buster Brown shoes.  Buster Brown is preternaturally modern in his style and outlook.  A beautifully dressed child of angelic mien he sailed through the first two decades of the twentieth century with his faithful dog Tige (the first talking pet in American comics).  Buster misbehaved constantly and was generally caught and punished, but like a modern sitcom child responds not with tears or remorse but a snappy comeback.  In Buster’s case this took the form of the resolutions that ended every Buster Brown strip.  The resolutions are little gems of comic writing, skewering parental piety at every opportunity. 
 
“RESOLVED: That if you are going to insist on being truthful, learn to hold your tongue.  The truth is a dangerous thing and must be handled by a master.  ‘Truth is mighty and will prevail’ it doesn’t need your assistance.  Just let it alone.  Tact will help you a great deal & extreme kindness will help you to keep unwelcome truths to yourself.  Don’t let anyone know you are honest.  They will think you are a ‘come on’ and will take advantage of you.”

Alphabet books are much loved by children, and so there have
been many of them published over the years. Happily they pro-
vide a stimulating challenge to artists and authors. This reprint,
from 1908, features dog breeds. The poodle, greyhound and
collie are familiar friends, but a few breeds, such as the harrier
and the lurcher, show that even dogs change with time’s pas-
sage. the rhymes that accompany each letter are delightful and
informative, for example:

N is for the Newfoundland
Who springs in the wave
And strives to his utmost
The drowning to save..

Other passages are more moralistic, as was common in chil-
dren’s books of this era:

Q stands for the Quarrel,
It’s most sad to see
Both Puppies and Children
Who cannot agree.

Some of the dogs herein are less pampered than their more
modern counterparts:

E stands for the dogs of the Eskimo
Who draws laden sleds for miles over snow.

Charming pictures of dogs leaping, swim-
ming, playing and doing all manner of ca-
nine things take us from a to Z in this delight-
ful alphabet book.

This compendium contains the complete contents of six Carl books, plus an essay about Alexandra Day, the real Carl and a little about how the books are made. Included are Carl Goes Shopping, Carl’s Afternoon in the Park, Carl’s Masquerade, Carl Goes to Daycare, Carl’s Birthday and Follow Carl.

“Move over, Mary Poppins, and make room for Carl.” – Publishers Weekly

“Each of Day’s colorful illustrations projects a lively activity, and each is filled with delightful humor. The detailed and realistic illustrations can be looked at again and again, and something new is seen each time . . . This deluxe edition would be a wonderful holiday gift for any child or dog-lover, especially one who is partial to Rottweilers. You might want to get two—keep one for yourself.” – Armchair Interviews

THIS BOOK IS SIGNED BY ALEXANDRA DAY & WITH A STAMP-PRINT OF THE REAL CARL’S PAW.

Children barking at a squirrel in a tree? Carrying sticks in their mouths? Begging for food? Who could be responsible for such silly shenanigans except everybody’s favorite baby-sitter, Carl, who takes a group of neighborhood children on a lively game of follow the Leader. Readers will want to follow Carl’s exploits through town and country again and again, and Alexandra Day’s lush autumnal landscapes are the perfect setting for the funny goings-on in the game.

“A game of follow-the-leader doesn’t need words when Carl the dog is at the head of the pack. Day uses her familiar, expressive watercolors to tell this tale, wordless except for an energetic group of children’s opening invitation (in dialogue) to Carl to come be their leader. Of course, that means that some of the actions the children have to follow will be more canine than others.” – (Advance Reviews)

THIS BOOK IS SIGNED BY ALEXANDRA DAY & WITH A STAMP-PRINT OF THE REAL CARL’S PAW.

Carl is every child’s favorite Rottweiler, the dog with the dexterity and responsibility of an adult. Carl takes care of the baby Madeline when her mother is away. Lunch is bread and butter on the floor, followed by a quick hop in the tub, a speedy blow dry and back into the crib – just in time for Mom’s reappearance.

“Success of this book is dependent on reproduction of the drawings, which is exquisite” – (Union-Tribune)

THIS BOOK IS SIGNED BY ALEXANDRA DAY & WITH A STAMP-PRINT OF THE REAL CARL’S PAW.

We at the Laughing Elephant have a weakness not just for elephants that laugh, but all animals. We have found a delightfully illustrated and funny book that does these various farm animals justice, in their full laughing glory.

Ha- Ha Farm is a faithful reproductions of the 1944 original by Thirma & Carlyle Leech. It is a mechanical book, for a small child, which tells the simple story of the farm, in a pleasing rhyming format. The mechanical movements invite the child to help the animals laugh. A perfect gift for any child who like their fancies tickled.

Combining a vintage aesthetic with modern party needs, parents can throw a fun, different children’s party with the help of this title. The occasions included are New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and, of course, Birthdays. The book features ideas for invitations, decorations for both the rooms and tables, menus and games to
play. And though the material that inspired and illustrates Children’s Party Book is from the past, the ideas are fresh and stylish and sure to appeal to today’s party givers.

NOTE: If you have a copy of the Children’s Party Book and would like additional party templates, simply email mail@laughingelephant.com and put PARTY TEMPLATES in the subject line and we will send you PDF versions to use.

Little Elephant’s Christmas is a faithful reproduction of the original 1944 edition, written by Heluiz Washburne and Illustrated by Jean McConnell.

Little Elephant is the very entertaining story of a young elephant and his anticipation and adventures one Christmas day. The illustrations are stylishly vintage and funny, capturing this elephant family and their holiday perfectly.

We follow Little Elephant’s story beginning a few days before Christmas. Little Elephant carefully chooses gifts for his family, watches with great excitement and mounting anticipation as the mailman delivers packages to their house, makes a Christmas cake with his mother, helps pick out and decorate the tree and of course, hangs his stocking on the fireplace before bed on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning at last arrives and with a trumpet blast of joy (familiar to all parents on Christmas morning, trunk or not) to wake his parents up very early for the big day. Presents are opened, toys are played with and enjoyed, taffy is pulled in the kitchen and Christmas dinner is even more wonderful than could have been hoped for. This is a story children will want to read year after year in preparation for the good things of the holiday season.

This old Mother Goose rhyme (which is here in its authentic version) is, as many of these poems are, curiously evocative and unforgettable. It tells the simple story of kittens who lose their mittens, and momentarily their mother’s approval, but find their mittens and achieve a happy resolution. Milo Winter, an insufficiently praised artist, provides the fine illustrations. He is the illustrator for one of our other shaped books, the very popular Three Little Pigs.