The Toosdai Critters are big fans of the art of children’s book illustration. The Critters think that the best illustrators have truths to tell humans of all ages. Let’s once again take a look at some of the Critters' favorite illustrators.
Part 1 and Part 2 of the series are here.
Illustrator and author Esther Averill opened a publishing company of her own in 1931. Under that imprint, she came to write about a Greenwich Village-based cat named Jenny Linsky, who went on to star in 12 books.
In the book “School for Cats”, Jenny Linsky gets sent to boarding school by her human Captain Tinker. Captain Tinker wants Jenny to learn manners and cooperation- to his mind, essential cat values.
And, of course, cats are well-suited to education.
Once at boarding school, Jenny Linsky soon meets a bully cat, Pickles the Fire Cat. Pickles the Fire Cat chases Jenny in his fire truck, scaring her so much that she runs away from school.
However, it soon occurs to Jenny that Captain Tinker would be very disappointed at her absence.
She makes the decision to return to school. There she bravely faces Pickles. Pickles acquiesces and learns new manners, while Jenny goes on to make wonderful friends at school.
In “Jenny and the Cat Club”, Jenny is back at her Greenwich Village home.
There, the glamorous members of the local Cat Club have piqued her interest.
Jenny has dreams of joining herself, but is held back by fears that she may not have their gifts.
She soon overcomes her feelings of inadequacy and joins the club. Raucous adventures with her downtown friends, including Pickles the Fire Cat, ensue.
We do know that cats love urban adventures.
Beatrix Potter, another beloved author and illustrator, began as a child to write and draw imaginatively about animals. In her adult years, Potter continued to fill her letters with illustrations and stories of animals.
In one of those letters, Potter originated the character of Peter Rabbit. Her first book, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” developed from there.
“The Tale of Peter Rabbit” revels in the mischievous side of rabbits.
The protagonist, Peter, falls into a series of misadventures.
Yet eventually he returns home for some much needed rest and relaxation.
“The Tale of Peter Rabbit” went on to become wildly successful. Her reputation established, Potter went on to write and illustrate other charming and observational stories about animals, including “The Tale of Tom Kitten”.
This book tells the story of a mother cat
who is preparing for a fine tea party. She requests that her children clean up
and asks that they behave appropriately and quietly for her company.
Being kittens, this is quite a challenge for them. Mayhem ensues.
The Puddle Ducks, invited guests for the party, take this chaos in stride.
Or, in slide, as the case may be.
N.B.: Both authors were able to become very successful as business people at a time when women were highly marginalized within the working world. The Critters think this is a testament to the subversive idealism of great children’s books, whose intelligence should never be underestimated.