N. M. Bodecker (1922–1988)

This book was printed the same year I was born, and I grew up looking at the pictures over and over before I could even read. So even if the stories are weird, the nostalgia rush of seeing the upside-down acrobat or the stick-thin singing cowboy just fills me with warm fuzzies.

Little Peewee, a tiny Dalmatian dog, is the star attraction of a circus, until he has a growth spurt and becomes "the same size as any other plain dog that you would see anywhere." Despite being beloved by everyone in show more the circus, he must now leave for being so ordinary, because that's what circus folk do? Thankfully, another growth spurt saves the day.

Sylvester, on the other hand, is a victim of suburban sprawl. He learns to appreciate the music of nature in his peaceful little meadow, but soon it is engulfed by new construction and he takes refuge in a music shop guitar display. He learns to plink out the sounds of the meadow on the guitar, and when the tune is overheard the guitar is assumed to be haunted and unsellable until a brave singing cowboy shows up who apparently has no patience for guitar lessons and would rather the guitar just play on its own.

My daughter enjoyed this when I read it to her back when she was three. My wife, not so much this week . . . show less

Originally published in 1972, and then reprinted in this 2001 edition, this charming picture-book from N.M. Bodecker - the expatriate Danish artist who is best remembered as the illustrator of Edward Eager's many children's fantasies - follows the story of Hedgie, a little hedgehog living a quiet life in a corner of Miss Jaster's garden. When he is inadvertently "planted" with seeds by the nearsighted lady, Hedgie eventually finds himself a walking flower garden (or a part of one, that is). show more His surprise at this state of affairs is matched by Miss Jaster's own, when she sees a section of her garden get up and start walking away one day! Summoning the police, Miss Jaster demands that the garden "thief" be apprehended, until she discovers his identity...

I have a bit of a weakness for hedgehogs, so it was probably a forgone conclusion that I would enjoy Miss Jaster's Garden. Even if that were not so, however, this whimsical little tale would still have appealed to me, with its warmhearted story of how some odd mistakes and misunderstandings were put right in the end. I liked the gentle friendship between lady and hedgehog, I like the poignant notes, followed by the satisfying happy ones, and I appreciated the sweet illustrations. Just a winner all around - one that left me with a smile on my face! show less

Available on openlibrary.

Some of you, my friends, have this on your to-read list. I opine that you need to prioritize it. It definitely would have been among my favorites when I was a child. Small book, about creatures & their homes that are smaller than dolls, Blegvad's illustrations, vocabulary and grace in writing, plus an adventure and important themes about community & ecology & re/upcycling!

"They stood there on the Common, shivering a little in the night air, too sad to talk and too show more grown-up to cry."

"At lunchtime each went his own way to think things over in the shade of a convenient tree. And if snoring and thinking are at all the same thing--which perhaps they are--they thought very carefully and conscientiously all afternoon." show less

Niels Mogens Bodecker, a children's author and artist who was born in Denmark, but spent most of his adult life in the United States, is probably best known as the illustrator of Edward Eager's many fantasy novels for younger readers, although he also created some lovely books of his own, most notably, Miss Jaster's Garden. In this fantastic adventure, apparently first published in 1981, and then reprinted in this 2004 edition, he spins the story of four little Quimbles - miniature people show more (dolls, most likely) who are dropped by a passing car in the woods, and must make their own way in the forest in which they find themselves. Befriended by a mouse (who towers above them), Quilliam, Quilice, Quint and Quenelope set out to build their own home before winter sets in, learning quite a bit about the resources of the wood in the process...

Really more of a short chapter-book than a picture-book - there are five brief chapters, although the book can't be more than forty pages long - Quimble Wood features an engaging story by Bodecker and sweet black and white artwork by Branka Starr. I did finding myself wondering a little bit about the Quimbles - what were they, exactly? living dolls? miniature people? - and wishing that more background information had been given about them, but then again, other readers might enjoy the mystery created by the in-medias-res opening. The illustrations look to be done in pencil, and have an interesting shaded quality to them, with lots of vertical lines. All in all, this was a charming little fantasy, one that will appeal to readers who enjoy stories like The Borrowers or The Littles. show less