Now to begin, I adore Maxfield Parrish. I know the art intelligentsia will say I'm common. They'll place him in the same pigeon hole as Norman Rockwell, who by the way I cannot stand. Just because he doesn't fling paint at a canvas, or draw sqiggly line, or make screen prints of soup cans. F-'em. Anyway, This book is just lovely as an object in itself, not just as something to read. It is something to look at. My wife bought it for me and I used to read the nursery rhymes and stories to my kids. I still cherish it. I had no problem showing it to my children and calling the illustrations "art." ( )