[magnoliadorn]

Hi, I am looking for the title and or author for this old collection of children's poems that I grew up with. My mom read it to me in the 1960's, I am not sure how old the book is but I am thinking pretty old. It had black silhouette scissor cut illustrations on each page with the poem. I remember a few of the poems: Little Orphant Annie, My Shadow, Land of Counterpane etc. My mom thought it was The Children's Garden of Verse, but that is only Robert Louis Stevenson's collection and this book had several different authors. It is the black drawings that make this unique and I searched the web and can't find anything. Help! Thanks!

[purplewings]

This does seem to be what you're looking for. Often over that period, the covers are changed. It also says the books may have been printed in two languages. One in English and one in Scots.

In 1885, Stevenson published his first book of children's poetry, A Child's Garden of Verses. First titled Penny Whistles, it contains great children's classics such as “My Shadow,” “Bed in Summer” and “The Swing.” It is still a favorite among children.

Underwoods, Stevenson's second book of children's poetry, came out two years later. The unique characteristic of this classic work is that it appeared in two versions, one in English and one in Scots, Stevenson's native tongue. In 1896, he published Songs of Travel and Other Verses, and Ballads appeared in 1891.

Little Wordsworths: The Best of Childrens Poetry

I hope this is helpful.

[magnoliadorn]

Thanks for your reply. That is the book I thought it was until I looked it up and it wasn't. This book that I remember had several differents authors not just Stevenson. My mom can't remember the name either, but she told me of another poem that was in there. "Stephen Wants a Mouse" I have searched and cannot find any reference to that poem either. I clearly remember Little Orphant Annie and the Stevenson poems. The unique drawings in the book done in black silhouette I remember very clearly. Thanks again and I will keep searching.

[sglazer]

I know this is a few years old, I was just wondering if you were ever able to find your answer. I too have been searching for a poem book I had as a child that had those same poems in it and I cannot bring anything up in my searches. It was a small book if I recall, maybe 4"x8" or so, thin but full of the classics. I also remember "The Village Blacksmith" being in it and perhaps a few limericks. I think I recall the front cover seemed to have orange and red squares on it and I do remember the black pictures.