Go Retro!

Vintage Retro Children's Books: Wanda Gág

One of our favorite children's book authors at our house is Wanda Gág. Her 'Millions of Cats' (my favorite page from this story seen at right) is a classic along with ABC Bunny. She was born one of seven children to German immigrants living in Minnesota. Her father was an artist as well, who encouraged Wanda to pick up where he left off. [1] Her illustrations are fantastic, imaginative and clean, but it is only combined with her quirky stories that they really come to life. We've picked up some copies of Millions of Cats, and ABC Bunny at thrift shops, garage and rummage sales, and one copy of a pretty worn Snippy and Snappy book. But this is the book I really want along with this print, from the National Gallery of Art.

 

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Easter Morning 2011

Our Summer in Champaign, Illinois

   Camp at The Point Fencing Club via the Champaign Park District

  Also through the CPD, our eight year old also attended Painting and Drawing classes at Springer Cultural Center, and took swimming lessons at Spalding Pool.

    Grady's Family Fun Park in Bloomington, IL.

   Free events at the Champaign Public Library (We stumbled into a free traditional Dixieland ensemble New Orleans Jazz Machine performance on this particular Sunday last month).

   Two week long day camps: Medieval Mayhem Camp and Camp Explosion! Both at the Community Center for the Arts in Urbana.

  The weekly Farmer's Market at the Square in Urbana. (I just discovered the Farmer's Market blog, too.)

   The Annual Washington Street 4th of July Parade in our neighborhood.

   Meadowbrook Park, playground, gardens, and trail.

   The Illinois Shakespeare Festival at Ewing Manor in Bloomington, IL.

   Baby's first ice cream at Jarling's Custard Cup.

   My annual company picnic at Chanute Air Museum in Rantoul, IL.

   Petting the animals at Prairie Farm.

    Monkeys, Tiger, and Bear. Oh my. The Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, IL (with free outdoor water playground area right outside!)

   The Viper and his Famous Orchestra play a show at the Children's Orpheum Science Museum.

   Enjoying our front porch.

   Road trip!

   Lots of rain ... lots of puddles ... welcome to the Washington Street West neighborhood Watershed.

   Enjoying our first attempts at gardening.

   Lake of the Woods Botanical Garden and Early American Museum.

I'm sure I'm missing something! This doesn't even include our trip to Pennsylvania or the family events and milestones this summer, like the baby's first birthday party!

   Now we're ready to enjoy all of the great Autumn events in Champaign. We've already made our first trip this season to Curtis Orchard, and this month the 35th Annual Sweet Corn Festival, and the CU Folk & Roots Festival are fast approaching. I'd also like to go out to Hardy's Reindeer Ranch, and of course, more trips to Curtis Orchard. They have a new play area and some other features like a giant rocking chair, in addition to the usual kid play area, inflatables, pony rides, goat petting, maze, u-pick apples and pumpkins, and DELICIOUS apple cider and doughnuts.