This weekend, I was browsing books and came across a real gem!
Song Of Robin Hood : A first edition copy, published in 1947.

The book design and illustrations by Virginia Lee Burton are absolutely lovely.

The ballad of Robin Hood is framed within her intricate illustrations and the includes sheet
music score as well, making it one of the more interesting books I have come across lately.
Here are just a few pages… Every page is completely covered in scratch board and pen and ink
drawings which are reproduced at 100%.

I was extra psyched to show Griffin this book, only to find out that he was well familiar with
the author and had a sentimental childhood attachment to several of her works- including, but
not limited to: The Little House, Katy and the Big Snow and Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

I haven’t been able to tear myself away from the book since I bought it yesterday, even though I
must confess that I haven’t read the story yet. If anything could convince me to read the
Ballad of Robin Hood though, this would be it. Even the table of contents and glossary are totally inspiring.

This is my favorite Christmas present. Its from Lily. She found it in
Alabama, which we all know has the best thrift stores. In case you
can’t tell, its a bottle opener called Bar Maid! You put the bottle in
her mouth, and she does the rest. Under her discreet pantaloons
is a corkscrew, as she gracefully opens your wine.

Oh, and did I mention that its also about a foot tall? We have had a
historic problem of ALWAYS losing our bottle openers, and there is very
little problem finding this in the kitchen drawer. Hooray for Alabama
thrift stores and for Lily!