Books published by publisher Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

The sun is round and hot and glowing. An orange is round on the tree where it’s growing. Many things in the natural world are round—the sun, the moon, a bird’s nest with three bright baby birds. So are the turning wheels of a train and a hot air balloon high in the sky. So are cakes, pies, cookies, and many other delicious things to eat! Page by brightly colored page, What is Round? invites young readers to pick out the shape in the world around them, from the smallest raindrop to a big spectacular carousel. Many of the objects can be found in our own homes, like the clock that tells the time or the colorful decorations on a Christmas tree. Others, like the portholes of a passing ship, require a watchful eye. Striking and vibrant illustrations by Vladimir Bobri accompany the playful rhymes of Blossom Budney in this lively look at this shape that can be found in the most unexpected places. Originally published in 1954, What is Round? will make a wonderful addition to any child’s library, and it’s the perfect story to read aloud.

The Stripy Bird. The Scroobius Bird. The Obsequious Ornamental Ostrich who wore boots to keep his feet quite dry. Of all the animals that sprang from the idiosyncratic imagination of Edward Lear, few feature as frequently as birds, which appear throughout his work, from the flamboyant flock in the Nonsense Alphabet to the quirky avian characters of his limericks, stories, and songs. Lear drew himself as a bird on numerous occasions. In a popular self-portrait—later reproduced on a postage stamp—Lear even represented himself as a portly, bespectacled bird. Edward Lear’s Nonsense Birds collects more than sixty of Lear’s bird illustrations from across his entire body of work. Often, the birds have hilariously human characteristics. There is, for instance, a Good-Natured Grey Gull, a Hasty Hen, and a Querulous Quail. The Judicious Jay is chiefly concerned with good grooming. The Vicious Vulture, meanwhile, turns out to be a wordsmith whose verses on vellum celebrate veal. Each bird is endowed with a unique personality, while collectively they form a wonderfully amusing flock. Also included are a series of twenty-four hand-colored illustrations. Bright and beautifully illustrated, this book will make a perfect gift for children of all ages and will also be welcomed by all who love Lear’s work or are interested in learning more about his fascination with birds.

The tumultuous political events that swept Russia in the early twentieth century sent powerful ripples around the world. The Bolshevik revolutionaries and activists had sympathizers among Americans and Europeans alike, and one notable way they exercised their support was through artfully created postcards. This remarkable volumepresents for the first time a newly unearthed collection of those cards that recount the 1917 Russian Revolution in a novel way. The postcards originated not only from Russia, but also from Germany, the United States, Belgium, and France, and they reflect their diverse origins in the rich array of artistic styles employed to create them. Whether simply drawn, hand-painted, or mass-printed, the cards present compelling and complex images of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the people who were enmeshed in it. The cards serve as concise yet powerful artistic documents of Russian history and culture, as they display bloody and graphic street scenes, rare pictures of lesser-known revolutionary leaders, satirical sketches of Russian rulers, portraits of the royal family, illustrations of palaces and institutional buildings, and depictions of pivotal events leading up to the Revolution such as the 1905 assassination of Grand Duke Alexander. Also included in this fascinating visual narrative are cards depicting crucial events from the aftermath of the Revolution, including the great famine of 1921 and public celebrations of the newly formed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. An unprecedented and arresting exploration of the Russian Empire in its death throes, Postcards from the Russian Revolution reveals a wholly new and vibrant perspective on one of the most important political movements of the twentieth century.

With a new children’s book imprint, the Bodleian Library brings beloved classics back into print, beginning with a beautiful storybook about the life of a fascinating Antarctic species. Originally published in 1962, Penguin’s Way by Johanna Johnston tells the surprising story of these creatures, complete with colorful artwork by award-winning illustrator Leonard Weisgard. In Penguin’s Way, a playful colony of emperor penguins lives on the edge of a faraway secret sea. During the summers, the penguins are content to fish and swim in the icy waters. But, when the seasons change, they must travel more than one hundred miles to the snowy lands surrounding the South Pole. All across the snow plain, the penguins sing songs to welcome newly hatched chicks into the world, but how will the fluffy newborns survive the freezing winter? Few things pique children’s curiosity about the world around them better than a good book. Brought back for a new generation of young readers, Penguin’s Way offers a fun and creative introduction to these fascinating animals.

One day an old lady swallows a fly and the only way she can get rid of it is to then swallow a wriggling, tickling spider . . . For more than a century, this deceptively simple rhyme has delighted children and parents alike. Its galloping rhythm is perfect for reading out loud, becoming a memory game as the list of animals grows—from fly and spider to bird, cat, dog, and goat. Abner Graboff’s bright and startling illustrations combine beautifully with the original verse to bring this subversive, irreverent tale to life.

Children will discover a world of colors as they set out on an adventure with a cheerful boy named Jonny. From the moment he wakes bright-eyed to the yellow sunlight streaming through his bedroom window, the colors of the day dance merrily around him. He sees green grass and purple flowers and pauses to dip his toes in a bubbling blue brook. Best of all, when the time comes to harvest, he digs in the brown earth and discovers an enormous orange pumpkin! But, before he knows it, the blue sky has turned black, and it’s time for Jonny to sleep before waking to the wonders of a new day. A joyous celebration of colors that will encourage young readers’ curiosity about the world around them, What Is Red? is packed with illustrations in bright, primary colors. Originally published in 1961, the book is one of the most recent additions to the Bodleian Library’s children’s book imprint.

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to seaIn a beautiful pea-green boatThey dined on mince, and slices of quinceWhich they ate with a runcible spoon;And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,They danced by the light of the moon,The moon,The moon,They danced by the light of the moon. The Owl and the Pussycat is only the most familiar of Edward Lear’s numerous nonsense verses, which have delighted millions worldwide for the last two centuries. Now his beloved verse and drawings are compiled here in a handsomely produced volume of classic material.Leariana runs rampant in this enchanting treasury; readers encounter such indelible Lear creations as “snail mail,” while drawings of the Stripy Bird and images of the heroic and irrepressible Foss in heraldic poses are scattered throughout. Lear’s zany illustrations are reproduced here in their full vibrancy, and the goofily delightful art, including his illustrated nonsense alphabets, infuses Lear’s fanciful phrases and humorously incomprehensible limericks with their original liveliness and irresistible spirit. Rarely has the powerful charm and timeless appeal of Edward Lear’s work been available in such a beautifully produced edition, and So Much Nonsense is a gift that will unleash the imaginations of young and old alike.

With a new children’s book imprint, the Bodleian Library brings beloved classics back into print, beginning with a beautiful storybook about the life of a fascinating species. Originally published in 1962, Whale’s Way by Johanna Johnston tells the surprising story of these creatures, complete with colorful artwork by award-winning illustrator Leonard Weisgard.Whale’s Way introduces young readers to the humpback whale, one of the world’s largest creatures. With winter almost here, the gentle giants must swim, spouting and leaping, to the warmer waters near the equator. But, during the dangerous journey, the whales meet a band of hunters who wish them harm, and they must escape and guide the baby whales to safety. Few things pique children’s curiosity about the world around them better than a good book. Brought back for a new generation of young readers, Whale’s Way offers a fun and creative introduction to these fascinating animals.

A is for all of us—everyone. Playing, learning, having fun. The letters of the alphabet are brilliantly brought to life in a bright nursery school, where the children learn and play. B is for building blocks . . . but also for blowing out the candles on a birthday cake! C is for the colorful chairs the children take when the teacher rings a chime. Lively pictures designed around each letter show the children dancing, singing, listening to stories, tickling one another, and even engaging in an exciting game of tug-of-war. The fun rhymes and imaginative words for each letter make N is for Nursery a great book for children just learning to read and to recognize letters and letter sounds. Originally published in 1956, N is for Nursery is the most recent addition to the Bodleian Library’s children’s book imprint and the perfect book for children to take with them on a new adventure like starting school.

This charming and quirky children's grammar book first appeared in 1824 as one of several beautifully hand-colored instructional texts published by John Harris in his "Cabinet of Amusement and Instruction." Intended to help children learn the art of grammar, the book is presented here in a faccsimilie edition.A series of larger-than-life characters in the book, including Mr. Stops, Counsellor Comma, and the hero, Young Robert, humorously bring its lessons to life with witty and amusing verse such as: "See, how Semicolon is strutting with pride; Into two or more parts he'll a sentence divide." Lively and colorful engravings, meanwhile, infuse the book with an entertaining spirit, while also reinforcing the lessons laid out in its cheerful rhymes.It is evident to see how a child would have enjoyed learning about grammar through Punctuation Personified, as its simple but instructive verse and vibrant illustrations skillfully open up a fresh world of knowledge. This new edition, featuring a modern introduction, will delight and amuse readers of all ages.

A long time ago, there was a brave and kind Anglo-Saxon princess called Frideswide who lived in Oxford, England and just happened to be brilliant at climbing very tall trees. One day, when a wicked king tried to kidnap her, her talent came in useful. How did she and her friends escape, and what happened to the king and his soldiers who tried to take her? With stunning illustrations by award-winning artist Alan Marks, the legend of Saint Frideswide, patron saint of Oxford, is retold for young children as a tale of adventure, courage in the face of danger, friendship, and kindness, with a few surprises along the way.

The much-loved tales from The Thousand and One Nights first appeared in English translation in the early nineteenth century, based on French translations of versions of the stories found in Syrian and Persian manuscripts. The popularity of these ancient and beguiling tales set against the backdrop of Baghdad, a city of wealth and peace, stoked the widespread enthusiasm for and scholarly interest in eastern arts and culture all across Europe. Four of the most well-known tales, translated by Laurence Housman, are reproduced in this collector’s edition: “Sindbad the Sailor,” “Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp,” “The Story of the Three Calendars” and “The Sleeper Awakened.” Each is illustrated with exquisite watercolors by the renowned artist Edmund Dulac. The sumptuous illustrations reproduced here capture the beauty and timeless quality of these ever-fascinating stories, made at the zenith of early twentieth-century book illustration.