Jim's Jazzy Creatures

With today's post I want to celebrate the recent Italian edition of Jim Flora's 

The Day The Cow Sneezed. To my knowledge, this is the first time that a book 

by Flora has been published in my country, and as they say, better late than never!

My gratitude goes to the wonderful publisher Orecchio Acerbo for bringing us 

another classic, after their beautiful re-editions of Peter Newell.

Like many, I discovered Flora through his famous jazz record covers before realizing 

that he had written and illustrated 17 children's books between 1955 and 1982.

The Day the Cow Sneezed was published in 1957, and was the second of the series.

Here's a peek at many of the other volumes, with links to more illustrations and info when available. 

And if you are not familiar with the artist, you may read his biography in Italian and English.

The Fabulous Fireworks Family, 1955

Charlie Yup and his Snip-Snap Boys, 1959

Leopold the See-Through Crumbpicker, 1961, thanks to Stickers and Stuff

Kangaroo for Christmas, 1962

My Friend Charlie, 1964

Grandpa's Farm, 1965

Sherwood Walks Home, 1966

Fishing with Dad, 1967

The Joking Man, 1968

Pishtosh Bullwash and Wimple, 1972

The Great Green Turkey Creek Monster, 1976

Grandpa's Ghost Stories, 1978

My thanks goes to the website and blog dedicated to Flora, and to the always delicious

Vintage Kid's Book My Kid Loves, which has uploaded most of the artist's books.

Sunday Safari - Happy Antlers

Kari Piippo, Rudolph serigraph, 1998

Sorry for this week's lack of posts, my life has been 

pretty hectic since it was the end of the school semester.

Finally as of today I am on vacation, ready to rest, return 

to my beloved Animalarium and ease into the festive spirit... 

Charles E. Martin, 1970

Roger Duvoisin, The Christmas Whale, 1945, via Curio Books

J.P. Miller, illustration from Jingle Bells, thanks to Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves

Jim Flora

Edward Bawden, thanks to All Things Considered.

J.Otto Seibold, Olive the other reindeer, thanks to Stella Baggott

Esquire cover, 1959

Werner Klemke

Dale Maxey, illustration from The wild and woolly animal book, 1966,

thanks to Bonito Club

Ronald Searle

Grim Natwick, late 1950s

Artur Barbosa, 1945

Hugo Horita

Christian Montenegro

Thereza Rowe

In the mood for more reindeer? Head on to Shelley Davies' lovely blog...

Shelley and I share similar tastes, and often similar ideas for postings. 

This time she beat me to it, but happily there's so much art out there 

that our selections barely overlap!

Sunday Safari - The Chicken & the Egg

G. Douanne propaganda poster,1916

thanks to trialsanderrors

And the chicks, of course.

Mariacininha, Comunidade

Marietje Vitteveen, De Gouden Haan, 1940

thanks to BibliOdissey

Mai Miturich, illustration from The Rainbow Book by Samuil Marshak, 1974,

thanks to art.crazed

Vyacheslav Legkobit illustration, 1976,

found thanks to Kickcan and Conkers

Eva Johanna Rubin, illustration for 3 x 3 three by three by James Kruss, 1963, 

thanks to eliz.avery

Hollie Wright, thanks to Art Finds

K. Kalinichevoy, illustration from 1962 Soviet book

Christopher Wormell

Jim Flora, Little Hatchy Hen

George Him cover from Graphis Annual 1961–62, 

thanks to the amazing Sandi Vincent, now a contributor at Aqua-Velvet

Saul Steinberg

Francesco Bongiorni

Sunday Safari - Pet Sounds

Christmas season is already upon us with its merry decorations and shopping frenzies. I can't think of a better soundtrack to accompany the festive spirit than the joyful animal carols echoing through the colors and harmonious graphics of these illustrations from around the world. Just imagine what kind of music this wild animal collective could play!

Cover of The Animal Fair by Alice and Martin Provensen

Illustration by Vera Ermolayeva

Ray Lamontagne concert poster by Furturtle Printworks, on sale at poster cabaret

Zoo Songs record cover by unknown artist,

thanks to Franco Matticchio for the scan

Bayou-Hoo by Amanda Visell

Two illustrations by Junzo Terada, seen just about everywhere these days!

Illustration by Jòzef Wilkon, upcoming feature at animalarium

Detail of a vintage match pack from El Paso, TX, from wackystuff's flickr collection

Mambo for Cats record cover by Jim Flora

JazzBird and JazzOlly by Ready2Rumbl

Blarollinger CD cover by Darling Clementine

Illustration from Around the World with Mouk by Marc Boutavant