356 Have you seen Eight Little Indians?
The next time you’re in a public library take a look to see if it has "Eight Little Indians" by Josephine Lovell, illustrated by Roger Vernam, published by Platt & Munk Co., Inc. 1935-36. Other than finding some for sale on the internet, I've been able to find nothing about either the author or the illustrator. I'm beginning to wonder if they are pseudonyms.I must have read this book 100 times when I was little--it belonged to my sister, Carol. I was crazy about the horse pictures and tried to imitate some of the activities I read about, like creating pottery.
About 10 years ago I found 2 or 3 of the chapters at an antique store, but in rather poor condition, which made me realize the chapters had been published separately, before appearing in book form. Even so, I bought them.
Wednesday I had an urge to go to the Acorn Used Book Store. Instead of first browsing the Ohioiana and children's books like I usually do, I went to the art books. Piled next to them were a stack of these small 10 page, beautifully illustrated books.
I bought the 8 Indian stories, and left the rest (all in mint condition), so obviously Platt & Munk and Roger Vernam had done others. Lovell's name doesn't appear on any of the individual titles (Watlala, an Indian of the Northwest; Gray Bird, a little Plains Indian; Winona, a little Indian of the prairies; Micco, a Seminole Indian boy; Nigalek, a little Eskimo boy; Antelope, a Navaho Indian boy; Morning Star, a little Pueblo girl; and Leaping Trout, a little Iroquois boy.
I would sure like to know something about the author and illustrator.
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6 comments:
I stumbled upon your blog page when googling my Dad's name (he's not nearly as famous as his uncle, Gilbert Vernam, from whom my dad got his middle name).
I don't know anything about the author ("Eight Little Indians" was published 12 years before I was born), but my Dad's name is real. He was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1912 and moved to Darien, CT in 1949 (when I was 2), where he lived until he passed away in 1992.
He mostly did book and magazine illustrations until about 1960, and then taught illustration at the Famous Artists School in Westport, CT until he retired.
I have several copies of many of his books, as well as some framed originals from my favorite: "Jungle Animals" (by Frank Buck, Random House, 1945).
What else would you like to know?
Peter Vernam (pvernam@draper.com)
Nahant, MA
Hi, Just googled Roger Vernam and came across your blog. I'm new at this, but wanted to let you know I have had a set of his Indian books since I was a little boy (born 1948). They are treasures to me and my children as well. We lived on an Ojibwe Indian Reserve in Canada for 6 years and "Leaping Trout" story truely captures some important things about the culture. I am interested in learning more about Roger Vernam. Thanks. Bill Morel
Roger Vernam wrote & illustrated "Drawing People for Fun", Harper & Brothers, 1943.
This book is a wondeful "how to draw: book
that my father gave to me in 1969.
I'm currently using many of the techniques he describes to teach drawing at SUNY.
Thanks Marty I'll keep my eye open for that one.
"8 Little Indians" was a boxed set I got when I was 7, in 1955. I LOVED them, and stared at the lovely pictures for hours. I am so glad to have stumbled across this blog where I see others loved Roger Vernam's illustrations as much as I did. I have begun to locate and buy old copies from the internet so I can enjoy them again. Thanks for posting! --Aunt Raven
I am not the only one!!
I loved this book so much and I too must have read it a hundred times as a kid. It was my father’s copy from the 50s and was at my grandparents house. I would read it nearly every week when we would visit.
I would also like to know more about the author and illustrator, especially if there are more stories. I found a used copy for myself and just reread it. There are a few language choices that many would find antiquated, but a lot of the stories have held up. For 1933, it is surprisingly progressive in representation. I would really like to know more about how the book came to be.
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