cover image Then + Now Book of Days CL

Then + Now Book of Days CL

Eileen Doolittle, Starr Ockenga. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), $16.95 (26pp) ISBN 978-0-395-52153-3

Similar to Ockenga's The Ark in the Attic , this calendar book contains photographic reproductions of hundreds of artifacts pertinent to real and fictional personalities. The oversized spreads consist of a monthly calendar page--which is not day-specific--opposite crowded depictions of stuffed figures, campaign buttons, dolls, antique toys, etc. The photographs are set against Doolittle's painted backgrounds, a confusing device that renders the objects nearly indistinguishable from their settings. The more serious problem, however, is in understanding this odd book's purpose and/or appeal. The names included by each date seem randomly chosen, and many offer little of interest to children: this book is not the place to commemorate the birthdays of tire inventor Andre Michelin and author John Updike (and Pigeon Feathers is hardly the latter's best known work, though the only one listed). Beatrix Potter is noted as the creator of Jeremy Fisher--the immortal Peter Rabbit is omitted. Composer Alan Lerner is listed, with no entry for his collaborator, Fritz Loewe--and this talented duo will definitely not go into the record books--as noted here--as the creators of Paint Your Wagon . A truly egregious error is the entry listing Anton Chekhov as the author of The Doll's House : the play ( A Doll's House ) is by Henrik Ibsen. The list of inconsistencies and inaccuracies goes on and on in this misguided and inept work. All ages. (Aug.)