Girl sewing while cat plays, 1924

  This little girl is working so hard at her hand sewing, seeming to concentrate on each stitch. Meanwhile, right at her feet, her kitty is having a blast making a jumbled mess of her thread!

  This illustration by Marguerite Davis is from a 1924 book of children's rhymes called "Sing-Song" by Christina G. Rossetti. The short poem that accompanied it reads:

A pocket handkerchief to hem-

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear!

How many stitches it will take

Before it's done, I fear.

Yet set a stitch and then a stitch,

And stitch and stitch away,

Till stitch by stitch the hem is done-

And after work is play !

  Umm, looks like Kitty has already started on the play!
  

 This image was published in the United States more than 95 years ago, making it in the public domain. This means you can use it freely however you wish - alter it, share it, save it, enjoy it! Click on the image for a larger version.

Two children looking through sewer grate, circa 1889

  You can almost feel the sadness coming off these children, looking forlornly through a sewer grate, the little boy trying to reach down for a lost coin. 

  This image accompanied a short (very short!) story aptly called "A Great Loss"; it began: "Yes, little ones, you may as well give it up, it is quite out of reach - the cent is lost!"

  Dorothy Tennant drew this picture, included in the 1890 Baby's Annual, published circa 1889. 

  

  I also played around with improving the clarity a bit - this one was my favorite! These are both in the public domain. Use them freely and enjoy! Click on either image for a larger version.

A family of chickens with ducklings, 1895

 

   These chicks looked like they were having so much fun, that the resident ducklings wandered over to see if they could have a turn, too!

  I just love this sweet image from the German children's book "Lustiges Völkchen" by Cornelie Lechler, published in 1895. Illustrations were attributed to May Bowley and William Foster, though this one isn't signed, so the artist is unknown at this point.

The image above was enhanced using a filter; the image below is the original. Both are in the public domain, as stated by Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, which digitized and shared this and many other books. (We thank them heartily!)

Mamma Goose and her goslings, 1913

  Check out that bonnet - Mamma Goose has style! 

  Frances Beem is one of those underappreciated illustrators I love to "discover". She dedicated her life to children and art through writing and illustrating children's books, as well as through her many years as an art teacher in Chicago. 

  She's the artistic mind behind this whimsical image of a proud mama goose taking a stroll with her crew of goslings. (Check out her artist's mark in the lower right corner - I love it!) 

  This illustration was included in the 1913 children's book "The Wise Mamma Goose" by Charlotte B. Herr. 

  This image is in the public domain in the United States, having been published in Chicago over 95 years ago. 

Pretend play ship, circa 1889

   It doesn't take much browsing around this blog to realize that I love illustrations of children playing, especially pretend play. And this one is a treasure!

  It's the work these children have put into the pretend - this "ship" took some time to come together! And the fun they're clearly having together. And the awestruck look on the face of the littlest one in front - now *that* face is priceless!

   This picture was included in the "1890 Baby's Annual: Pictures and Stories for Little People", published in Boston by D. Lothrop & Company. Unfortunately, as with many of these kinds of anthologies, the authors and illustrators didn't get attribution. So I can't tell you who created this scene, but we can enjoy it together it's in anonymity.

  This picture is in the public domain, having been published in the United States over 95 years ago. You can use it freely, however you wish. Click on either image for a larger version.

Two Girls at a Fence, circa 1885

   Can you just imagine these two friends, chatting by the fence that separates their yards? Sharing secrets, making plans...trying to delay starting chores??

   Unfortunately, I don't know the artist, but this was an illustration from the title story of "Little Crumbs and Other Stories", published by D. Lothrop & Co. in Boston, circa 1885. 

Children playing with toy boats, circa 1897

  It's just a peaceful day, playing with toy boats in the water, until...yikes! It's getting away! 

  I hate when that happens!

  This illustration is titled "Little Mariners" from a McLoughlin Bros. book published about 1897 titled "To Pass the Time". 

  I would guess that, "to pass the time", one of these kiddos is going to have to wade into the water and catch that boat. And soon! 

  The picture is signed "L.L." in the lower right corner. That's the only indication of the illustrator I could find.