Kittens meet tortoise, 1893

   “What is it?” these kittens have got to be asking each other. A naked kitten? Some kind of toy? Should we chase it or play with it? Is it lunch?!

   This playful illustration was included in a beautiful book called “Our Friends and All About Them” by Edith Bland [the maiden name of E. Nesbit]. It’s filled with poems and pictures of animal friends that are sometimes sweet and sometimes made my heart ache. It was published in 1893 by Raphael Tuck & Sons. This particular image was illustrated by Fanny Moody (you can see her initials in the painting). 

   I like to think the kittens of this photo decided Mr. Tortoise was a friend. Now that would make an interesting children’s story!