Our Best Friends by Gyo Fujikawa was my favorite book as a child. I remember being five years old and flipping the pages over and over again. Everything about it was perfect: the bunny, Smudge the cat, the little boy named Larry who always had a sparrow perched on his finger. My favorite page of my favorite book was of the house sitting on a large expanse of green lawn dotted with pink trees. I stared and stared and stared, committing it to memory almost, taken in by the happy house with the big red door. Obsessed with red doors, even then, in 1977.
It was raining when I took these pictures, and had been for hours. The sky was cloudy, like memories.
[p.s. I announced the winners of the book club giveaway on the original post. The publisher got wind of the giveaway and put in two more books, for a total of four. That made me happy! Maybe more book club giveaways are on the horizon?]
I don’t remember this book. Must not have been in my repertoire.
I love red doors too. What is it about them?
They’re awesome. That’s what it is about them. ;)
I second everything you said! I still love his books and would spend all day pouring over the little girls and boys and animals. To my delight I found a large reprint in Half-Price Books in TX when the kids were little. They are a joy. Do have Half-Price Books in CA? They are great and really worth a road trip.
p.s., Snagged a library copy and finished the book club selection. Very excited to chat- hope I remember it all by months end.
Gyo was a WOMAN. I know, can you believe it? Her father named her after a Chinese emperor he admired. She was bad-ass before she even started illustrating books.
Gyo Fujikawa illustrated ” A Child’s Garden of Verses “, by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was one of my childhood favorites.
My husband and I painted our first home’s door red.
I’ve always wanted to paint our door red, but we have yet to live in a house where that would work.
Oh, I’ve yet to read this wee book. And isn’t funny how your personality pops up, even when you’re little? I remember reading The Little House–and I cried and cried when the house could no longer see the sun. We read that but once. I much preferred the likes of Go Dog Go . . . adventure, friends, and party hats . . . now that was a story! :)
I love what you said about personalities popping up. I wonder what that means for Mikey and Nicholas? Will Mikey always be creative and love cooking? Will Nico always be so tender-hearted? I’m excited to see.
Gyo Fujikawa is at the TIP TOP of my Kid Lit Greats — I’m collecting as many of her works as I can and I’ve written several posts about her.
I love this book SO MUCH, we own it as well! My all time fav is ‘Oh What a Busy Day’ and her fairy tale book, and’ Come Follow Me to the Secret World of Elves & Fairie’s — oh heck, they are ALL my favorites!
Ooooh, you make we want to find the rest of her books and buy them!
I want to chomp on his little shark covered feet. I love baby feet and he really is a baby even if he doesn’t think so;)
Wow- just $2.50 for a children’s book. What a deal!
In 1977–that’s the original price tag!
She wrote “Babies” as well, which was one of my all time favorites. It’s hard to find now, but I’ve often given it as a shower gift. Babies love to look at …. babies!