‘The Baby’s Opera – A Book of Old Rhymes with New Dresses’ was originally published in 1877. It contains the music for many English nursery songs, and is one of Crane’s best known ‘toy books’. The work is accompanied throughout by a series of dazzling colour illustrations – by Walter Crane himself.Walter Crane (1845 – 1915), was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children’s book creator of his generation. Alongside such names as Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, he was also one of the strongest contributors to the child’s nursery theme. Crane’s work is characteristically colourful and beautifully detailed, taking its inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement (of which he was a member), as well as the iconic child-in-the-garden motif. The artwork and the text of ‘Baby’s Opera: Old Rhymes and New Dresses’ are presented side-by-side, so that the two may be better appreciated.Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s classics and fairy tales – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.
