Come, Read With Me!

"Books"

By Eleanor Farjeon

What worlds of wonder are our books!
As one opens them and looks,
New ideas and people rise
In our fancies and our eyes.

The room we sit in melts away,
And we find ourselves at play
With some one who, before the end,
May become our chosen friend.

Or we sail along the page
To some other land or age.
Here's our body in the chair,
But our mind is over there.

Each book is a magic box
Which with a touch a child unlocks.
In between their outside covers
Books hold all things for their lovers.

Come Meet my new Friend, Eleanor Farjeon!:

“ELEANOR FARJEON (1881-1965) grew up in England in a house filled with books, and she and her brothers enjoyed reading stories to one another and writing their own. In America, Farjeon’s best-known work may be the hymn "Morning Has Broken," later recorded by Cat Stevens. Farjeon was pleased when The Little Bookroom won the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Carnegie Medal, but she turned down another honor—Dame of the British Empire—explaining that she "did not wish to become different from the milkman." At her death, the Children’s Book Circle established the Eleanor Farjeon Award in her honor.” ~Amazon.com Editorial Reviews/About the Author

Morning Has Broken
As sung by Cat Stevens
lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon

Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the world

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

Eleanor Farjeon is described as been small, shy and quiet, and she wore glasses from the age of eight. Her parents contributed much to her career as a writer and poet. She had a vigorous imaginary life, especially with her older brother Harry (who became a composer). Though very shy and emotionally immature into her thirties, she was well acquainted with a circle of talented artists, writers and musicians. Eleanor Farjeon was a writer and poet and playwright.©

Here, let me introduce you to Eleanor Farjeon’s Family:

Her father, Benjamin Leopold Farjeon was a successful writer and novelist©

Maggie (Jefferson) Farjeon, her mother, was the daughter of a well known American actor (his father and grandfather were also actors)©

She had three brothers: Harry Farjeon (who became a composer), Joseph Farjeon and Herbert Farjeon (who were writers); she was 2nd in rank in the family.©

And these are some of Eleanor Farjeon’s Friends, (She was a friend of many poets, etc.):

D.H. Lawrence, Walter de la Mare, Robert Frost, and his close friend Edward Thomas©

Eleanor Farjeon’s Bragging Rights:

©Awards Received:
Library Association Carnegie Medal of Great Britain, 1956
Hans Christian Anderson International Medal, 1956
Catholic Library Regina Medal of America, 1959
Children's Book Circle created the Eleanor Farjeon Award in her memory.
Piddock Day in NYC - a celebration based on one of her stories.


All About Eleanor Farjeon’s Work:

The stories and other writings of Eleanor Farjeon include for children: 30 works of fiction, most were collections of stories; three plays based on fairy tales, 33 publications of verse, and eight other books. Writings for adults included 11 novels, as well as plays, verse, and biography. Most are probably hard to find, though a number of her collections of stories were reprinted in the 1950's.©

(Please note the above text, marked © (about this wonderfully, delightful Author) were copied from Barry McWilliams - Eleanor Farjeon: A Story Writer. There you will find fantastic illustrations, many excellent links, especially links about Eleanor Farjeon’s Family and Friends.

The Reunion:

In 1955, The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjeon was originally published. In 2003, the New York Review of Books (New York Review Books ) reprinted this book. “In The Little Bookroom, Eleanor Farjeon mischievously tilts our workaday world to reveal its wonders and follies. Her selection of her favorite stories describes powerful—and sometimes exceedingly silly—monarchs, and commoners who are every bit their match; musicians and dancers who live for aft rather than earthly reward; and a goldfish who wishes to "marry the Moon, surpass the Sun, and possess the World." -Book Description

One of the many places The Little Bookroom can be purchased is at Powell’s Books, where ‘Your’ comments on Eleanor Farjeon’s book or many other books could give you a chance to win books from Powell’s Books.

Thanks for coming by ‘binding ink’ to read with me and making the acquaintance of our new Friend, Eleanor Farjeon.

Here's to the Kid in us All!