Williams, Margery: Poor Cecco (illus-Rackham). v1. 12 Feb 2020
 

Poor Cecco
The Wonderful Story of a Wonderful Wooden Dog Who Was the Jolliest Toy in the House Until He Went Out to Explore the World

By Margery Williams Bianco (1881–1944)

Illustrated by Arthur Rackham (1867–1939)


Poor Cecco longs to explore the world beyond the toy box, so the spunky wooden dog determines to conduct a treasure hunt. Join Bulka, the woeful rag puppy, cheerful Harlequin, Easter Chicken, greedy Money-Pig, and other spirited toys for a host of adventures, from a run-in with some ducks and a battle with a tribe of feisty rats to a dance to a country fiddle and a party with a friendly family of woodchucks. But beware of wicked Murrum, the black cat, who knows all the household secrets.

Seven lovely full-page color illustrations and chapter decorations by Arthur Rackham add to the charm of this little book.

* * * * * * * * *
Margery Williams Bianco was an English-American author, primarily of popular children’s books. A professional writer from the age of nineteen, she achieved lasting fame at forty-one with the 1922 publication of her first children’s book, the classic that is her best-known work, The Velveteen Rabbit. The story has received a number of awards, and has been adapted numerous times for the stage and for animated and live-action film and television.

Williams produced numerous books and short stories. The undertone of sadness and the themes of death and loss that often flow through her children’s books have been criticized by some reviewers, but Williams always maintained that hearts acquire greater humanity through pain and adversity. There was always melancholy, but in the end the reader emerged spiritually uplifted.
(—adapted from Wikipedia.)


* * * * * * * * *
First published in 1925, this book is in the public domain where copyright is “Life+70” or less.