One Monday Morning

One Monday Morning
text and pictures by Uri Shulevitz/ published 1967 by Charles Scribner's Sons

The illustrations of tenement New York in this book have to be some of my all time favorites. The drawings are just incredible, and the detail -- from the plaster cracks in the wall to a lone kite tangled up in a street sign -- is breathtaking. Plus, the simple story of a city boy's imagination... it couldn't be more fun and adorable.

One Monday morning the king,
the queen, and the little prince
came to visit me.
But I wasn't home.
So the little prince said,
"In that case we shall return on Tuesday."

The week progresses like this until the threesome have brought the cook, the barber, the royal guard, the jester and more to call upon the little boy. Seeing this gang trotting up the steps and buzzing the apartment over and over is too funny. Born in Warsaw, Poland during the time of the blitz and moved to New York in his early 20s, it is easy to see the influences of time and place in Uri's art. I can't say enough good stuff about this book. Easily available in paperback, please check out a copy! It's definitely a keeper.

Also by:
Dawn