Love Is a Special Way of Feeling

Love Is a Special Way of Feeling
by Joan Walsh Anglund/ published 1960 by Harcourt, Brace & World

Let me just say that my idealized childhood (the way my mother envisioned it) would have been populated only with the likes of Kate Greenaway, Tasha Tudor, Carl Larsson and this little lady, Joan Walsh Anglund. Most all of her books dotted my youth, so to become reacquainted with her thoroughly at my mom's house was a treat. I also am remembering that there is a signed (with scribbled illustrations of me and my sisters!) copy of one of her books hanging around. I couldn't find it in Virginia, but suspect it might be tucked away in the stuff from my previous single life. Some searching needs to be done indeed.

I've always found the sweet little expressionless and possibly mouthless children Ms. Anglund draws to be charming, and this wee little book is beyond cute. It is so filled with cotton candy goodness that it is hard not to get teary-eyed thinking about the people in your life who you feel the warm fuzzies for. Par example...

Love comes quietly...
but you know when it is there,
because, suddenly...
you are not alone any more...
and there is no sadness
inside of you.

For all the sap that might come with this sort of sentiment, you gotta admit, it does feel good to not be alone in the world. All of us can relate to that.

Also by:
Nibble Nibble Mousekin
The Cowboy's Christmas