Tiny Nonsense Stories

Tiny Golden Library

By Dorothy Kunhardt

Illustrations by Garth Williams

Copyright 1949

“I’m glad these are going to someone who appreciates them.  Sorry I scribbled on them when I was four.”  These are the words I heard while walking away from the flea market booth with this little treasure – a boxed set of 12 Tiny Golden Books from 1949.  

Randy loved his books.  He wrote his name in almost every one; sometimes mirror-image, sometimes correctly.  From his drawings, I gather that he also liked cars.  He treasured these books enough to hold on to the whole slightly tattered set for all these years.  And now they will continue to be treasured.  

I read each book on the ride home from Wisconsin.  All are short, happy little stories with adorable pictures.  Tiny books for tiny hands.  Some teach a lesson.  Others are just for fun.  The only story that gave me a surprise was Uncle Quack since it would be considered inappropriate for today’s child.  

Frederick Duck travels to the city to visit his Uncle Quack.  Like many uncles, he likes to tease.  His uncle has bought him a gift, but Frederick has to guess which wing it is hiding under.  It’s not under Uncle’s  left wing.  It’s not under his right wing either.  Silly Uncle.  He has hidden it under Mrs. Duck’s wing.  But Frederick has to try to hide his disappointment in the gift.  Oh, wait a minute.  Uncle Quack is joking again.  It isn’t really a package of cigarettes.

“Chocolate cigarettes!  And here is little Frederick smoking one now.  He’s a lucky duck, isn’t he?”

Yes, times have changed in many ways.  What hasn't changed is that children still treasure their books!