Walter Crane’s Toy Books Series
Books for babies are called Toy Books. Prior to Walter Crane, they were often unremarkable. Then Crane produced a series of Toy Books that gradually transformed the toy book into a sophisticated art form. Some of them become the most popular children’s books of the day.
Books in the Walter Crane’s Toy Books series:
The Death and Burial of Cock Robin (1864)
A traditional tale of cock robin, the sparrow and a bow and arrow. Shown above is the rear cover of the very rare Painted Toy Book.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Cock Robin and Jenny Wren (1865)
A well-known nursery rhyme.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Comical Cat (1865)
A humorous poem similar to Old Mother Hubbard.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Farmyard Alphabet (1865)
An alphabet based on familiar farmyard scenes. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The “House that Jack Built” Alphabet (1865)
This version includes outline pictures, opposite the colored plates, to be filled in by the user.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Mamma’s New Picture Alphabet (1865)
An illustrated alphabet.
A was an Angler, so patient and still,
B was the bridge by the brook, near the mill.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Poor Cock Robin (1865)
The well known tale of the death and burial of Cock Robin.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Railroad Alphabet (1865)
A picture alphabet based on the railroad. Read for free online at State Library of South Australia.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
A Gaping-Wide-Mouth Waddling Frog (1866)
This is the reissue of this nonsense poem.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Sing a Song of Sixpence (1866)
Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye.
This is the cover for a later edition.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Chattering Jack (1867)
A nursery tale from Walter Crane. Read for free online at the Toronto Public Library. NOTE: that link downloads a very large file.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Multiplication Table in Verse (1867)
A unique approach to arithmetic. Read for free online at the Toronto Public Library. NOTE: that link downloads a very large file.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Old Courtier (1867)
An old ballad of the English gentry. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Grammar in Rhyme (1868)
An introduction to the parts of speech. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
How Jessie Was Lost (1868)
A young girl runs away from her nurse at the park and is taken to the keeper’s house where her loud weeping attracts her parents. Read for free online at Toronto Public Library.
Author(s):
Lucy Crane
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Routledge’s Coloured ABC Book (1868)
Includes Walter Crane’s Farm-Yard Alphabet.
Author(s):
Various
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Joseph Martin Kronheim
Annie and Jack in London (1869)
An illustrated tour of London in the 1860’s. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Lucy Crane
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
One, Two Buckle My Shoe (1869)
A counting rhyme. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Adventures of Puffy (1870)
A fluffy white Maltese dog gets into no end of trouble. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Lucy Crane
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Fairy Ship (1870)
A nonsense verse with illustrations. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
King Luckieboy’s Party (1870)
The months come to greet King Luckieboy at his birthday party.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
This Little Pig Went to Market (1870)
The familiar toe rhyme. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
King Luckieboy’s Picture Book (1871)
An omnibus containing The Old Courtier, King Luckieboy’s Party, This Little Pig Went to Market, and Picture Book.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Harrison Weir
Routledge’s Coloured Picture Book (1871)
This omnibus includes Chattering Jack and The Multiplication Table in Verse by Walter Crane. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Charles H. Bennett
Illustrator(s):
Charles H. Bennett
Walter Crane
Routledge’s Coloured Picture Book: Containing Happy Days of Childhood, Sing a Song of Sixpence, The Gaping-Wide-Mouth Frog, Hop o’ My Thumb (1871)
An omnibus containing Sing a Song of Sixpence and A Gaping-Wide-Mouth Waddling Frog by Crane and Happy Days of Childhood and Hop o’ My Thumb
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
T. Bolton
Walter Crane
Routledge’s Coloured Picture Book Containing How Jessie Was Lost, Grammar in Rhyme, The Babes in the Wood, Little Dog Trusty (1871)
How Jessie was Lost and Grammar in Rhyme are by Walter Crane.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Et al
Routledge’s Coloured Picture Book Containing King Grisly Beard, The Fairy Ship, Rumpelstiltskin, The Adventures of Puffy (1871)
Only The Fairy Ship and The Adventures of Puffy are by Walter Crane.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Routledge’s Coloured Picture Book Containing The Fancy Dress Ball, Annie and Jack in London, The Enraged Miller, Old King Cole (1871)
Annie and Jack in London is by Walter Crane.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Lucy Crane
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Et al
Routledge’s Coloured Picture Book Containing The Juvenile Party, One, Two Buckle My Shoe, History of Our Pets, The Cats’ Tea Party (1871)
One, Two Buckle My Shoe is by Walter Crane.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Et al
The Noah’s Ark Alphabet (1872)
An alphabet of animals who entered the Ark. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1873)
A boy is cutting firewood in the forest. He overhears some thieves open the way into a cave with the words “open sesame.” This is one of the best-known tales from the Arabian Nights. Read for free online at Internet Archive and at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Cinderella (1873)
A neglected stepdaughter, a fairy godmother and a prince. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
My Children (1873)
A poem in praise of the joys of parenthood. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
My Mother (1873)
A poetical paean to mothers. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Ann Taylor
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Three Bears (1873)
The story of the three bears and Silverlocks, told in verse. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Walter Crane’s New Toy Book (1873)
Omnibus containing One, Two Buckle My Shoe, The Adventures of Puffy, This Little Pig Went to Market, Noah’s Ark Alphabet, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Cinderella, My Mother, and The Three Bears.
Read for free online at the Toronto Public Library. NOTE: this link downloads a very large file.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Absurd ABC (1874)
Short beautifully illustrated and engraved A-Z book with a nursery rhyme theme. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Alphabet of Old Friends (1874)
The letters of the alphabet are presented through traditional nursery rhymes, set in gilded letters and paintings. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Beauty and the Beast (1874)
The classic tale of a daughter who redeems her father and saves her husband. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Frog Prince (1874)
Would you kiss a frog? Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Goody Two Shoes (1874)
A tale of two orphans and how they eventually prospered. Read for Free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
The Marquis of Carabas’ Picture Book (1874)
An omnibus containing The Absurd ABC, Old Mother Hubbard, Puss in Boots and Valentine and Orson. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Sarah Catherine Martin
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Old Mother Hubbard (1874)
The traditional rhyme about an old woman and her dog. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Sarah Catherine Martin
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Puss in Boots (1874)
The miller’s son sends his cat into the world to make him a fortune. The cover (above) is from a later reprinting. Read for free online at Internet Archive.
Author(s):
Lucy Crane
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Valentine and Orson (1874)
Twins separated at birth are reunited in knight errantry. Read for free online at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Walter Crane’s Picture Book (1874)
Eight stories including: King Luckieboy’s Party, The Old Courtier, How Jessie Was Lost, The Fairy Ship, Chattering Jack, Annie and Jack in London, Grammar in Rhyme, and The Multiplication Table in Verse.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Aladdin: or The Wonderful Lamp (1875)
New lamps for old! and a most obliging genie. Read for free online at Internet Archive and at the University of Florida.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane
Baby’s Own Alphabet (1875)
An illustrated ABC. Read for free online at Internet Archive. This is a collection of several of Walter Crane’s Toy Books.
Author(s):
Anonymous
Illustrator(s):
Walter Crane