This is an odd and interesting little children’s book I bought decades ago at Castle Books on the old Burbank mall. It was a great store and, as you can see by the label on the cover (50 cents), they had good prices. I have no idea if the store exists anymore.
Cover, front and back. Click on image to see it larger.
There’s a lot of information on the title page, but not much online. I cannot find anything about the Sass-Dorne Studio or illustrator Isabel Phillips. I did find out a bit about "claytoonist" Lowell Grant. I can also tell you there were five other books in this series besides Manners (published in 1943): Safety; Cleanliness; Kindness to Pets; Obedience; Going to Bed (and here).
The book, written in rhyme, teaches children proper manners. I do not remember these little characters, Mr. Do & Don’t, from my childhood. I recall the Goops being the ones who tried to teach me manners. To this day if I put my elbows on the table I’m convinced everyone is staring and thinking, “What a goop!”
Illustration by Isabel Phillips. Click on image to see it larger.
Leave it to the net to provided me with just enough information to make me look at this book from a different perspective, all due to the man who created the little characters of Mr. Do and Don’t. The sculptor was Lowell Grant.
Click on any image to see it larger.
I have not found anything definitive about “claytoonist Lowell Grant,” but I have found information about a Los Angeles based sculptor named Lowell Grant, and it’s very sad. According to the site filmforno.com (here and here) , Lowell Grant lived in Echo Park. He did sculptures for the Vincent Price movie Diary of a Madman. He also did work that was in collections all over the country such as churches, libraries, banks, and public buildings. Alas, Lowell Grant died in the 1970s when the kiln in his home blew up killing him and burning down the house. Apparently all that is left is the foundation which can be seen here. The site was used in a movie called Mi Vida Loca.
This book has been on my shelf for decades and I never took the time to do any research. Now when I do I look for information it ends with a sad story. I can’t be positive that the man who did these book illustrations is the same man who died in the explosion and fire, but I think it’s plausible.
Wow! Seeing Mr. Do & Mr. Don't took me back to grandma's house. This was one of my favorite books that was in grandma's toy box. I know, strange place for a book. I believe this book is sitting in my cedar chest back home in Idaho.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this!
So glad to have been able to bring back some memories.
DeleteCastle Books is long gone. I was a customer too.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I figured. It's sad it's gone.
DeleteHi I have a sculpture by Lowell Grant which really resembles these little characters. I'm starting a community to give Grant and his works some additional exposure. I will post a photo of the similar sculpture I have there.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good. Please send me a link when you get it.
Deleteyes this is him, i live on the edge of his old home its my back yard basically. i want to make a museum of his works from all the people who would be willing to donate or if not a digital museum, i run the echo park community inc 501 c3 please let me know if you get this and you can call 2132857851 if you would like to donate any lowel grant information or art to a non profit community organization that is about he heritage of this neighborhood he was so instrumental in developing. i am working on his back story as we speak.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this information! I love to collect old children's books and this series is dazzling. So much talent!
ReplyDelete