So, sometimes you don’t know what you have until you research it.  This vintage dot-to-dot book in David’s collection took me by surprise.  While doing the research on this book, I looked up the illustrator.  Usually, the illustrator is not well known, after all, it’s just a dot-to-dot book.  But when “Snow White”, “Bugs Bunny” and “Elmer Fudd” popped up, I knew it was a big illustrator. The Story of the Three Bears (dot-to-dot version) illustrated by Charles “Cartoon Charlie” Thorson is a rare find.  The book was printed by James & Jonathan Inc. for publisher Samuel Lowe Company, Kenosha, WI in 1956.  The art work from Thorson was from an earlier Three Bears story from April 1946, publisher: John Martin’s House ( a trade name of Lowe’s).

According to the University of Manitoba Archive Collection, “Cartoon Charlie” retired to British Columbia in 1956.  Throughout his illustrating career Charlie worked for Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Fleisher Studios and Eaton’s.  He is the original creator of Bugs Bunny, but Warner Brothers changed the look of Bugs to the current rabbit’s appearance.  There was even a book written about his career, “Cartoon Charlie: The Life and Art of Animation Pioneer Charles Thorson“, by Gene Waltz.

Back to the vintage dot-to-dot book…this book is different from most books.  The front cover has a spinner on it.  The spinner animates dotted lines and shows the furniture and bowls “Golden-Locks” tries to use.  Originally the artwork came from “The Story of the Three Bears” (story book) illustrated by Charles in 1946. The images were added to the dot-to-dot version.  The first Three Bears story was written in the 1800s.  A later variation is used in this dot-to-dot book. It seems that Samuel Lowe Company reprinted the Thorson’s original story book, adding the dot-to-dot puzzles and possibly removing some images.  The original book is said to have 32 pages.  The dot-to-dot version has 24 pages with only 12 artwork images.  The other 12 pages have simple dot-to-dot puzzles with numbers up to 25.  The cover does not look like Thorson’s art.  I also do not see his signature on it.   “The Story of the Three Bears” dot-to-dot originally sold for 25c and is #4439 of the Checkerboard Bonnie Books series.

“Follow the Dots, Easy Drawing Book, with my very own pictures” is one of the oldest dot-to-dot books in David Kalvitis’ collection. David has spent over 10 years searching for classic books with over 50 in his collection so far.  Each picture can be viewed in its larger format by clicking the picture.

“Follow the Dots, Easy Drawing Book, with my very own pictures”: 1926-1930? (no date on book) copyright softcover from Cupples & Leon Publisher, New York. I believe the original (by Ward Lock & Co.) was printed in 1926 in the UK.  It seems Cupples & Leon published these dot-to-dot books in the United States for Ward Lock & Co. There is no auther listed but the illustrator is Helen Grace Culverwell Marsh-Lambert (1888-1981) or H.G.C. Marsh-Lambert as she signed her books. 

This book is part of a series called “The Rainy Day Books,” and is the only one in David’s collection at this time.

I chuckled when I read the inside cover. The author states it is an easy drawing book “with my very own pictures”.  It’s more like “with traced pictures I followed the numbers on”.  There is no room for a child to “draw” their own picture.  The image is already there, they just have to follow the directions to discover it.

The next page has the instructions:

“WHAT TO DO

The “Follow the Dots” Books will give you lots of fun and at the same time help you to draw and write. On nearly every page there are pictures for you to make all by yourself.  With your little pencil you just draw a line from dot number 1 to dot number 2, and from dot number 2 go on to dot number 3, and so on, until you come to the very last number on the pagg, and then– why then you will find you have made a picture all by your very own self!
Shall we make haste and begin?

Here is a tale about an Elf (The pictures you shall draw yourself!)”

So, I did find something in this dot-to-dot book that is controversial!  Yep, in a kids dot-to-dot book…  who would have thought?  Back in the early 1900’s it was very common to have books and toys with a Golliwog.  Never heard of a Golliwog?  Here is what Wikipedia has to say – Golliwog Wiki.  The Golliwog is the little “blackface minstrel” standing with Peter Rabbit.  I’m not sure if they had Peter Rabbit licensing back in the 1920’s but he seems to be popular in dot-to-dot books not made by Beatrix Potter.

I found this book was set up with a sentence or phrase that the child could guess before they solved the puzzle. This book also seems to help teach cursive writing.

The rest of the “Rainy Day” books are listed on the back cover:

• Rainy Day Book
• Rhymes and Riddles
• Playtime Book
• Nature Book
• Easy Drawing Book
• Humpty Dumpty Book
• Noah’s Ark ABC
• The Three Bear’s Book