Bracebridge Hall

Another super-special gift I have to share:

Among my 8 siblings, we have a name rotation at Christmas. The Rodgers Family (my sister Rachel), had the Blairs this year. And they spoiled us. Rachel knows I collect books that have won the Caldecott Award and she sent a bunch for the whole family. Very cool.

But even cooler than that. And totally unexpected. She sent an antique book illustrated by Randolph Caldecott himself--the illustrator the award was named after.

Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving
Illustrated by Randolph Caldecott

I love how it looks. I love how it smells. I love the story. I love the illustrations — all engravings. I especially love that it's inscribed: William Kay Waterson, with J.W. White's very kind [word I can't make out], Christmas 1876.

Thank you, Rachel!