Birds and Beasts by William Jay Smith - 1990 First Edition - Jacques Hnizdovsky Woodcuts - Vintage Child Book

Beautiful poems and woodcut illustrations. 1990 first edition of Birds and Beasts by William Jay Smith and Jacques Hnizdovsky.

Written by William Jay Smith. Illustrated by Jacques Hnizdovsky. 1990 first edition. David R. Godine, Publisher, Boston.

FRONT FLAP

"Poet William Jay Smith here joins with artist Jacques Hnizdovsky to create a sprightly and elegant collection of poems to read aloud. In the Godine tradition of publishing books for children that both challenge and delight, this is one edition that just may be more prized by parents, for we have decided to do the collaboration justice by printing it letterpress (which the woodcuts in a very subtle third color). But even if you are not enamored of the dent of metal in paper, you will certainly be seduced by Smith's marvelous sprung rhythms and catchy cadences, with each poem accompanied by the strong and vibrant woodcuts created by the gentle genius of Jacques Hnizdovsky."

CAT

"Cats are not at all like people,
Cats are Cats.

"People wear stockings and sweaters,
Overcoats, mufflers, and hats.
Cats wear nothing: they lie by the fire
For twenty-four hours if they desire.
They do NOT rush out to the office,
They do NOT have interminable chats,
They do NOT play Old Maid and Checkers,
They do NOT wear bright yellow spats.

People, of course, will always be people,
But Cats are Cats."

William Jay Smith (1918 - 2015) was an award-winning American poet, a Rhodes Scholar, and a Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.

Jacques Hnizdovsky's (1915–1985) woodcuts for Birds and Beasts are stunning. A native of Ukraine, he was a painter, printmaker, graphic designer, illustrator, and sculptor. He was inspired by Japanese woodblock printing and the woodcuts of Albrecht Durer. He printed his own woodcuts and linocuts in his home studio.

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Condition*: Near Fine/Very Good. Dust jacket: Mild shelf wear; mild sunning along spine; line on back transferred from the cover. Pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.