Her Books

Michigan's Marguerite de Angeli: The Story of Lapeer's Native Author-Illustrator

William Anderson, 1987. William Anderson, Lapeer, MI

This is a book for any lover of children's literature, lover of art, or lover of Michigan history. Not only will you learn about the remarkable life of Lapeer's most famous personage, you will learn about the history of Lapeer during the time of Mrs. de Angeli's childhood. Lapeer was always home to Mrs. de Angeli and she returned here often. In this book, we share many of her public moments including the dedication of the library building in her honor during the 1981 Lapeer Days.

ISBN 09610088-6-5

Ted and Nina Go to the Grocery Store (1935)

After a decade of illustrating for other writers, deAngeli was asked by an editor to write and supply drawings for a small book suitable for first graders to read to themselves. "There were Bettys and Peters everywhere, " she noted, so she chose her own children's names for the principal characters. Her youngest son, Maurey, was used as a model for the character of Ted. The subject for this book is simple and employs experiences familiar to most children.

(Out of print; Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint rights granted to Lapeer District Library)

 

Ted and Nina Have a Happy Rainy Day (1936)

While the previous book was in progress, the author was asked to produce a companion title of the same genre, so that two books could be simultaneously printed, permitting Doubleday to sell each at 50 cents during the Depression economy. In the second book, the author described a day spent indoors out of the rain, exploring the trappings of the old attic. The first two Ted and Nina books established the author's reputation and her connection with Doubleday, her major publisher, and Margaret Lesser, her only editor. (Out of print; Copyright retained by Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint rights granted to the Lapeer District Library)

 

Henner's Lydia (1936)

This book describes life within an Amish family in the Pennsylvania Dutch county. With this book, deAngeli began her long tradition of on-the scene research for authentic material and flavor. She spent time in the Amish county and through what she termed "happy coincidences" she was able to visit in the homes and schools of natives. Her editor once alluded to deAngeli's "natural and unconscious friendliness which opened many a door to her." It was her enthusiastic spontaneity that helped her gain admission to Amish homes. In 1978, the author remarked that Henner's Lydia was one of the best-selling of her long list of books. (Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint by Herald Press) ISBN 0-836-19093-9 Price $14.99 To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

Petite Suzanne (1937)

Because the French-Canadians, like the Pennsylvania Dutch, maintained their traditions, deAngeli was anxious to gather material and write of their culture. She journeyed to Gaspe Peninsula and lived with a French-Canadian family for a week. The result was a story filled with folk ways and customs of daily life, as experienced by a French-Canadian girl named Suzanne.

(Out of print; Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint rights to Bethlehem Books)

 

Copper-Toed Boots (1938)

The book which Marguerite based on her own family and life in Lapeer, Michigan, during the 1870's. Chosen as one of Michigan's most notable books.

(Copyright retained by Doubleday; Reprint 1996 Wayne State Press, Detroit MI) To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

Skippack School (1939)

Author Elsie Singmaster suggested that deAngeli examine the life of school-master and humanist Christopher Dock who was legendary at the Mennonite School near Skippack, Pennsylvania during the1700s. deAngeli conducted research for this book, which has as its protagonist a Mennonite boy named Eli Shrawder. Her use of the German Fratur Schriffe adds to the decorative quality of this volume.

(Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint: 1997 Herald Press, Scottdale PA) ISBN 0-861-9083-1 Price $12.99 To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

A Summer Day with Ted and Nina (1940)

The third and last of the Ted and Nina series. All three books were re-issued under one cover in 1965 as The Ted and Nina Storybook.

(Out of print; Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint rights granted to Lapeer District Library)

 

Thee, Hannah! (1940)

In Morretown, Pennsylvania, deAngeli was introduced to a 92-yearold Quaker lady who became the prototype for the Hannah character. In this book, Quaker discipline and its effect on children was explored. The setting is Philadelphia in the 1850's and Abolitionists, Quakers and the Underground Railroad are described. (Copyright retained by Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint: 1999 Herald Press, Scottdale PA) ISBN 0-861-9106-4 Price $15.99 To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

Elin's Amerika (1941)

This is the story of a Swedish settler who lived in Delaware at the time of William Penn. Kindly brotherhood and cooperation with the region's Native Americans are expressed in this story told through the point of view of Elin. deAngeli conducted research for this book at the Swedish Museum in South Philadelphia. (Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

Up the Hill (1942)

This book was born through the deAngeli' participation in musical quartets. Acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ryglewicz inspired this story of a young mine worker who aspires to an art career. deAngeli visited a Pennsylvania mining town and absorbed much local color. She also studied Polish customs, food, language, music, and daily life from her Polish friends. The book also provides a glossary and pronunciation key to words and phrases utilized in the text. (Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

Yonie Wondernose (1944)

This is the second of deAngeli's books with the Pennsylvania Dutch country as a setting.

A Caldecott Honor winner in 1945 (Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint: 1997, Herald Press, Scottdale PA)

ISBN 0-861-9083-1 Price $12.99 To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

Turkey For Christmas (1944)

This is one of two deAngeli titles which did not appear with Doubleday's imprint; it was issued by Westminster in 1944 as a small Christmas token. This story is the semi-autobiographical account, describing the Lofft family's first Christmas spent in Philadelphia after moving there in 1902. The first edition was decorated with small sketches, but in 1965, deAngeli provided a mixture of color and richly detailed charcoal sketches for amore lavish edition.

(Out of print; Reprint rights granted to the Lapeer District Library)

 

Bright April (1946)

This is considered the first modern children's book about an African-American child. Bright April is set in the Germantown section of Philadelphia and was six years in the making before Doubleday would publish the story. In the story, deAngeli addresses the problem of racial prejudice and how children are able to gain understanding and tolerance through their own natural devices. Bright April was a milestone in children's publishing and stands out as a historical accomplishment in the field of children's literature. An honor book of the New York Herald-Tribune's Spring Book Festival.

(Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

The Empty Barn (1946) 

Written with her son, Arthur C. de Angeli and based upon his experience on his farm in Red Hill, Pennsylvania, where he lived with his wife, Nina, and his daughter, Kate. The story is about Kate, who is excited to move to a farm because of the animals that are always there. She is disappointed to discover that the barn is empty when she arrives and the book recounts her adventures filling the barn with life.

 

Jared's Island (1947)

The deAngeli summer home at Tom's River, New Jersey, suggested the setting for this book. The tale involves a Scottish boy named Jared Craig who shipwrecks on Barnagat Shoals in the early 1700's.He is rescued by a Quaker, but runs away to live with Indians. Rumors of pirate legends in the deAngeli neighborhood of Money Island prompted the insertion of buried treasure within the plot-line. The symbol of a sentinel oak-tree which the author used in her story later proved to be a reality. "Once again," deAngeli noted, "I had imagined something that was true."

(Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

The Door in the Wall (1949) | Read excerpts from the Newbery Acceptance Speech

A crippled friend of the deAngeli family who participated with their musical evenings suggested to Marguerite the need for a book about a child dealing with a handicap. Robin, the hero of The Door in the Wall, struggles with his lameness in thirteenth century England. He is assisted in his search for self-worth by Brother Luke, a monk who tells him, "It is better to have crooked legs than a crooked spirit." Robin, through his personal bravery, is able to save a besieged castle, proving Brother Luke's advice to be true: "Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it." deAngeli remarks that she sought to show children in this story that, "It's not who you are that counts, it's what you do with what you have that matters."

The winner of the 1950 Newbery Award; given the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1961.

(Copyright retained by Doubleday - in continuous printing since 1949)

ISBN 0-385-07283-X Price $16.95 hardback ; ISBN 0-440-22779-8 Price $4.99 paperback To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

The Door in the Wall Audio Cassette

1949, Bantam Doubleday Dell, NY; Performance by Roger Rees

ISBN 0-553-52522-0 $16.99 To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

Just Like David (1951)

deAngeli explored "the curiously fascinating theme of the child's relationship to the outside world in Just Like David. She used the family of her daughter Nina as prototypes for story and illustration, and the adventures of her grandsons, David, Henry and Jeffrey, as they move from Pennsylvania to a new home near Cincinnati. In deAngeli's words, this book was "representative of most children's longing to be like an older brother or sister."

(Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes (1954)

This is a lavish, oversized book, perennially successful and best-selling of the deAngeli books. Doubleday assigned its premiere author the task of illustrating and selecting this collection, which included 376 rhymes. The project took three years to complete. Haviland, in Children and Literature; Views and Reviews, considers this book "the best" and compliment's deAngeli's "quick recognition of Mother Goose's go power. The pictures move and thanks to generously designed space, have ample room to bounce about...". Full-page color illustrations are done in clean, soft pastels and reflect both the artist's familiarity with Philadelphia and London scenes. In illustrating a family around a holiday table, she combined Dickensan influence with her own Lofft family memories. Her granddaughter, Kate (Arthur's daughter) served as a frequent model while the drawings were being made. Kate's personal copy of the book attests to her model status. Her grandmother wrote: "To Kate, who hops and skips through this book."

A Caldecott Honor book in 1955. (Out of print; Copyright retained by Doubleday)

Learn more about her illustrations

 

The Black Fox of Lorne (1956)

This book, which follows the Mother Goose volume, attests to deAngeli's versatility. BLACK FOX OF LORNE is historical fiction for older readers and is comparable to DOOR IN THE WALL in richness of historical setting. The story occurred in the tenth century, with two Viking twins shipwrecked on the Scottish coast. They seek to avenge the death of their father and encounter loyal clansmen at war, kindly shepherds, power-hungry lairds and staunch crofters. A Newbery Honor Book 1957. (Out of print; Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

The Old Testament (1960)

Through her concertizing, deAngeli was familiar with the literature of the Old Testament and was interested in illustrating scenes from Biblical stories. Doubleday sent the author and her daughter Nina to the Holy Land to gather the local color and historical accuracy needed to illustrate this book with accurate flavor. The complete collection of the magnificent art produced by deAngeli for this oversized volume is at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

(Out of print; Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

A Pocket Full of Posies (1961)

This is an abbreviated form of the original Mother Goose book, containing 77 of the most familiar jingles and a sampling of favorite illustrations from the previous works.

(Out of print; Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

Marguerite deAngeli's Book of Favorite Hymns (1963)

This is an illustrated collection of favorite religious songs, many of them familiar to deAngeli from her musical career.

(Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

The Goose Girl (1964)

deAngeli's newly illustrated version of the Grimm favorite was from a new translation of the original story.

(Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

The Door in the Wall: A Play (1969)

A dramatization of the Newbery Award classic, which was written by Arthur deAngeli and illustrated by his mother.

(Out of print: Copyright retained by Arthur deAngeli)

 

Butter at the Old Price (1971)

This is Marguerite deAngeli's autobiography, chronicling her life and career through 1960. She traces her childhood in Lapeer and Philadelphia, her musical career, family life and beginnings as an illustrator. In detail she recounts all the interesting people, places, events and research which contributed to her literary career.

(Out of print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

Read an interview with Mrs. deAngeli telling about this book's title.

 

Fiddlestrings (1974)

This is one of deAngeli's longer books, based on the boyhood of her husband John Daily deAngeli, in the 1890's. deAngeli used as a sub-plot the difficulty of combining discipline of musical training with more active pursuits of boyhood. This book is in the vein of COPPER-TOED BOOTS as it recounts the escapades of a family member.

(Out of Print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

The Lion in the Box (1975)

This is the second of deAngeli's Christmas stories. "In essence, it is true," said the author. The tale is of a New York family, headed by a widowed mother who cleans offices foray living. The poverty of the family is especially evident around Christmas, when a huge crate arrives at their flat. Delivery men tease the children by telling them a lion lives in the box. In fact, the box contains lavish gifts from wealthy Mrs. Stix, of the Stix, Baer, and Fuller Department Store. An earlier meeting with Mama has prompted the rich woman's gift.

(Book in print; Copyright retained by Doubleday) To order this book, please visit your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

 

Whistle for the Crossing (1975)

Early railroading forms the historical setting for this book published when the author was 88. The main character is Eddie, whose father is an engineer on the Camden and Amboy Railroad. The engineer is chosen to make the first train run on new tracks from Philadelphia west to Pittsburgh.

(Out of Print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli)

 

Friendship and Other Poems (1981) | Read one of the poems from this book

This is a collection of poetry written by Marguerite deAngeli over many years. It is a touching and fitting collection to finalize the monumental body of the author-illustrator's work. In her poems, deAngeli encompasses universally shared experiences from birth to death. deAngeli's poetry reflects her unflagging optimism, her heightened degree of innate humanity and the joie de vivre that sparks her writing.

(Out of Print: Copyright retained by the Estate of Marguerite deAngeli; Reprint rights granted to Lapeer District Library)

 

[Summaries from Michigan's Marguerite deAngeli with permission from author William Anderson pages 50-55 .]

Marguerite de Angeli illustrated many books for many authors throughout her career. These are just the few we know about so far. If you know of any other titles she has illustrated, please contact us at mdeangeliarchive@lib.lapeer.org, so we can add it to our list. 

 

The Prince and the Page: a Story of the Last Crusade by Charlotte M. Yonge. (1925)

Milady at Arms: a Story of Revolutionary Days by Edith Bishop Sterman. (1927)

The Little Duke: Richard the Fearless by Charlotte Mary Forge. (1927)

Mario’s Castle by Helen Cody Forbes. (1928)

Lances of Lynwood by Charlotte M. Yonge. (1929)

Red Coats & Blue: a Story of a British Girl in the American Revolution by Harriette R. Campbell. (1930)

Meggy MacIntosh by Elizabeth Jaret Grey. (1930)

Cousin from Clare by Rose McLaughlin Sackett. (1932)

Katrina Von Ost & The Silver Rose by Elizabeth Gale. (1934)

It’s More Fun When You Know the Rules: Etiquette Problems for Girls by Beatrice Pierce. (1935)

Covered Bridge by Cornelia Meigs. (1936)

Challenge, Stones of Courage & Love for Girls collected by Helen Ferris. (1936)

Joan Wanted a Kitty by Jane Brown Gemmill. (1937)

Alice-all-by-herself by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth. (1937)

Josie & Joe by Ruth Gipson Plowhead. (1938)

Young Hostess by Beatrice Pierce. (1938)

Red Sky over Rome by Anne P. Kyle [Dempster]. (1938)

Strong Hearts & Bold by Gertrude Crownfield. (1938)

Christine of Old New York by Gertrude Crownfield. (1939)

Heidi's Children by Johanna Spyri. (1939)

Prayers & Graces for Little Children Selected by Quail Hawking. (1941)

They Loved to Laugh by Kathryn Worth. (1942)

In and Out by Tom Robinson. (1943)

 

"Aniela’s Birthday and Christmas" in Celebrating Christmas Around the World. Edited by H. H. Wernecke pg.156-161 from Up the Hill.

"Aniela’s Easter" in The Easter Book of Legends and Stories. Edited by A. I. Hazeltine pg. 199-209 from Up the Hill.

"Christmas in the Gaspe" in Told Under the Christmas Tree. The Association for Childhood Education International pg. 154-161 from Petite Suzanne.

"Christmas Spider" in The Animals’ Christmas. Compiled by A. T. Eaton pg. 48-49.

"Costume Party" in Told Under the Stars and Stripes. The Association for Childhood Education International p.136-149 from Up the Hill. 

"Fun with the Calf" in The Illustrated Treasury of Children’s Literature. Edited by M.E. Martignoni pg. 312-316 from Copper-Toed Boots.

"The Market" in Told Under the Stars and Stripes. The Association for Childhood Education International p. 54-61 from Henner’s Lydia.

"Surprise" in Spring World Awake. Compiled by Mildred C. Luckhardt pg. 242-246 from Bright April.

"Yonie Wondernose" in Arbuthnot Anthology of Children’s Literature. Compiled by M. H. Arbuthnot, volume 3, pg. 98-104 from Yonie Wondernose.

"Yonie Wondernose" in Time for True Tales and Almost True. Compiled by M. H. Arbuthnot pg. 98-104(?) from Yonie Wondernose.