Crazy Eloise Wilkin

Darling Rex wrote a lovely post about Little Golden Books; in honor of him, here is my take on a weird book from 1948, "The New Baby", illustrated by Eloise Wilkin.

Such a cute house! I almost want to live in it, if only it weren't so clearly in the suburbs of pre-feminist America.

 

She doesn't look it, but this young mother is only days away from going to the hospital and delivering a full-term baby! Perhaps she is related to Sarah Palin. Also, she appears to be about 22 and is decorating like she's 60, although I do like the couch.

 

Much of the action in this book revolves around the delivery of a bathinette. I know! I had never heard of a bathinette before, either. It looks like it would make bathing a baby a huge pain in the ass. I used the kitchen sink for my kids. Note that big brother Mike is shocked to hear of the imminent arrival of his new sibling. I assume all the neighbors will also be shocked that a clearly non-pregnant woman is about to give birth.

 

Aunt Pat arrives to cook for the boys while Mummy is in the hospital, daddies didn't know what a kitchen was back then. Aunt Pat does such a capital job, in spite of her deformed legs and back, that they decide to name the new baby after her. My grandmother still has a stove like that. I wonder if I can steal it and cart it home from Pittsburgh....

 

I bet that Daddy is hoping his wife's ability to show no signs of pregnancy also means that she won't end up looking like Aunt Pat. Do you think Daddy got that schnozz in a bar fight?

 

Aw, what a cute baby. Let's hope she doesn't grow up to have stick ankles and Aunt Pat's cheeks. I bet all the old ladies are going to run home on their chicken legs and cluck about how terrible it is that his mother lets that little boy run around outside in out-grown pajamas. Seriously, though, what is he wearing?

Comments

[Cate]

that's brilliant, and now those jammies are lodged in my brain

[Cankles]

I thought he had a lisp and was talking about a basinette.

I made Rusty a Little Golden Book for our anniversary.

[Allan]

do have the book? I really need a copy of that book!. Please!

[SparkleFarkle]

Ouch!