Show I Annie I in New Clothes I When hen Johnny Gruelle was a R. little Hoosier boy there were two things he lIe I loved better than all else better even than to go swimming In August or 01 to hunt rabbits after atter the first snowfall hunt rabbits after atter the first snowfall One of these was to borrow his fathers father's I paints and brushes brushes for for his father was wasa a famous landscape painter and painter and color colorI I the pictures in his storybooks and tl the theother theother e eother other was to read James Whitcomb R Rf- Rf leys ley's poems The Raggedy Ragged Man itan and Little Annie and all the other stories In rhyme I When hen Johnny Johnn Gruelle grew to be a aman aman aman man and became a painter and illustrator tor too he promised himself that one one da day he would pay a tribute to Mr RIley RUe In token of the happy hours he had spent with the poets poet's lovable va characters a c ber h ih t Annie Story to tova Book k Is that tri tribute When hEn Annie came to our house to lave Hie she told the children so sorl Mr rl RIley said a great many stories as alii she vt washed the cups and saucers an and put the plates away away They must have been very entertaining stories for the children loved them as they loved Or Annie herself and were always asking for more Johnny Gruelle often otten wondered what these stories were wert about and when he lie became a writer himself as well as a painter and illustrator illustrator illustrator illus- illus he decided to write out the stories that he imagined AnI Annie An An- I I rite nie told the children when she came cameto cameto to our house And that is what he has I II done in this beautiful book If It Or I I Annie didn't tell Just exactly these stories It is only because she sho didn't happen to think of them at the I time Bobs Dobs Merrill com company pan Indianapolis Indian apolis |