blogis librorum. A blog about books. Rare books.

The stories we read when we are young often stay with us for the rest of our lives. These stories serve as cultural touchstones with people we meet in our adult lives. They're the stories we want to share with our children. Whether or not we realize it, these early stories impact the people we become. The same can be said for movies. Disney is a company that for decades has transformed our favorite stories into our favorite movies, allowing us to experience beloved tales in a new way. Join us today as we take a look at some of the stories Disney has transformed in part three of our The Books That Inspired Disney series:

Welcome back to another examination of some of the films that inspired your favorite family movies from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Today we consider yet more folktales but also some of the most classic and well-loved characters in English language literature. Whether the characters are from classic plays or pulp fiction, you will surely find some new favorite books on this list. Let's take a look at a new selection of films in the fifth and final edition of our Books That Inspired Disney series:

Today we continue our look at the books that inspired the movies by the legendary animation studio Walt Disney Productions. While Disney's animated features are sometimes original stories, more often than not, the studio turns to the world of literature for inspiration. Whether classic folk tales or beloved children's books, Disney frequently transforms beloved stories into a new form for children of all ages to enjoy. Let's take a look at a new selection of films in the second edition of our Books That Inspired Disney series:

Talk to anyone about the most beloved characters in children's literature and Anne Shirley is sure to come up. First introduced in L.M. Montgomery’s 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables, the earnest and precocious Anne, don't forget the "e," quickly made a place for herself as a mainstay on children's bookshelves. Throughout her career, Montgomery published twenty novels and hundreds of poems and short stories. Her work turned her home, Prince Edward Island, into a tourist destination and made her one of the most recognizable names in Canadian literature, known and loved throughout the world. Join us today as we take a look at some of the best quotes from Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series:

Since the innovation of motion pictures, filmmakers have been turning to literature for inspiration. Some of the earliest silent movies were adaptations of famous stories that would have been well-known to audiences of the time. With the advent of animation came even more opportunities to adapt beloved stories in a new format.

Certain presses might automatically come to mind when you’re thinking about book collecting, such as Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press in England, Shakespeare and Company in Paris, or Losada in Buenos Aires. Larger presses also published some of the great works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Yet we rarely think about academic press books when discussing collectible or rare books.

With a career spanning over fifty years, Judy Blume is a force in children's fiction. Her earnest portrayals of life for teens and pre-teens have made her one of the most beloved authors writing today. Her books continue to be reprinted and updated as even those written decades ago resonate for children today. However, her dedication to portraying real issues pre-teens and teens face has often led to her books being banned. Judy Blume is consistently placed on lists of most banned writers. Join us today as we take a look at some of Judy Blume's best and most banned novels for children.

Philip Roth was born in New Jersey in 1933 to second-generation Jewish parents from Austria and Ukraine. He graduated from Weequahic High School in 1950, and his time there inspired much of his fiction, including his popular and critically acclaimed Portnoy’s Complaint. He earned a BA from Bucknell College and an MA from the University of Chicago. He began studying for his PhD but dropped out. He taught writing at numerous institutions before retiring from teaching in the early 90’s. His publishing career began in the 50’s with short stories and novellas. His first collected work, Goodbye, Columbus, won the National Book Award in 1960, securing his place as one of the best American writers of his generation. He won a second National Book Award for Sabbath’s Theater and a Pulitzer Prize for American Pastoral. He also won three PEN/Faulkner Awards throughout his career. He passed away in 2018 at the age of eighty-five. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best passages from Roth’s impressive body of work:

Canadian writer and illustrator Charles van Sandwyk is best known for his charming and whimsical limited-run books. The quality of each hand-made production makes van Sandwyk's work appealing to collectors and casual readers. His attention to detail with carefully crafted illustrations and an eye toward depicting natural and imaginary beings gives his work an ethereal quality ideal for adults and children alike. Van Sandwky was born in South Africa in 1966. Here, he developed his love of nature and drawing as he practiced sketching the beautiful creatures that call the area home. His family moved to Canada when he was just eleven years old. During this time, he discovered two of his other great influences: JRR Tolkien and Arthur Rackham. He continued to practice drawing, and his style evolved further due to mentorship from his art teachers. Three, in particular, helped him find his path by teaching him calligraphy and printmaking, while another gifted him an antique printing press. He went on to study graphic design at Capilano College. One of his greatest inspirations is Fiji, a place that had been for him an endless source of peace, happiness, and creativity. He produces most artwork there, working closely with his friend Waisiki Doughty, who helps hand-make van Sandwyk's books. Today we take a closer look at some of the most beautiful works of art from van Sandwyk for those interested in beginning a collection.

Today in our Top Books by State series, we are looking at two books set in Montana. This western state is characterized by some of the most beautiful landscapes in America. A visit to Montana can bring you within reach of the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. Due to many ranches and protected land, Montana is one of the least populated states in the country. This beauty and loneliness are often combined in the literature from the state. Join us today as we look at some of the best books from Big Sky Country on the Montana portion of our literary road trip across the United States.