A Lovely Surprise Find: The Illustrations of Katherine Sturges Dodge

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A Lovely Surprise Find: The Illustrations of Katherine Sturges Dodge

September 20, 2009 by Cynthia

This weekend, I chanced upon a beautiful little book called How Sing Found the World is Round by Sydney Reid. It was published by Volland in the early part of the twentieth century. You can read more about Volland here: http://www.loganberrybooks.com/juvcat-volland.html

The illustrator is Katherine Sturges Dodge, the mother of Hilary Knight who is the illustrator of the very popular Eloise series. The book can be viewed online through the Children’s Books Online website: http://www.childrensbooksonline.org/How_Sing/index.htm

So far, I haven’t been able to find much of a biography for Katherine Sturges Dodge. If anyone out there knows of any resources, please let me know. I’d love to learn more about her.

Posted in Books I Love, Inspiration | Tagged children's book, color, How Sing Found the World is Round, Katherine Sturges Dodge, Sydney Reid, Volland | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on October 1, 2009 at 10:45 | Reply JimmyBean

I don’t know If I said it already but …Hey good stuff…keep up the good work! 🙂 I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,)

A definite great read..Jim Bean
on January 4, 2012 at 10:45 | Reply Kristen Bancroft

Katharine Sturges also painted some beautiful illustrations for a 1924 version of Why the Chimes Rang and other stories by Raymond MacDonald Alden. You can’t find them online since they’re copyrighted, but they’re worth buying the book for.
- on January 5, 2012 at 10:45 | Reply Cynthia
  
  Just the few images I could find online were beautiful. I’ll see if I can’t track down the book. Thank you for the reference!
on March 13, 2012 at 10:45 | Reply Barb

In 1925 she illustrated Little Pictures of Japan which was part of a series of children’s books (though hardly for the 21st century child). Her work is lovely and I wish I had more biographical info on her.
on July 24, 2012 at 10:45 | Reply Marilyn Henry

Katharine Sturges Knight also illustrated a paper doll book of a Bride for the Lowe Company. Quite beautiful.
on March 10, 2014 at 10:45 | Reply Lynne

Another Volland (1918) she beautifully illustrated is Winkle, Twinkle and Lollypop. I am looking for bio info on her as well. if I find anything, I’ll pass it along.
- on March 10, 2014 at 10:45 | Reply Cynthia
  
  I look forward to checking this out. Thank you! 😉
on March 19, 2017 at 10:45 | Reply Rosemary

While I believe that some of the writing in this story is quite lovely, and the illustrations are impressive, some may be shocked at the blatant racism/stereotyping of the Chinese. For example, Sing lives at the foot of a mountain called Ming in the village of Ping in the land of Ting-Ling-Ding. Great book for a collector, but I would be wary of bringing it to a child who is not yet mature enough to have a conversation about bias in literature.
- on March 19, 2017 at 10:45 | Reply Cynthia
  
  You raise an important point. Thank you.