Little Golden Book Monday #37

This is the last Little Golden Book Monday of the year. The book I am showing this time is one that I just picked up a few days ago at a local drug store. It's always a nice surprise to find a brand new Disney related Little Golden Book when you least expect it. You would think that the official LGB web site would be a good place to alert you to the release of new books, but they never seen to be up to date, so you just have to keep your eyes peeled whenever you are out shopping.
This one is called "Your Friend the Rat" and is based on the characters from the Pixar film Ratatouille. Just like last movie when they released a book called "Mater and the Ghost Light" which was based on the short film added to the Cars DVD release, this one is based on the short film that was added to the Recent Ratatouille DVD release.
Along with the story, you also get the music and lyrics to the song "Plan B."
Now if only they would release a LGB based on the movie The Incredibles. We already have the book based on the short film that was added to The Incredibles DVD, but they forgot to release the actual movie book first.

LOG from Blammo!

What Rolls Down Stairs
Alone Or In Pairs
Rolls Over Your Neighbor's Dog
What's Great For A Snack
And Fits On Your Back
Its Log, Log, Log!

It's Lo-og, Lo-og
It's Big, Its Heavy, Its Wood.
It's Lo-og, Lo-og
It's Better Than Bad, Its Good.

Everyone Wants A Log
You're Gonna Love It, Log
Come On And Get Your Log,
Everyone Needs A Log.

New from Blammo!, its Log! 8 inches tall, 5 inches wide, 0 points of articulation! Just like read wood!

I am not a big collector of action figures, but here is one that I wish I had purchased! This is Log, as seen on the Ren & Stimpy Show.
This ad came from an issue of Previews a few years ago. If only I had ordered one of these, I could be playing with it right now instead of typing about it in my blog!

Little Golden Book Monday #36

Today, the day before Christmas, I present two more of my Christmas themed Little Golden Books. Here we have Walt Disney's Santa's Toy Shop. The book is originally copywrite 1950, but I have no idea what the date of this printing is. My guess would be some time in the 80's. Very strange that there is no date for when this edition was printed. The illustrations throughout the book are by the Walt Disney Studio and adapted by Al Dempster. This particular copy used to belong to Carlee Toth.
The second book is ABC is for Christmas and is copywrite 1974. This is the Fourth Printing from 1978.
A is for Angel
B is for Bell
C is for Candle and Carol, as well
D is for Donkey
E is for Elf
F is for Fun, filling Christmas itself
G is for Gifts we give
H is for Holly
J is for Jolly
K is for Kings who came
L is for Lamb
M is for Mary and Manger and Man
N is for Noel
P is for Presents and Playthings, also
Q is for Quiet times
R is for Rose
S is for Santa Claus, Sleigh bells and Snows
T is for Tree Trimmings
U is for US
V is for Village and Visits by bus
W is Wise men and Winter and White
X is a Letter the Sign of the Christ
Y is for Yule logs that Crackle and glow
Z is for Zither - for carols, you know
We could start over, again and again, For Christmas has meanings without any end.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

A Disneyland Records Christmas

Here are four great Disneyland Records Christmas records I picked up recently in my thrift shop travels.
The first is Disney Christmas Favorites - The Mouse Concert plus other Yuletide Favorites. Check out this great album cover. I just love the artwork of the mice on the front and back covers of this album. I didn't photograph it, but the back cover has drawings of the various mice playing their different instruments. This copy is made in Canada, 1973, and distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Music of Canada Limited. Songs on the album are your typical Christmas fare. There are two tracks by Cliff Edwards, and one by Ludwig Mousensky and the All Mouse Symphony Orchestra & Chorus.
Second is Walt Disney's Christmas Favorites. This one is from 1958, and is a product of Pickwick International Inc (GB) Ltd, and distributed under licence from Walt Disney Productions Ltd.
The back of the album jacket has some info on Ludwig Mousensky: "This is a record that embodies all the spirits of St. Nicholas, Santa Claus and Father Christmas. In song and story, some old, some new, Mickey Mouse Record artists bring you many delightful moments on this long playing record.
Discovered under a stairway at the Disneyland Studio, the unique all-mouse symphony orchestra under the able baton of Ludwig Mousensky is undoubtedly the first and finest rodent ensemble in the world. And, we here at Disneyland records are proud to present their first recording, The Christmas Concert. Here are Christmas hymns, Hark The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, O Come All Ye Faithful, Jingle Bells, and the popular Winter Wonderland. The Mousensky group's rendition of these songs is truly a delightful experience for all. Under the maestro, the orchestra, consisting of Skueeky, Zeke, Horace, Henrietta, Tubby, Tootie, Clarence, Pinky, Stuffy, Zooty, Hans, Fritz, Otto (these three were formerly with the Vienna's famed eutschMICEster Band), Pee Wee and Frenchy give a new dimension to these Christmas favourites. All proving that Christmas is a time for both mice and men.
Next up is Rankin/Bass presents Frosty's Winter Wonderland, Complete Story and Original Soundtrack from 1976. The complete story from the second (and not nearly as good) Frosty Christmas animated special, told and sung by Andy Griffith. Other guest voices are Shelley Winters as Mrs. Frosty, Dennis Day as the Parson, Jackie Vernon as Frosty, and Paul Frees as jack Frost. This one is also made and distributed in Canada by Walt Disney Music of Canada Limited.
Finally, we have Disney's Merry Christmas Carols, starting Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy & Chop 'n' Dale, with Larry Groce and the Disneyland Children's Sing-Along Chorus. This one also has the usual Christmas songs, including The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late), I Wish it Could be Christmas All Year Yong, Here We Come A-Caroling, Sleigh Ride etc. The nice thing about the album is that the back cover has the lyrics for all eleven songs on the album so that everyone can sing along. The date on this one is 1980.

He Sees You When You’re in Sleep Mode...

If you are a Mac or Rankin/Bass fan (or both), then you will want to check out the new “Get a Mac” ad Apple has posted on their web site that delightfully salutes the Rankin/Bass holiday specials of the past. The TV spot has animated versions of 'Mac' Justing Long and 'PC' John Hodgman accompany Santa Claus as they proceed to sing the classic Christmas tune 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'. Partway through the song, however, 'PC' decides to interject his own lyrics. The fanciful stop-motion homage is directed and animated by Drew Lightfoot, and designed by Shane Prigmore. See the ad here.
For those of you who would like to sing along, here are the lyrics to the classic song:

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout, I'm telling you why,
Santa claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're in sleep mode,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows when you've been bad or good, so buy a PC and not a Mac this holiday season, or any other time for goodness sake, ohh!

Who knew!?

Little Golden Book Monday #35

Today's Little Golden Books is Ho-Ho-Ho Baby Fozzie! by Louise Gikow and illustrated by Lauren Attinello. The book is from 1977 and features what looks like a an early version of Baby Fozzie from the Muppet Babies - the Muppet Babies didn't didn't appear on TV until 1984 and ran until 1990 on CBS.
In the story, Baby Fozzie receives the "Big Book of Jokes" from Santa Claus. Apparently Satnta got Fozzie started early with the lame jokes. Kinda makes you wonder what would have happened if Santa had given him a ventriloquism book instead.

Little Golden Book Monday #34

Today we have another Christmas themed Little Golden Book. This one is Donald Duck's Christmas Tree. The book is originally from 1954 - this copy is from 1993.
I love Donald Duck and Pluto, so this one is a winner. The artwork throughout the book is great, something you don't always get from some of the older Disney Little Golden Book titles. Here is one of my favorite pages from the book, which shows Pluto growling disapprovingly at Chip who is hiding out in Donald's Christmas tree.
Once again, poor old Pluto gets blamed for the shenanigans of Chip 'n' Dale, but luckily everything works out in the end.
"Well well" he said, chuckling, as he lifted them down. "So you're the mischief-makers. And to think I blamed poor Pluto. I'm sorry, Pluto," said Donald.
Pluto marched over to the door and held it open. He though Chip 'n' Dale should go out in the snow.
"Oh, Pluto!" cried Donald. "It's Christmas Eve. We must be kind to everyone, even pesky chipmunks. The spirit of Christmas is love, you know."

Original Hand Drawn Captain Canuck Artwork

Here is a cool drawing that I received from Richard Comely some years ago when I was a member of the Captain Canuck fan club. Along with the usual fan club items such as membership card, signed comics, cards, pins etc, I also received some great hand drawn artwork by Richard Comely including this drawing of Captain Canuck with what looks like lasers coming out of his gloves - something he never had in the comic. If you look closely, you will notice that the drawing of the hand with the lasers coming out of it is on a piece of paper that has been stuck on top of the original drawing of his regular hand. Not sure why he did this drawing, but its a nice piece in my collection.

Stuffed Animal Day, 2003

Stuffed Animal Day, Teddy Bear Toss, call it what you will, but the practice of throwing stuffed animals onto the ice at hockey games has become all the rage each Christmas season, as hockey teams help to collect the stuffed critters for charity by having a Teddy Bear Toss night where fans are encouraged to bring 1 or more stuffed animals to the game and then toss them onto the ice after the home team scores the first goal. Here is one of my all time favorite photos, which shows the Hamilton Bulldogs goalie hiding in his net as the teddy bears rain down onto the ice around him.

Little Golden Book Monday #33

To celebrate our first big dump of snow over the weekend, I have decided to kick off our Little Golden Book Christmas. Over the next few Monday's leading up to Christmas day I will be focusing on Little Golden Books with a Christmas theme. Today's book is Frosty the Snow Man from 1969.
The book is adapted from the song of the same name and retold by Annie North Bedford, with pictures by Corinne Malvern.
I just love how the snowman is supposedly walking in his red boots, even though he has no legs and they boots are not really attached to him in any way.
And much like our large dump of snow was gone this morning when I work up for work, "Frosty the Snow Man has gone away where all snow men go on a sunny day. But he'll be back at your bidding and call whenever great heaps of snowflakes fall."