Book excerpt: This wonderfully illustrated collection of fairy tales and rhymes, The Sleeping Beauty Picture Book is one of the celebrated 'Toy Books' produced by Walter Crane and Edmund Evans. Through a series of colour illustrations and integrated text, it will delight readers both young and old with such tales as 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Baby's Own Alphabet' and 'Bluebeard'. Walter Crane (1845 - 1915), was an English artist and book illustrator. He is considered to be the most influential, and among the most prolific, children's book creator of his generation. Alongside such names as Randolph Caldecott and Kate Greenaway, he was also one of the strongest contributors to the child's nursery theme. Crane's work is characteristically colourful and delightfully detailed, taking its inspiration from the Arts and Crafts movement (of which he was a member), as well as the iconic child-in-the-garden motif. The Sleeping Beauty Picture Book is a fantastic example of his art. Appearing alongside the text, Walter Crane's illustrations further refine and elucidate Hawthorne's enchanting storytelling. Pook Press celebrates the great ‘Golden Age of Illustration‘ in children’s literature – a period of unparalleled excellence in book illustration. We publish rare and vintage Golden Age illustrated books, in high-quality colour editions, so that the masterful artwork and story-telling can continue to delight both young and old.