Little Boy Brown by Isobel Harris
Published in the USA in 1949 and then out of print for many years, some wise person at Enchanted Lions Books decide to reissue it in 2013.
Son of Mr and Mrs Brown, Little Boy Brown is four and a half. He tells his own story of a day out, and how cleverly and with what delicacy Isobel Harris recaptures the understanding of a child and all that is thrilling to him.
He lives in the city in a skyscraper hotel and Hilda the maid takes him out of town to visit her folks who live in a house with an upstairs and downstairs. It’s a wonderful day.
The adult reader sees something else. His parents work hard and Little Boy Brown is alone a lot, relying for company on the elevator man, the doorman, the maid. But his sense of wonder and ability to see good lift him above the limiting wealth of his home. We see the world through his eyes and Andre Francois’ brilliant and original illustrations make the whole story soar. A truly superb marriage of author and artist.
