LOGANBERRY LEGACY
Mr. Bear Squash-you-all-Flat  was a very hot item a couple of years ago.  It was originally a Wonder Book in cheap fall-apart binding that most kids destroyed, but  then were desperate to own again a couple decades later.  Gary Larson of The Far Side added to its fame by naming it one of his favorite children's books.  But it was so hard to find, and the demand was so great that the price escalated and escalated.  Then it got reprinted by Purple House Press in 2000.  Now it's easily available for a mere $15, for the next generation to enjoy.  The same is also now true for The Surprise Doll. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
* designates a title still in print

City, Country ABC.  Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard.  Doubleday, 1946.
Favorite Nursery Tales. Doubleday, 1983.
Hello Peter. Illustrated by Clement Hurd. Doubleday, 1948.
*Mr. Bear Squash-you-all-Flat.  illustrated by Angela. NY: Wonder Books #523, 1950.  Purple House Press, 2000.
Rip Van Winkle. Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. Doubleday, 1984.
*The Surprise Doll. Illustrated by Steffie Lerch. Wonder Books #519, 1949. Purple House Press, 2005.

MAGIC MOUNTAIN FABLES 
Clumsy Clown Willie.  Illustrated by Paul Mangold. Garrett Educational Corp, 1990.
Easter With Friends.
Let's Be Friends.  Garrett Educational Corp., 1990.
Tom's Lucky Quarter.  Illustrated by Paul Mangold. Garrett Educational Corp., 1990.
The Walkers Go Hiking.   Illustrated by Paul Mangold.  Garrett Educational Corp., 1990.
Whose Tracks Are These.  Garrett Educational Corp., 1990.

Favorite Nursery Tales.  Illustrated by S.D. Schindler.  Doubleday & Company, 1983.  First edition.  Ex-library copy with usual markings.  Some wear to covers, dustjacket and pages.  still, VG/VG.  $12

The Surprise Doll. Illustrated by Steffie Lerch. Wonder Books #519, 1949.  VG.  <SOLD>

Mr. Bear Squash-you-all-Flat. illustrated by Angela. Purple House Press, 2000.  $15 

Mr. Bear Squash-you-all-Flat. illustrated by Angela. Purple House Press, 2000.  Limited Edition, Signed by the author.  $50

The Surprise Doll. Illustrated by Steffie Lerch. Purple House Press, 2005. $15 

Out-of-print books are harder to stock than new books, and some are hard to find, period.  If the title you are seeking is not listed for sale above, that probably means that I am currently out of stock.  However, I am always on the lookout for books, and will gladly quote you when I do find your coveted book. To add your name to my Wants Files, simply fill out a Book Request Form and I will e-mail you when I have a copy in stock.  Thanks.

I don't even care if I can't "have" an original.  I'd just like to look at the pictures again/show them to my grandchildren! The story has a moral that I like about respecting our neighbors.

Reputedly the inspiration for Gary Larsen's sick sense of humor.  The title shows up in several discographies, so it appears that a contemporary composer also found inspiration in it.  Something dim is whispering that it was a Little Golden Book, but I don't know where I got that impression.

I'm a children's librarian, and love it when somebody comes looking for "a small orange book about an alligator trick-or-treating my mom read to me when I was in kindergarten" and I can actually pull the title out of the air.  That's what I'm hoping you can do with "Mr. Bear..."

I work in a public library, and a customer has come in looking for this story/books. A librarian suggested your web site as one of the best for this stumper. Please help. Customer read this story about 30 years ago (at least) to her nephew. No author, no title, but she thinks it's a "Golden Book." It's about a bear who is always sitting on things. Thinks the title is the same as the plot-"Mr. Bear squish you all flat." We've tried everything. She's flexible on when she wants the info too. Thanks for any help you can give!

Good morning,  Lucky for me I was the high bidder on your recent auction, Mr. Bear Squash You All Flat. I am very excited about this. I have tried several times to get a copy of this book for my wife. When she was a small child, her mother used to read her this book and it was her favorite. It has been a wish of hers to obtain one and we have looked for several years at difference Antique stores across the Southeast. When I discovered E-bay and realized that I might obtain a copy it was hard to keep the secret from her. Now that it's almost Christmas, she will be truly surprised.   Thank you again for having the heart to sell your book. My wife and granddaughter will enjoy it for many years to come. God Bless you.

My did read this book to me every night in the 60's.  I miss this book and would love to have it.  IT WAS MY FAVORITE!

This is my girlfriends favorite book from her childhood.  She collects Wonder Books from thrift stores and last week had one in her hand to buy.  I wanted to buy a film projector I had found and had only enough cash to pay for one thing.  Unfortunately I was a bit adament and she put back the book.  I guess that was a mistake because since then I have seen several of those darn projectors and not one copy of the book.  Her birthday is coming up and I was hoping to surprise her with a copy. I'm beginning to think that won't happen but a friend told me about your site and I thought I would give it a try.  Thanks.

Looking for Mr. Bear squash you all flat: Janet Lambert?

This is a book probably from the late fifties, early sixties.  It was my wife's favorite book as well as her mother's.  We would like to find a copy for our daughter if possible.  We would not want to spend over $20 for  a copy and as long as it is not crumbling from decay, any condition will suffice.  I have looked at all of the websites that sell books I can find, and no one carries this book.  This seems odd since this was one of Morrell Gipson's most popular books.

Harriet, thank you. I'd love to be able to read this classic story to my nephew, who's six.  (I recall that my brother and I even put on a play -- perhaps as part of one of his Cub Scout troop activities -- that dramatized the story.  My grandmother had given me a very large teddy bear, who played the part of Mr. Bear, and various other smaller stuffed animals took other parts.)

What a delight! My grand daughter will be at an age to begin enjoying having it read to her. What a great Christmas present.

I'll take three of the regular hardcovers.  (But I'd hoped to be able  to arrange for a reprint myself, at a publisher's where I have contacts...but that's moot now.)

What wonderful news!!! I need to reserve 5 copies of the limited edition signed books. I am so excited!!! I can hardly wait....Thanks so much again you have made my day!!

I thought I'd never see the day.  Many thanks for the email.

I need to reserve 3 more limited copies and 11 regular hardcovers at $15 each. My family was so excited to get the news about the reprinting.  This was a book read to them as children and they loved it. Unfortunately, we could never find another copy. Now we need enough to give to the grandchildren as well. I truly appreciate your remembering me and letting me know about this. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We can hardly wait!!!

YES,YES,YES!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH - you've just made my Christmas shopping much easier.

Oh Harriett I am so pleased!   This is a favorite from my childhood and should be as approporiate today as it was 50 years ago.  Please reserve 2 signed limited copies and 10 regular hardcovers for me.  If you need personal comments, help with selling or whatever, I would be most pleased to help.

Harriet, great news!  I'll mail my check in two weeks, when I get a paycheck that isn't consumed ENTIRELY by my mortgage payment.

HOORAY!!!!! We are all sooo excited to get the books!!! I still cannot thank you enough!!!

I am ordering a signed copy of Mr. Bear Squash You All Flat.  Please hold one for me.  Please ship immediately. Please do not call. This is a Christmas gift.

Thank you for the email advising Mr. Bear Squash-You-All-Flat is in!! And in time for Christmas!!  This is great.

Hooray! I'm so excited!

Please let the author know how much our family enjoyed this book when it first came out and how excited we are that she has chosen to let it be published again--

This was one of my father's favorite books and I would like to get it for him for Christmas.

Thank you for carrying this book! Now, if only you had Randolph, the Bear who said "No"

I received my MR. BEAR book yesterday!!!  I have read it out loud to myself a half dozen times already!!!  I remember most of the pictures BUT I didn't remember the ending!  In my mind I had Mr. Bear getting along with the other animals and living with them in one house!!! after all his squashing!!!  Thanks for the book!

I got home last night and there was my old friend Mr. Bear Squash-You-All-Flat.  I am still smiling!!!!!!  The pictures, the text, and old wonderful memories are all there!  Thank you for your e-mail and notes.  You have been most helpful.  How exciting and wonderful to know that you do so much for people.  You really reunite and introduce us to old and new friends.  Have a wonderful holiday!
 

Hi. I'm looking for a book I read at my grandma's house when I was a little girl. It must have been written sometime before 1960. I think it was illustrated by Eloise Wilkens, although I'm not positive. It was the story of a little girl whose father was a sailor. He travelled around the world, and brought her back dolls from each country he visited. She always wanted a doll that looked like she did, with blonde hair and a "nose that turned up just like this." One day he brought her the very doll she had always dreamed of? Does this sound at all familiar? I hope you can help me find it!

I don't know the author... I only know that it is a children's book  The girl has a doll for each day of the week except Sunday.  I want to locate as many copies as possible

I'm looking for a little book (Golden or similiar) about a girl whose father sent her dolls fro foreign lands. Each doll had a drawing in costume and an ethnic name.  In the end, her favorite doll turned out to be a simple one, it may have looked just like her.  This was one of my favorite books growing up, because my father sent me dolls from foreign lands.  I found a copy  for my neice who is now in her thirties.  But in almost 18 years, I have not been able to find one for my daughter.  She will be leaving home next year, and I would love to send this book with her.  Please help! 

A golden book About a doll maker who makes a doll to look like a little girl 1940-1950 A favorite book of my Moms as a little girl

I’m looking for a copy of  The Surprise Doll by Morrell Gipson, illustrated by Steffie Lerch, copyright 1949, but there is no publishing date.  The publisher is Wonder Books, division of Grosset & Dunlap.  It’s a story about a girl named Mary who has six dolls and wants her sea captain father to bring her a 7th doll, a doll for Sunday.  Anyone have any clue about locating this book?  Thank you!

I was absolutely thrilled to find your page through Google.  I have been looking for a copy of The Surprise Doll for years.  Do you have a really good, really pristine copy available, and if so, how much would it be?  I've  never ordered anything like this from the web, so would appreciate any help you could give me.

Morrell Gipson, Surprise Doll and Mr. Bear Squash You All Flat.  In trying to introduce my grandchildren to my favorite 2 childhood books, I discover they both had the same author!  I am amazed at how many people remember these books.

I am  interested in a book but I can't remember the title. It could have been "The Sunday Doll" but that's just a guess. I wonder if you may have seen it. I think it might have been a Wonder Book; it was the same size as a Golden book, but without the nicer binding. It was about a little girl whose father on his various trips to different countries had dolls made for her. Each doll shared one of her features. There was a French doll, Russian? doll, Japanese doll, etc each on a separate page. She had a doll for every day of the week except Sunday. So she put all of her dolls in a little red cart , and ran down a little lane to the doll maker. I think she was wearing a  red shirt and green cover-alls. She had blond hair. All the pictures were in color except for the ones going over her features--those were all on one page of the book and were done in yellow and sepia. She explained to the dollmaker that she wanted a doll for Sunday and that each of these dolls all had one of her features, therefore the doll she wanted him to make had to have one of her features. The doll maker told her he had to keep her dolls for a week while he made the doll. She reluctantly agreed, going home with the empty wagon (I remember thinking how mean the dollmaker was!) When she came to pick up the doll (after marking big red X's on her calendar) the doll the doll maker made looked exactly like her, even down to her red top and green coveralls. I probably wrote more to describe the book than there in the book's text! Sorry! I don't know why the book stuck out so much in my mind, but I can just see the pages. Can you help me?
The Surprise Doll by Morell Gipson
This book definitely is called THE SURPRISE DOLL.  I think it's on the solved mysteries page because I solved it the first time, too.  I own this book and it's just darling.  Good Luck!

My wife's favorite book from her childhood:  A Sea Captain, upon returning from each trip, always brings his daughter home a doll from some part of the world in which he has travelled. She would love to have a copy.

I loved this book as a little girl and I still have my copy. Unfortunetly, the cover is ripped off (though I still have it), and the pages are  yellowed.  I have been looking to get a new copy for my daughter. Does anyone know where to get a new copy.

The Surprise Doll was one of my favorites as a child. My
uncle was a navy pilot & always brought dolls to my sister & me from exotic places he traveled. I have the dolls, but not the book. I wish I did.