Masha du Toit

Another book published in the year of my birth – 1972.  I think Pat Hutchins goes very nicely with Ellen Raskin – a bit quieter, but lovely too.

The drawings remind me of those patterned red enamel pots one used to get in the 70’s.    The print style is similar to that in the Ellen Raskin book with areas of flat colour overprinted, but here the darkest colour is a deep blue-green:

The story is of a rabbit who wants to have a party, but everyone insists on mis-hearing him.  “Rabbit is hoeing the parsley tomorrow”!  Says the owl to the squirrel.  “Rabbit is going to sea tomorrow” says the squirrel…and so on.

I particularly loved this elegant (and apparently vegetarian) fox.