Remnants of Childhood: Printed Children’s Textiles of Yesteryear
Published by: Goff Books, Novato, Fall 2025
Hardcover; 308 pages; 600 color illustrations
Retail Price: $49.95
ISBN: 978-1-966515-16-6

Description

Like other books by Susan Meller, Remnants of Childhood gathers up everyday objects from people’s lives and brings them into focus on the pages of this book — pieces of cloth designed especially for kids; patterned cotton feed and flour sacks repurposed into dresses; children’s hankies; whimsical baby bibs; muslin storybook books, and much more. The common thread weaving through this book is cotton cloth. The time period is the 1880s through the 1960s. The theme is Americana.

Excerpts

• “This is a feel-good book for these very stressful times. It will conjure up memories of bygone days when little girls and boys played with homemade rag dolls and had their own indestructible muslin ABC books—enchanting reminders of more innocent times.”

• “By the end of the 19th century, Western society had begun to view young children less as little adults and more as a class of people within the general population who had their own requirements that were not being addressed. People were encouraged to place less emphasis on a strictly moralistic upbringing and to allow children more freedom to play. Little boys could be mischievous, ride tricycles, and get their playclothes dirty. Little girls, released from bustles and layers of heavy petticoats, could roll hoops and jump rope. By the 1920s, changes in fashion and the ubiquitous whites of earlier eras had given way to more practical clothing in a range of colors and a profusion of charming patterns for children.”

• “The images are delightful and the text is informative and well researched. An entire chapter is devoted to attractively printed feed and flour sacks that provided many American families with fabric during the Depression.”

Comments

• “This may well top the list for Sweetest Book of the Year.” S.F.

• “I find your book utterly delightful! Multiple times a day I pick it up, look at a page or two, and then close it again letting the memories linger with me…” J.B.

• “Your books shine a light on the past, on textile beauty, on the hidden complexity between cloth and people.” S.O.

• “It’s a charming eyeful of a book!” C.C.

• “I will always remember my little red teddy bear. Your book makes it clear that the toys of today can’t compare to these for evoking strong feelings. I am busy sharing your book with my best friends.” C.M.

• “Your book is such a joy. Each page holds a new treat. Remnants of Childhood is a gift that keeps on giving with memories of fabric, clothes, and even books from our past. I will keep it within reach forever.” N.L.

• “I’m sure I’m speaking for many when I say, ‘Thank You’ for having immortalized these underappreciated icons…keep finding joy in the little things…” K.S.

• “The book is beautiful! The images are laid out with imagination, a fine sense of design, and even dashes of unexpected humor. This is a book that captivated me.” F.R.

• “I marveled at the detail. Hand created drawings as opposed to computer generated.” J.M.

• “I enjoyed the book on many levels: the feed sacks were really surprising and reflected a time when packaging was as important as the object…I loved the parrots (p. 68); the schoolgirls (p. 80); the pillow (p. 90); the hankies (pp. 108 & 127); the cloth doll (p. 229) is stupendous! All the dolls are the most touching! The drawings (p. 306, et al) are also such a discrete homage to simplicity!! The idea of the text at the end is great – it is as if the object is more important than the idea.” J-P.B.

• “Your book is just plain wonderful! I loved it. It is truly a feel-good masterpiece! It brought back so many memories. I have already been through it twice and keep looking forward to seeing more new things as I look again.” D.L.

• “You have done it again…coolest book! Those gingham bows on page 86 are the best!” E.H.

• “Remnants of Childhood is GORGEOUS…I can’t wait to sit down and read it cover to cover. I’m especially excited to share it with my Aunt Betsy… It will absolutely get her creative juices flowing!” S.W.

• “Yes, indeed!! Splendid, happy and fun!!” B.H.

• “Thank you Susan, for reminding me how powerful these remnants are, how childhood never really leaves us – it simply waits to be rediscovered.” G.K.