I’m posting here rather than GQ, hoping that the indigenous population of this part of the SDMB might have special insight into the question. Many MANY years ago, maybe around 1946, I had a children’s book that I dearly loved. I would love to see it again, but I have no idea of the name. The only thing I can remember about it was that it had pictures (drawings) of a man standing on the back of a whale. Maybe a far picture on the horizon, and a closer picture. He may have had a sort of large belly, maybe a queue for hair. Maybe striped shirt. I don’t remember any of the words, if, indeed, there were any. Maybe they were in French? How do I search for this book? Any ideas? Thanks, Dopers. xo, C.
Once upon a time there were five Chinese Brothers and they all looked exactly alike. They lived with their mother in a little house not far from the sea.
The first Chinese brother could swallow the sea.
I have no idea, but you could try asking over at “What’s The Name of That Book???” on goodreads.
Was the man wearing a pair of suspenders (which you must not forget, Best Beloved)? Maybe it was Kipling’s Just So Stories, and the illustration was from “How the Whale got his Throat”.
Another good place to ask arouind would be Loganberry Books Stump the Bookseller – they specialize in hard-to-find childrens’ books, and that particular section of their webpage concentrates on books that you can only remember a few things about. For example, about when it was published, what the cover illustration was, the names of some of the characters, a brief plot summary, etc.
I’ve found a few books this way when the board here wasn’t much help, and I and others have recommended them in similar threads.
Webpage here.