Eloise at Christmastime.

THOMPSON, Kay; Illustrated by Hillary Knight.

Item Number: 112447

New York: Random House, 1958.

First edition of the third book in the wonderfully illustrated Eloise series. Slim folio, original pictorial red boards, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the illustrator on the front pastedown, “For Henry! from Hilary Knight AND ME, ELOISE!.” Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. A very nice example.

Eloise has always had a rather festive air about her, but when Christmastime rolls around, well, it's "Fa la la la fa la la la lolly ting tingledy here and there," of course. The bunchy-bloused, spindly-legged scamp is speaking in rhyme this time, and in typical Eloise fashion, the verse simply can't be perfectly metered, for what would be the point? She rushes around New York's Plaza Hotel on Christmas Eve, jingling, spreading Christmas cheer, tying tassels on the thermostats, and writing "Merry Christmas" on all the walls.