The Ship That Sailed To Mars, by Wiliiam M.Timlin

Recently I have started to collect Calla Edition books. A few days ago The Ship That Sailed To Mars had been delivered to me. I have never heard of this writer and illustrator before, so when I saw his book  amongst the beautiful books of this edition, I ordered it for my collection. It is a large sized book which is good (I think all the books destined for children should be large sized) and it opens easily in ones hands and stays open when opened which is good again. I hate when  books slide back if left alone open, there is no pleasure in looking at a drawing,  if one has to hold the book down with all one's might.
The quality of the paper and drawings are top notch. The drawings are so beautiful, the colors so fantastical. Every page of the book is related to a drawing, sometimes two drawings. It is like Timlin draw first and after that found a story for each drawing.
 

The book is heavy weight both literally and artistically. The text is calligraphic, so it is not easy to read trough the lines. I think the beauty of this book lies also in this feature, because it makes anybody who reads it slow down and take in the description of the drawings.  The vocabulary is as spectacular as the drawings. If you want your child to master words like  wallowed, desolate, unnameable, weary, radiant, uncouth, fiery, primeval, slime, stir, heave, then this is the book for him to read. 

On their arrival at Mars, following their flight from the Moon, they found the land fair and free of Man or Fairy, but roaming its woods were harmless but inexpressibly Hideous Things. Many were like unto the evil thoughts of a maniac at moonrise; others were sluggish, amiable beasts, and then there were those Monsters that flew.

Then, as it was rather trying to the feelings of even Fairies to step into a dell and find a towering monstrosity dosing in that cool retreat; or wake up in the night to see an un-nameable thing with creaking wings, perched upon the couch's end, they organised a Great Hunt, and nearly all these pests were driven in and housed, and caged in a place appointed.

There, amidst a herd of mooncalves, the Old Man saw the Cow, which he had presented to the intensely gratified Princess, and its demeanor was one of complete bovine content and absurd complacence; for ever there came multitudes to see the wonderful and fearsome creature from Earth.