Book alert

[Rgarner]

I'm looking for a couple of kids' books from years ago. One features a girl who badly needs glasses. It shows what she erroneously sees and then what it really is in a series of charming illustrations. Of course by the end she gets the glasses. The other is a coloring book with a story about puppets, at least mainly marionettes. One of them is a pirate. These were originally published decades ago and I'm sure will be difficult to obtain now.

 

[olbriar]

Title and or author would go a long ways in your quest. The descriptions of the books in question trip no trigger for me. Sorry.

 

[Milo Willamson]

Rgarner here is what my copliot said:

Here are a few educated guesses based on the descriptions and the nostalgic tone of the forum post:

Book about the girl who needs glasses​

This sounds strikingly similar to I Need Glasses by Ruth Belov Gross, illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (1976). It features a girl misinterpreting the world due to poor eyesight, with humorous illustrations showing her distorted view versus reality—ending with her getting glasses. Another possibility is Glasses for D.W. from the Arthur series, though that’s more recent and less likely to be described as “decades old.”

Coloring book with marionette puppets​

This one’s trickier. It might be part of the Whitman Tell-A-Tale series or a vintage Golden Book that included interactive elements. The pirate puppet detail suggests something like The Puppet Show or Marionette Magic, but no exact match jumps out. It could also be a specialty coloring book from the 1960s–70s, possibly tied to a toy line or obscure publisher.

 

[ocnbrze]

google is your freind...well in your case maybe not.....lol

a google search came up with this ai response:

For a book about a girl who desperately needs glasses and experiences a world of clarity for the first time, one notable option is the picture book I Can See Just Fine by Eric Barclay. For older readers, the graphic novel Karen's School Picture from the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series tackles the issues of teasing and self-confidence related to getting glasses. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]


For young children
I Can See Just Fine by Eric Barclay

• Plot: The main character, Paige, repeatedly insists "I can see just fine," even though she struggles to see the chalkboard and her violin sheet music. Comical illustrations highlight her blurry, confusing world. When her parents take her to the eye doctor, her stubbornness fades as she enjoys the exam and the ability to see clearly for the first time.
• Tone: The story is lighthearted, gently humorous, and reassuring for children who may be nervous about getting glasses. [1, 6, 7, 8, 9]

For young readers
Karen's School Picture by Ann M. Martin

• Plot: In this installment of the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series, Karen has to get two pairs of glasses, one of which she needs for all the time. She tries to feel excited, but a boy at school starts teasing her. With school picture day approaching, Karen must decide whether to stand up to the bullies and wear her glasses with pride or take them off for the photo.
• Format: This story is available as both a chapter book and a more recent graphic novel, making it an accessible and engaging read for its target audience. [2, 3, 10, 11, 12]

Other notable books

• Blueberry Eyes by Monica Driscoll Beatty: A picture book about a little girl who needs both glasses and eye muscle surgery.
• Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses by Wanda Coven: In this chapter book, Heidi is jealous of her friend's new glasses and fakes needing them herself. She learns a lesson after her new "fake" glasses make her see fuzzily and cause many comical mishaps.
• Rosie's Glasses by Dave Whamond: A wordless picture book where a gloomy girl's world is in monochrome until she finds a pair of glasses that transform her view into vibrant color. [13, 14, 15, 16, 17]

AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] I Can See Just Fine
[2] Karen's School Picture: A Graphic Novel (Baby-Sitters Little Sister #5)
[3] Karen's School Picture (Baby-Sitters Little Sister #5)
[4] https://www.amazon.com/I-Can-See-Just-Fine/dp/1419708015
[5] https://www.amazon.ca/Karens-School-Picture-Graphic-Baby-sitters/dp/1338762524
[6] https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/kids-picture-books/7-picture-books-getting-glasses/
[7] Amazon.in
[8] The Mime Order (The Bone Season, #2)
[9] https://www.amazon.ca/I-Can-See-Just-Fine/dp/1419708015
[10] https://www.target.com/p/karen-s-school-picture-a-graphic-novel-baby-sitters-little-sister-5-baby-sitters-little-sister-graphix-by-ann-m-martin-hardcover/-/A-82716111
[11] Karen's School Picture (Babysitters' Little Sister #5)
[12] Karen's School Picture (Baby-Sitters Little Sister #5)
[13] Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses
[14] https://books.google.com/books/about/Blueberry_Eyes.html?id=vjYwR0DRFuAC
[15] Heidi Heckelbeck Gets Glasses
[16] Rosie’s Glasses
[17] https://www.getepic.com/book/69700809/rosies-glasses

 

[Rgarner]

That sounds as if it might be the one, but I can't find it. I tried looking up by title, author name, ThriftBooks...crickets. Why is it this hard to find things? I'll try the coloring book next, though probably with no greater success...