Peter Cross
Filed Under graphic design
Do you remember the date that you told your parents what you wanted to be when you grew up? You know, like an astronaut or a cowboy? Although my aspirations weren’t as unrealistic, I do remember when I wanted to grow up to be an artist. For Christmas in 1985, I received Trouble for Trumpets. This wonderfully illustrated book has been read countless times since and has survived in one piece (including the tattered dust jacket) after a dozen or so moves. Even today as an adult and a graphic designer, the 32-pages of artwork by Peter Cross is mesmerizing and still an inspiration. I wish I could tell you to rush out and pick up this masterpiece from your local bookstore, but it has been out of print since the time my Aunt purchased it in 1985. It is possible to find it on used book websites, but they run for anywhere from $80 to $200 USD. I saw mint condition copy with its dust jacket go for over $500 on eBay!
Equally as rare is the follow-up book, Trumpets in Grumpetland. First published in 1984 in England (1985 in the US), it has been on my wishlist for many years. Again though, like Trouble, it is out-of-print and in a price range out-of-touch for many. A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to find a copy online for $25. The seller didn’t seem to know that the book goes for $50-475, or maybe they were and I just purchased a book torn to shreds and colored with crayon by up to 23 years of children.
This was not the case!
Today I the Postman dropped off a beautiful copy of Trumpets in Grumpetland! Being Saturday, I spent an hour to “read” the 32-page book. Although it doesn’t have the same depth and detail as Trouble does, the artwork by Peter Cross is still beautiful and meets my high expectations. (I had been waiting 22 years, mind you!)
This ends my collection of Peter Cross books, sadly. He has moved into the greeting card industry and has done some equally-exceptional work. But no more Trumpets. No more Grumpets. If you search for reviews of these books, most will end by asking some important questions: Why hasn’t these two books been reprinted? Why didn’t they release a third title, which Trumpets in Grumpetland hints at? I think these books should be shared with children for generations, but without parents having to shell out a ton of money! A campaign should be started to bring these books back into print, but those who have seen the artwork most likely own the books, thus a Catch 22 is created.
So what to do? My answer is to post some of the artwork here on my website. I hope I don’t end up like a Trumpet and get in trouble for doing this, but the art must continue to be shared!
Trumpets in Grumpetland:
This one can be zoomed in on to see the richness of the artwork and the hidden “easter eggs” (it takes a while to load):
Comments
I agree with you; these books are amazing! I have been trying to get my hands on this book for about 12 years. I am happy you found a copy; it gives me hope that I too will get one. I wish they would be republished as well, although I wouldn’t know where to begin to start such a campaign. Thanks for the sneek peek.
Oh wow, I remember these, and just searched for them as I wanted to base some illustration work of my own on this material. I had no idea they were out of print and now so rare! A shame, or I would snap them up immediately.
Thanks for posting these images, at least this gives me something to go on other than dimly remembered memories from when I got the books out from the library when I was young. I remember spending hours poring over the detail (I obviously missed things like the logarithm joke, so it would be nice to see them again with adult eyes)
If somebody starts a petition, I'd be happy to sign!
I would just like to say that I used to have the first book when I was a kid. Unfortunately I was later to discover, on a move, that it had been in the back of the garage for many years and had rotted (I don't even remember putting it there). Surfice to say that I was devistated!!! Many years on I decided to look for a copy only to find it out of print BOO!! I searched high and low for this magical book which has lasted for so long in the back of my head. Then one beautiful day a came across a hard back copy in a battered old book shop. They had no Idea what the book was worth nor what magic lay under that cover, so I purchased it for a mere £3.50 lovely condition, hard back, dustcover, no crayon marks superb. Around about 3 months later my brother started showing interest in my copy (as the original used to be a shared commodity), again I searched for another copy as there was no way he was having mine lol. Yet agian I managed to find another copy (Hardback without dustcover and a few scribbles by an unknown artist, probably under 5) I found it in a second hand store for an amazing £2.50. Although all my good luck did have to come to an end when I was forced to part with around £60.00 for the second book Trumpets in Grumpetland and I agree it doesn't hold the same stature as the first but still the art work is absolutely fantastic. Sorry that I'm a year late for this discussion and I like what you're trying to do with the book by scanning it in. Thanks for letting me bore you
Not at all, Mike. I'm happy that you took the time to share your story.
Thanks so much for sharing these. I'm a born and bred South African, and used to take out the Afrikaans copy of 'Trouble' time and again as a child (even into my teenage years). Eventually the book was not to be found in the library any more, probably thrown out.
Since I'm an aspiring children's writer and illustrator, I love collecting classic and unusual children's books, and this one is a must have! I have been looking for a copy in second-hand stores, but no luck. Unfortunately the amount of copies that reached South Africa must have been considerably less than abroad.
Will keep looking on the Net, but the exchange rate is not my friend at the moment. So please drop me a line if you get to hear about a good price for this magical and memorable story which has been living on in my imagination!
I teach first grade in NYC and currently my entire class is clammoring to get their hands on a copy. I loved Trumpets in Grumpet Land as a child, and years ago a kind boyfriend bought me a tattered copy of Trouble for Trumpets. I try to share these books with anyone who I can, and suggest others who have a copy do the same!
Trouble For Trumpets is the first book I fell in love with. I checked it out from my elementary school library literally every single week. Years later, I found a slightly worn version at a garage sale for a dollar. This book has been shared with every child in the entire extended family (with careful supervision, of course!)
I love the idea of getting a petition going, and I have already taken steps to try and contact the author by emailing the gallery currently representing his work.
I know that this may be unconventional, but obviously there is a community of people who have a deep love for this amazing work, and would love to share this magic with their loved ones!
Contact tylerflory@gmail.com
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