Giant John by Arnold Lobel was a favorite book of mine as a child. It’s a heartwarming tale of friendship between a giant and the royal family he meets on his journey to find a job. The illustrations are some of Lobel’s best -- intricate cross-hatching details coupled with exquisite line work, not to mention the charming character depictions. The book was originally published in 1964, early in Lobel’s career, six years before Frog and Toad. I saved my well-loved copy and, over the years, have shared it with each of my children. Giant John is one of those special books -- timeless in appeal -- that became a favorite among all three of my kids (no easy feat given their tastes vary). About five years ago when I tried to buy a copy of the book for a friend, I learned that it was no longer in print. Adam Lobel, Arnold’s son, had always loved Giant John and was tremendously helpful in getting me the rights to reissue this charmer. Here is the 1964 version alongside our reissue. Since the mustard brown background is no longer the popular color choice that it was in the 1960s, we freshened up the jacket, but everything else is just as it was in the original edition. I’m so glad that Giant John is back in print for a new generation of readers to enjoy.