I have a number of less than modern books in my house.
I pick them up and read them with my boy and he SO likes them.
The whimsical drawings rather than lovely colour photography draws him in.
He'll ask questions about why they illustrator drew it that way, and express interest in a variety of ways. I get less of those off the wall comments when I have a more modern book with lots of colour photography.
I love those questions and that curiousity. :)
Our most current read through was a book called Fabulous Animals Facts that hardly anyone knows.
It was written by Rita Golden Gelmen.
Illustrated by Margaret A. Hartelius.
Anyways, what is this book about?
Throughout the book various unexpected bits of information are given out about a variety of animals. From the baby kangaroo being smaller than a teaspoon at birth, to honeydew ant storing dew in it's belly. We had to look up if they can rupture their bellies if they eat too much and they can! This made my boy giggle. (all those surprised ants getting a face full of dew). He was disappointed that unlike lizards who can regrow their tails mice cannot.