Happy Sunny Spring Greetings to You All!!

We finally have a beautiful morning to celebrate the new greenery and the birds’ singing. I am celebrating it fast because I heard that the rain is returning this afternoon. Sigh. Well,that is why everything is so nice and green.

Another celebration is in order; one that doesn’t depend on the weather.
Little Golden Books are celebrating their 75th anniversary! Remember those? There is a new book out called Golden Legacy which tells the history of those well loved books of our childhood.

In the interview the author explained that the brightly colored artwork was thanks to the printing done in Racine, Wisconsin, and the artists that came from Europe after WWII and those that came from Disney, both groups seeking a better world.

Two of the Little Golden Book artists were discussed. One was Richard Scarry whose father told him that he would end up destitute if he followed his art instead of joining the family grocery business. Yep. Guess we all know how that one ended! He ended up with a chalet and a large boat for writing popular children’s books.

The other artist whose name escapes me at the time started working for Disney, in fact he was responsible for the creation of the seven dwarves. When he came to work for LGB, he created another equally beloved figure of the Pokey Little Puppy and his brothers and sisters. I can see similarities in the two sets of figures.

These books were created to be available for everyone and were priced at 25 cents. In 1957 the price rose to 29 cents. Bigger picture books were priced at $2 apiece, so the LGB were affordable. The publishers also took a chance and ran thousands of copies which, I think, allowed them to be sold in grocery stores and dime stores. The bigger book stores did not show an interest in selling them because the price was so low, making the profit lower.

The author talked about how these books were democratic, as in available for all, and helped many kids read.

I remember reading them, do you?

Just a little jaunt through our childhood memories today, to a simpler time.

You’re welcome.

Hope you have a wonderfully wacky Wednesday!

Love,
Janet