Ladybird, Ladybird

    I'm enjoying Clare Pollard's Fierce Bad Rabbits, The Tales Behind Children's Picture Books and have reached the chapter which mentions beloved Ladybird Books (I particularly like the quote from Angela Carter at the end):

    "The Ladybird imprint was begun by Henry Wills and William Hepworth in 1915, with Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales. It was intended to produce 'wholesome and healthy literature for children'. The iconic mini-hardback format we associate with the brand, with 56 pages, roughly 4 1/2" by 7", first appeared in 1940 ... It was a response to wartime restrictions on paper supply, with the format chosen because it allowed an entire book to be printed on one large standard sheet of paper ... then folded and cut to size ...The distinct aesthetic was also created by a decision not to use children's illustrators but, instead, established commercial artists. While Ladybird soon became famous for non-fiction and nature titles, it was the 'Well-Loved Tales', designed for easy reading, that my generation learnt, stumblingly, to read from...

    My sister's favourite Ladybird book was The Elves and the Shoemaker* ... She was delighted by all the shoes the elves helped make, with their bright leathers - blue, red, yellow, green; the pink, fringed ankle boots [see them here] - and charmed by the miniaturization: the tiny outfits the shoemaker and his wife stitch for the elves, to say thank you; the absurd stockings laid out next to thimble-sized boots and hats with red feathers. It is a story in which immense powers are used to achieve small domestic goals, making me think of Angela Carter's lovely summation: 'A fairy tale is a story in which one king goes to another king to borrow a cup of sugar.' "

*I had that one but can't lay hands on it - I remember vividly all those shoes and boots!

Comments

[callmemadam]

I used to have a huge collection of these but got rid of a lot. I'm too old to have had them as a child but spent hours reading them with my daughter. Tiptoes the Mischievous Kitten, Smoke and Fluff and Tootles the Taxi were great favourites.
The ones I like best now (I've kept them) are the seasonal books with the Tunnicliffe illustrations.
I think you'll get a lot of comments on this post!

[Cornflower]

I love those Tunnicliffe illustrations! Also Stanley Badmin.

[Fiona]

I gave mine to charity two years ago when we moved away from Edinburgh, with the exception of Queen Elizabeth I and British Wildflowers. My favourites were always the factual ones, especially the histories. I have memories of trying to teach myself to danse from Ballet!

[Cornflower]

That's great, Fiona! I think they were formative for many.

[Helen]

I had thought all of ours were left in England when we emigrated 50 years ago but recently found a copy of The Lord’s Prayer. I think my mother must have packed that one!
I remember Smoke and Fluff but the nature ones were my favourite. Thanks for the memories!

[Dark Puss]

I didn't have this one, but I might have!