Life Lessons Gleaned from Little Golden Books
Little Golden Books, with their distinctive gold spines, have been a staple in children's literature for generations. These books, known for their affordability and durability, have not only entertained countless children but also subtly imparted valuable life lessons. Diane Muldrow, a longtime editor of these iconic books, recognized the wealth of wisdom contained within their pages. This realization led to her creation of "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book," a book that serves as a humorous and practical guide to life, drawing inspiration from the stories and illustrations found in Little Golden Books.
The Enduring Appeal of Little Golden Books
When Western Publishing debuted Little Golden Books in the 1940s, their success was immediate. These books were cheap to make, used little paper, were durable in the hands of children and -- best of all -- they were inexpensive, a very popular feature given the frugality of the war years. Today, fans include the young and the young-at-heart, as well as collectors. Collecting Little Golden Books can be great fun, and re-reading them will certainly induce a good bit of nostalgia.
Key Facts About Little Golden Books
Here are ten things every Little Golden Books fan should know:
- Little Golden Books premiered with 12 titles, all published in September 1942. All 12 were hardcover and 42 pages. The first advertisement announcing Little Golden Books appears in Publisher's Weekly, September 19, 1942. All 12 titles were priced at 25 cents each. Today you can expect to pay around \$5-\$6 per book.
- The first 12 books released were: Three Little Kittens, Bedtime Stories, The Alphabet A-Z, Mother Goose, Prayers for Children, The Little Red Hen, Nursery Songs, The Poky Little Puppy, The Golden Book of Fairy Tales, Baby’s Book, The Animals of Farmer Jones and This Little Piggy.
- Five months after the initial release, 1.5 million copies of the books had been printed and the line was in its third printing. By Little Golden Books' 75th anniversary in 2017, sales topped two billion copies, and eight-million-plus books sold annually.
- Janette Sebring Lowrey (1892-1986), a Texan, wrote The Poky Little Puppy, the most popular Little Golden Books of all time. The book was illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren. Lowrey wrote teen fiction during the 1940s and 1950s. Her young adult novel Margaret was adapted into a TV serial, Walt Disney Presents: Annette, which aired on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1958, starring Annette Funicello.
- A few notable authors and illustrators were responsible for bringing forth some classic Little Golden Books. Among those were Margaret Wise Brown, who also authored the timeless Goodnight Moon; Mercer Mayer, author of the Little Monster series; Richard Scarry, best known for his Busytown series of books; and famed artist Garth Williams, whose illustrations brought to life the characters in Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web and the Little House series penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
- The original Little Golden Books sparked a flurry of development in the 1950s, including an activity series of books (complete with learning wheels, paper dolls and paints as some of the enhancements), development of Big Little Golden Books and boxed puzzles featuring the cover of Little Golden Books.
- Not unlike some popular toys, and even Depression glass, Little Golden Books were premiums included in products such as diapers and in children’s meals at fast-food restaurants.
- Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book by
- Western Publishing had its beginning in the basement of 618 State Street in Racine, Wisconsin. Ownership and control of Little Golden Books has changed several times since Western Publishing debuted the line in 1942. Penguin Random House is the current publisher of the series. Despite the changes, Little Golden Books maintains a distinct appearance and remains identifiable by its gold spine.
- Filled with humorous, practical tips for getting the most out of life, this Little Golden Book “guide to life” is the perfect keepsake gift to celebrate birthdays and other new beginnings and milestones for readers of any age who cherish the classic little books with the gold foil spines! This humorous guide offers advice for getting the most out of life, the Little Golden Book way!
Diane Muldrow's Insightful Guide
Diane Muldrow, an editorial director at Golden Books, has written dozens of children’s books, including We Planted a Tree, a 2010 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best selection, and a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year. Diane is also the editor of Golden Legacy: The Story of Golden Books by Leonard Marcus. One day, Diane Muldrow realized that, despite their whimsical appearance, there was hardly a real-life situation that hadn't been covered in the more than 70-year-old line of children's books-from managing money to the importance of exercise, to finding contentment in the simplest things.
Muldrow's book, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book," encapsulates this realization. It offers humorous yet practical tips for getting the most out of life. These tips, drawn from more than 60 stories, are paired with delightful images from these best-loved children's books of all time-among them, The Poky Little Puppy, Pantaloon, Mister Dog, Nurse Nancy, We Help Mommy, Five Pennies to Spend, and The Little Red Hen. The Golden greats of children's illustration are represented here as well: Richard Scarry, Garth Williams, Eloise Wilkin, J. P. Miller, and Mary Blair, among many others.
Read also: The Enduring Wisdom
Examples of Life Lessons
Muldrow's guide includes advice such as:
- "Don't forget to enjoy your wedding!"
- "Be a hugger."
- "Sweatpants are bad for morale."
These simple yet profound pieces of advice, when viewed through the lens of Little Golden Books, offer a fresh perspective on everyday life.
Read also: A Memoir of Growing Up
Read also: Mastering Learning
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