Here’s A Look At The Fascinating History Of Little Golden Books

Abe Books

If you were a fan of “The Poky Little Puppy” and “Mother Goose” growing up, you might be curious to learn about the history behind these sweet children’s books.

The beloved titles were part of a line called Little Golden Books created in 1942 through a partnership between the New York publishing firm Simon & Schuster, the Artists and Writers Guild and the Western Printing and Lithographing Company, according to Penguin Random House, which currently publishes the books.

Making Children’s Books More Affordable

In the early 1940s, children’s books typically sold for between $2 and $3, a price that was too steep for many families with young kids.

Adobe

MORE: All these celebrity Little Golden Books are under $6

But George Duplaix, who led the Artists and Writers Guild at the time, wanted to make reading more accessible to children. He set out to develop lavishly illustrated and sturdy children’s books that would be affordable to most families.

In the beginning, Little Golden Books cost just $0.25. The first Little Golden Books were published in September 1942 with memorable titles such as “Three Little Kittens,” “The Little Red Hen” and “The Alphabet from A to Z.”

Amazon

Like Duplaix, the Scripps Howard Foundation believes all children deserve the opportunity to learn to love reading. it has launched a literacy campaign called “If You Give a Child a Book.” The foundation raises money and, in a partnership with Scholastic Books, purchases and provides books to children in need through local nonprofit organizations. To date, the Scripps Howard Foundation has donated more than 500,00 books to children in need. You can help by donating online or texting “BOOK” to 345345.

The Books “Changed Publishing History”

This new series reflected a shift in thinking about how, where and what children should read, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, which hosted an exhibit about the Little Golden Books in 2013 and 2014.

“When the Little Golden Books were launched in 1942 at 25 cents each, they changed publishing history,” according to Penguin Random House. “For the first time, children’s books were high quality and low priced. They were available to almost all children, not just a privileged few.”

The books were designed to be sold in places where children and families already shopped, such as department stores and drugstores, not just bookstores. Five months after the line launched, the publisher had printed 1.5 million copies.

Little Golden Books’ Enduring Success

“The Poky Little Puppy” is an all-time classic, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide in dozens of languages. It’s also the best-selling Little Golden Books title.

These books were so successful that Simon & Schuster decided to launch a new division called Sandpiper Press. The company selected Duplaix to be the new division’s leader.

The cost of the Little Golden Books titles went up through the years, selling for $0.29 in 1962, $0.39 in 1968 and $0.59 in 1977.

In the 1980s, the cost went up to $0.89 in 1982 and to $0.99 in 1986.

Today, the books are still affordable if you buy a brand-new copy, hovering around $4.99 each. You can find them for about $5 and up on Amazon.

There’s also a lucrative seller’s market for first editions and other rare versions. This 1943 copy of the “Lively Little Rabbit” was going for $150 with a seller of rare children’s books in 2017:

Type Punch Matrix

And a 1942 version of “Mother Goose” with the original dust jacket was for sale for $1,375.

Abebooks.com

Did you read Little Golden books when you were growing up? Do you read them to your own children now?

Simplemost — in partnership with our audiences, our parent company, The E.W. Scripps Company, and the Scripps Howard Foundation — is helping to put books into the hands of kids who need them most as part of the 2021 “If You Give A Child A Book …” campaign. To give, you can make a donation here or text “BOOK” to 345345. To date, the Scripps Howard Foundation has donated over 500,000 books to kids in need.

Curiosity, Entertainment, Music

Related posts

A person listens to an audiobook on their phone.
How to listen to audiobooks free for 30 days
Little Golden Book celebrtiy bios
All these celebrity Little Golden Books are under $6
Judy Blume in a white pantsuit on a 2023 red carpet
Judy Blume receives award for 'Bravery in Literature' from Eleanor Roosevelt Center
Left: Taylor Swift's Little Golden Book cover. Right: Swift
The Taylor Swift Little Golden Book becomes the series' biggest seller

About the Author
Sarah Kuta
Sarah Kuta is an award-winning writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She writes regularly about travel, saving money, health, food and more.

From our partners