For many of us our early (and in my case often further) education was augmented by these marvellous books and the near-photographic images which illustrated every second page. As part of the Gravity Fields Festival currently underway in Grantham and which honours the life, work and legacy of Sir Isaac Newton, there is a free exhibition of Ladybird art from their many science and nature editions over the years. Some of these are as familiar to me today as when I last saw them some decades ago, proof of a young child's eagerness and thoroughness as he absorbed the contents - so much so that they, to me, have the quality of icons about them and constitute an immediate and massive nostalgiac wrench back into a childhood long thought left behind.

A few tasters - wish I could be there...


"Growing Up" from "The Human Body"


"Michael Faraday" cover


"The Airman in the Royal Air Force" cover


"Diving Saucer" from "Underwater Exploration"


"The Story of Railways" cover

Educational, informative and always inspiring.

ROFL

Some of these books are now becoming valuable, dependent on the illustrator involved. I believe that some early ones were illustrated by Edward Ardizonne.

alantomes wrote:

Some of these books are now becoming valuable, dependent on the illustrator involved. I believe that some early ones were illustrated by Edward Ardizonne.

I can’t think of any Ladybird books illustrated by Edward Ardizzone although he certainly did great work for Puffin such as in Clive King’s 1963 classic Stig of the Dump. Ardizzone’s style of drawing seems to me to have been influential upon that of the late Raymond Briggs both being quite similar. With regard to Ladybird books, then the main illustrators were Martin Aitchison, Harry Wingfield, John Berry, Robert Ayton and John Kenney.
   
This book from 6 years ago (even using photographs) will no doubt now become collectable:




Joining this one (illustrated by John Kenney) from 64 years ago:



Despite its reputation for being pro-royalist, pro-unionist, pro-imperialist and generally Britanno-centric, Ladybird’s Adventures from History series (1956-81) was written by Lawrence du Garde Peach a Derbyshire playwright who had started off his writing career in the 1920s and 30s as a radical liberal. I particularly remember liking the ones on Joan of Arc, Robert the Bruce, Florence Nightingale and Warwick the Kingmaker. An exhibition of Ladybird book art is currently on tour:

Ladybird Book art exhibition

It will next be on at the Braintree Museum, Essex.