This unassuming collection of stories and poems made a disproportionately big impression on me when I was little. I spent many, many hours reading Ward Lock’s Book of First Stories. You can tell how loved it was by the split spine and dog-eared pages, and my sister Jane confirmed tonight that she loved it just as much, 10 years after me.
The book is designed to be a first collection of stories and poems designed for 2- to 7-year-olds. Ward Lock was a British publisher, established in the 1850s and eventually bought out by Penguin, but not before this book was published in 1975. It includes classic fairy tales like The Three Little Pigs and The Little Red Hen, and other stories and poems that I haven’t seen in any other collections. My favourites were ‘The 621 Friends of Aaron Zee’ by Ann Tompert and ‘I Went to the Zoo in the Rain’ by Betty Lacey. As a mum, I think I sometimes underestimate the appeal of collections of short stories and veer towards single volume picture books. But revisiting this book reminds me how much I loved this format myself.
What holds this collection together and shines brightly through it even today are the illustrations by June Goldsborough. Her artwork has a distinctive 70s style, and I love the details of the hairstyles, clothes and interiors. Lots of pinks and oranges and purples wash the pages with the look of that era too.
Pixigenné, who makes the most beautiful decoupage suitscases for Mahar Drygoods, made an exquisite tear-drop case using some of June Goldsborough’s illustrations. Check out her whole Flickr set for some equally amazing productions using children’s picture books. Sometimes I justify buying a particularly damaged edition of a picture book by my intentions to use the illustrations for some sort of decoupage project – but I can never bring myself to take out the scissors!
There are more examples of June Goldsborough’s picture book illustrations viewable on Flickr.
Love June Goldsboroughs illustrations, they really do have a 70′s flavour.
One of my most treasured books that I remember fondly from childhood was a Short Story Collection as well. Hilda Boswells Treasury of Childrens Stories was definately a favourite, with her wonderful illustrations being a major reason for its appeal. It had been given away, and I recently tracked down a copy, which my kids now enjoy as well.