Why Americans of All Ages Love Little Golden Books
Twelve Lively, Kid-Centric Book Covers from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
In the early 20th century, most children’s books were large, lavishly illustrated, and expensive. They were absent from the bookshelves of most American families, and enjoyed primarily in libraries and schools. All that changed in 1942 with Little Golden Books—a series of slim, brightly colored books that revolutionized how, where, and what children read.
The book series—introduced by Simon & Schuster, the Artists and Writers Guild, and the Western Printing and Lithographing Company of Racine, Wisconsin—were designed with children in mind. Little Golden Books were small. They were sturdy. And they …
