The concept was simple enough. To publish a illustrated children’s book that was well-made and affordable for the American family. At the time the average price of a children’s book was $2-$3.
George Duplaix, the then president of the Artists and Writers Guild, Inc., pitched the idea to Simon & Schuster and the Little Golden Books were born.
The first 12 titles were published in October, 1942 for 25¢ a piece. The distinctive illustrated gold-foil spine over the stiff pictorial boards set the Little Golden Book apart from the field and ushered in a new era of children’s books. Now, 65+ years later, they have a secure place on the bookshelves of millions of children across the country.
Over two billion Little Golden Books have been published, enough to reach the moon. Five of the top six spots on Publishers Weekly’s list of children’s hardcover bestsellers from their date of publication through 1995 are Little Golden Books. From Jesus to Barbie, Mister Rogers to Walt Disney, Noah’s Ark to Old McDonald, Lassie to Winnie-the-Pooh, the list of titles provide a front row seat to American popular culture.
To celebrate this amazing accomplishment the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is featuring the exhibit Golden Legacy: Original Art from 65 Years of Golden Books. The exhibit “will present the most extensive public showing ever of original illustration art from American publishing’s best loved and most consequential picture-book series, Little Golden Books”
Support for the exhibit is provided by Random House, who acquired Golden Books in 2001 for close to $85 million.
Preview of the exhibit
Timeline of Little Golden Books