Believe it or not, this September marks the 69th anniversary of the publication of the Little Golden Book, The Poky Little Puppy! Since 1942, it has sold more than 14 million copies, and it remains popular today.
I remember Little Golden Books from my childhood -- The Little Red Hen was a favorite. But where did it all begin? The first Golden Books were printed in 1942 by the West Side Printing Company in Racine County, Wisconsin. The first 12 books were hardbound, 24 pages long, and cost 25 cents each. A variety of authors and illustrators have contributed to these books, including Margaret Wise Brown, Mercer Mayer, Richard Scarry and many Disney artists. To date, more than 2 billion Golden Books have been printed!
Besides The Poky Little Puppy, other best-sellers include Tootle by Gertrude Crampton, The Saggy Baggy Elephant by Kathryn and Byron Jackson, Scuffy the Tugboat by Gertrude Crampton, and Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. In 2001, Golden Books launched Little Golden Book Classics, which are reprints of old favorites such as The Good Humor Man, The Poky Little Puppy, Seven Little Postmen and The Shy Little Kitten.
If you ever want to locate a Little Golden Book but can't remember the title, you can register on the Collecting Little Golden Books Forum and ask a question. It's a great resource for finding all things Golden!
Lisa U.
Chester County Library
