For those of you who remember the Little Golden Books there is an interesting post by Julie Oreskovich about them on ABE books;
Collectible & Classic - Little Golden Books
If you think about the books you read as a child, or have read to a child, Little Golden Books will pop into your head. These books were first published in 1942 and have become a staple on children's bookshelves. Little has changed with the books over the years, they still have the iconic gold spine, the brightly illustrated covers and educational and moral stories. Although they no longer sell for 25 cents - first edition copies easily go for over $100 - Little Golden Books are a sweet little piece of the literary pie. Read More
I had a very battered copy of the Little Golden Book of prayers when I was small and used to recite the same two prayers each evening. One was Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, If I shall die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. The words of the other one escape me; I can remember a picture of a little girl sitting up in bed by an open window. I think it included the words smoothing down the covers, but I just can’t remember the rest. If you know, please remind me because trying to remember is driving me mad!
If you live in the 
The fantastic Ginger Pop shops in Poole and Corfe Castle are celebrating seventy years of Famous Five Adventures in Dorset.
The Famous Five Adventure Trail 2012 enables Enid Blyton fans to participate in a Famous Five style adventure in the Dorset places that the author knew, and where she set some of her books. It will run from the beginning of Spring half term in June, to the end of autumn half term in November 2012. If you are going to be in the West Country this year visit the Ginger Pop Shop for details here
This year the London international antiquarian book fair is being held in the National Hall at Olympia
This from the organiser's website;
I hope to go along on one of the Famous Five adventure trails and will be sure to tell you about it if I do.
This from the organiser's website;
The London International Book Fair 2012 - the 55th organised by the ABA - will be the biggest and best yet; more exhibitors, more books, maps, prints, ephemera & manuscripts in a bigger and better hall providing more space on stands, wider aisles, ample space to sit and relax in three different cafes.
I hope to go along on one of the Famous Five adventure trails and will be sure to tell you about it if I do.
I absolutely LOVE The Poky Little Puppy. It was my favorite as a kid, and I still have a copy of it for my kids too.
ReplyDeleteI have a vintage copy of the LGB of Prayers stored in our shed Barbara, I will hunt it out tomorrow and send you the words to that prayer...I think it's the last one in the book.
ReplyDeleteI would so love to be part of the Famous Five Adventure trail - that series was my favourite as a nine or ten year old. I'll get back to you tomorrow.
I was talking about the Famous Five with my husband earlier, anticipating the time my daughter will be old enough to enjoy the stories too. We live in the West Country so I'm going to have to go and find out more!
ReplyDeleteJust the title is enough to make me smile it’s such a sweet little book. How nice that you have a copy for your kids it’s lovely to be able to hand favourites on to the next generation. Thanks for calling and leaving a comment.
ReplyDeleteThat would be wonderful, thank you so much Kylie – it really is driving me mad trying to remember.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Famous Five when I was younger (still do really). Dad and I spent every Saturday morning in a second-hand book shop near where we lived – Dad would look for National Geographic Magazines, and I would be turning out the boxes looking for a Famous Five or a Secret Seven. Few of them had the dust jackets and most were in poor condition, but I loved them just the same!
Hello TC, I envy you the fun you will have with your daughter when she is old enough to enjoy the Famous Five and Secret Seven stories. I still read one occasionally, but it would be lovely to have someone to share the excitement with! If you are ever in Corfe, it’s worth visiting the Ginger Pop shop, it’s only tiny but full of Enid Blyton memorabilia, the one at Pool also has a museum. I’m really looking forward to the adventure trail – I will probably be the oldest one there – but I’m still a kid at heart. Thanks for calling in and leaving a comment.
ReplyDeleteI had two LGB that I can remember - Bambi (which I still have) and the Sleeping Beauty version with the paper dolls - although I never had the dolls themselves as the book was a hand-me-down and the dolls and clothes had been cut out. I don't seem to have the book anymore. I tried to replace it a little while ago - intact with the dolls it now commands such high prices that I can't afford it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the extra info about Hilda McGavin - I didn't know she illustrated Enid Blyton books, she must have been quite a prominent children's illustrators at that time. Her artwork is really lovely - I'm looking forward to finding out more about her.
I'm also interested to read the bedtime prayer when Kylie finds it for you - hope she posts it as a comment for all of us to see!
Hi Barbara, was it this one?
ReplyDeleteHello Kylie, it's a similar illustration but the words are not quite the same - I'm sure it said something about straighten the covers – but it’s a very long time ago so I could be mistaken. Thanks so much for sending the picture and words, I really appreciate your help. Barbara.
ReplyDeleteHello Sharon, I’m sure the Sleeping Beauty with paper dolls is beautiful. I will be trying to find a copy now.
ReplyDeleteI think Hilda McGavin also provided artwork for a series of postcards – I don’t have any, but I just feel sure I’ve seen them. I think she was very prolific at one time so there should be a lot of her work around – something else to look out for.
Kylie has kindly sent a picture and some words (see the comment above) and although the picture is similar, it’s not quite the one, and I’m sure the words were different – but as I said to Kylie, it’s a long time ago so I could be confused (nothing new there then!)
wow, I had no idea how much these books were worth. I loved any Golden Book. I can't wait to hear of your adventures.
ReplyDeleteI read "The Pokey Little Puppy" over ansd over to my daughter when she was little. She just couldn't get enough of it! It was a delight to see it here. I wonder if she still has it?
ReplyDeleteIf you find a copy and want to sell it let me know and I will save my pennies! (It has a yellow cover and Sleeping Beauty is holding a pink cut out paper doll dress up in front of her.) I don't know why I don't have the book any more as it was always one of my favourites!
ReplyDeleteI loved the little Golden books and used to love giving them as gifts. Thanks for sharing your adorable prayer.:)
ReplyDeleteHello Donna, these little books were often ‘loved to death’ so it’s hard to find copies in nice condition, and that pushes up the price.
ReplyDeleteHello Sharon, I will do my best, but I won’t buy unless it’s sensibly priced. Oh, and don’t worry if you find a copy in the meantime because I know I will fall in love with it so will be happy to add it to my collection. I will of course give you first refusal!
ReplyDeleteIt would be lovely if she did keep it. But if not, it would make a super birthday or Christmas gift – I don’t have a copy, but I’m sure there will be one at abebooks
ReplyDeleteHello Eve, they are very sweet little books. It’s funny how things learnt in childhood stay with us all our lives yet things we (I) did yesterday have already been forgotten!
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Little Golden Books! They are so cute. I'd love to attend both those events if I could!
ReplyDeleteI don’t think I’m going to make it to the antiquarian book fair, but I’m going to do my darndest to join in one of the adventure trails.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Little Golden Books! I had so many of them. I don't know what became of them- but I read them over and over. I think the events sound great- if only I lived closer. I look forward to hearing about one of the Famous Five adventure trails if you get to go!
ReplyDeleteOh my! What a way to remember! I had The Poky Little Puppy for years and it really was one of my favourites. Your doing really well reminding me of books from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Michelle
I'm actually going to have to purchase the Little Golden Books again!
ReplyDeleteHi Jess, I certainly hope to go and will be sure to take lots of ‘photos so that I can share them with everyone.
ReplyDeleteHello Michelle, if you manage to find two copies of the sleeping beauty (with yellow cover and Sleeping Beauty holding a pink cut out paper doll dress up in front of her) Sharon would like one (see previous comments). If you manage to find three copies, I would also like one!
ReplyDeleteMum picked up an old Enid Bylton collection of stories book from a charity book table in Brantanos yesterday. It was 3 books for £1 and she came away with 6 (in good condition) for my neice & nephew. The Enid Blyton one will be put up until my neice is old enough, but Dad said he was just glad it wasn't Brer Rabbit (he had to read that book to my brother and then me when we were little). Flicking through the Enid Blyton book I noticed there was a Brer Rabbit story in there, so told him he could still read Brer Rabbit to her!
ReplyDeleteHello Nikki-ann, how exciting, I love finding books in places like that. Tell your mum well done from me. Maybe you should start a collection of Brer Rabbit books for your dad – you could buy him one for each birthday and one for each Christmas! Tell him you know how much he enjoyed reading it to you when you were small so you knew he would appreciate a collection!
ReplyDeleteI used to say the Now I Lay Me prayer as a child, and it was the first one I taught my children, as well :)
ReplyDeleteSure, if I ever come across them I'll certainly let you know. Maybe Ebay has some for sale?
ReplyDeleteI always forget about eBay, thanks for reminding me I will go and take a look
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