Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book

July 15, 2013
Muldrow, editorial director at Golden Books, pairs vintage illustrations from titles originally published in the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s with aphorisms designed to boost spirits. Adults (or possibly high school and college graduates) are the primary audience. “Be a romantic,” reads a page illustrated with an image of a prince and princess on horseback from The Blue Book of Fairy Tales (1959); opposite, a delicately illustrated scene from The Paper Doll Wedding (1954) joins the advice, “Don’t forget to enjoy your wedding!” Elsewhere, the river-crossing scene from Richard Scarry’s 1953 version of The Gingerbread Man reminds readers, “Choose your companions wisely.” Readers who grew up with Little Golden Books illustrated by the likes of Mary Blair, Tibor Gergely, and Garth Williams will enjoy this optimistic and cheering trip down memory lane. Ages 12–up.

September 1, 2013
Chicken soup for fans of Golden Books, from the line's editorial director. Reasoning that hard times have come to America ("The chickens have come home to roost, and their names are Debt, Depression, and Diabetes"), Muldrow offers this book as palliative. She gathers single illustrations from 61 Little Golden Books and adds pithy captions as anodynes, such as "Don't panic..." (beneath Tibor Gergely's 1948 image of a dismayed child holding detached braids) or "Have some pancakes" (Richard Scarry, 1949). Though some of her advice has a modern inflection ("Don't forget your antioxidants!"), the pictures all come from titles published between 1942 and 1964 and so, despite the great diversity of artistic styles, have a quaint period look. Not to mention quaint period values, from views of apron-wearing housewives and pipe-smoking men (or bears) to, with but two exceptions, an all-white cast of humans. Furthermore, despite the title's implication, the exhortations don't always reflect the original story's lesson or theme; rather than "Make a budget--and stick to it!" the lad in Miriam Young's 5 Pennies To Spend (illustrated by Corinne Malvern, 1955) actually used his hoard to help others in need. Ephemeral--unlike the art here (some of it, at least) and those fondly remembered little books. (Picture book. 12 & up)

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October 1, 2013

A fun and entertaining walk down memory lane for anyone who has grown up within the last 60 years or so and had the pleasure of reading and loving a Little Golden Book. The author, the longtime editorial director at Golden Books, has cleverly strung together a collection of images and text from approximately 65 different books into a guide about enjoying life and what's important. This title will be great for sharing one-on-one with children. It's just unfortunate that there is no bibliographic listing of titles.-Renee McGrath, Nassau Library System, NY

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