How Little Golden Books changed childhood – The Look Back – PBS Wisconsin Education

How did Little Golden Books change the way children and parents read and experience books?

Little Golden Books was launched in October 1942 by the New York publishers Simon & Schuster and Wisconsin’s Western Printing and Lithographing Company. Unlike more expensive books intended for libraries or as luxury items, Little Golden Books appealed directly to children and at a much lower price. The series was an instant hit, and in the years since Little Golden Books have sold billions of copies.

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Questions to consider

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Why was it significant that Little Golden Books were affordable?

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Why was it important for books to be accessible to more people? What impact do you think that had?

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Did you recognize any books in the episode? If not, how can you find them or learn more?

Meet the historians

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Sergio González

Public Historian

I research and teach about the history of Latinos in the Midwest.

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Sergio González

Public Historian

Absolutely! It was hard to miss the golden spine of these engaging books in our home library.

So many to choose from, but anything by Richard Scarry was always at the top of my list as a kid. If I had to choose…I’d say Richard Scarry’s Naughty Bunny.

I was an avid reader as a kid (still am!) and my reading habits were pretty broad, but I learned to read through the comic books my dad would bring home.

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Kacie Lucchini Butcher

Public Historian

I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!

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Kacie Lucchini Butcher

Public Historian

Yes!

I love anything from Richard Scarry.

I called my mom and she said my favorite book was Are You My Mother? By P.D. Eastman (edited by Dr. Seuss!).

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Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

I take care of photos and videos and sound recordings so they last.

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Cat Phan

Digital Archivist

Absolutely! My mom had an in-house daycare so the house was full of all the classic kids books.

The Poky Little Puppy. Because I was and still am very poky in real life.

Anything magical and fantastical!

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Nick Hoffman

Public Historian

I get to share our fascinating history and culture with the world!

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Nick Hoffman

Public Historian

Of course! Little Golden Books were in my classroom, public library, and home.

My favorite Little Golden Book is the one my son asks me to read most often, Star Wars: A New Hope.

Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.

Rebecca Leannah

Local History Librarian

I help preserve and share the history of Racine, Wisconsin!

Rebecca Leannah

Local History Librarian

Yes, had a wide collection of LGB as a kid.

Hiram’s Red Shirt by Mabel Watts and Cheltenham’s Party by Jan Wahl.

I grew up reading the Clue books by A.E. Parker and Nancy Drew Case Files.

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Kevin Henkes

Writer and Illustrator

I get to write and illustrate children’s picturebooks and novels!

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Kevin Henkes

Writer and Illustrator

I did! We had a lot of Little Golden Books around.

My very favorite was Seven Little Postmen, in part because my father was a letter carrier.

My very favorite book was Is This You? by Ruth Krauss, with pictures by Crockett Johnson. It’s essentially a book in which you learn how to make a book!

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“I grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, but I felt like through books I could be anybody else, experience what it feels like to be other places.”

Kevin Henkes

Episode credits

Producer
David Boffa

Hosts
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Sergio González
Penelope González
Nick Hoffman
Oliver Hoffman
Cat Phan

Special Guest
Kevin Henkes
Rebecca Leannah

Research and Writing
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks

Videography
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks

Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer

Translation Services
Rev

Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Nick Ostrem
Jen Kobylecky

Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy

Web Development
John Vieth

Digital Content Editor
Mark Riechers

Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich

Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks

Director of Education
Megan Monday

Director of Television
Jon Miskowski

Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society

Special Thanks
Jessica Isaac
Jennica Li
Racine Public Library
John Sellers

Funding provided by

Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout

Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family

Focus Fund for Education

Friends of PBS Wisconsin