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Golden Legacy

The Story of Golden Books

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Hardcover
10.25"W x 10.13"H x 0.9"D   | 48 oz | 12 per carton
On sale Feb 14, 2017 | 256 Pages | 9780375829963

Back in print, the fascinating history of Little Golden Books, in celebration of their 75th anniversary in 2017! With a Foreword by Eric Carle.

Eminent children's historian Leonard Marcus' Golden Legacy chronicles the fascinating story of the creation, marketing, and worldwide impact of Little Golden Books, the most popular children's books of all time. Launched during the dark days of WWII, Golden Books such as The Poky Little Puppy were an instant sensation. Hallmarked by their superlative quality yet affordable to nearly all, they changed the cultural landscape and mirrored our changing postwar culture: the powerful influence of television, the post-Sputnik renaissance in American science education, and the birth of the civil rights movement. Lavishly illustrated with the iconic Golden Book covers and colorful artwork  generations of children have pored over, Golden Legacy is a compelling tale of mavericks, innovators, and renowned authors and illustrators. . . a stirring celebration of the humble books in which we scrawled our names, with the cardboard cover and the shiny gold-foil spine.

Leonard S. Marcus is a leading historian and critic of children's literature, as well as the author of the award-winning books Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon, Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom, and Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter. A frequent contributor to the New York Times Book Review and the Horn Book Magazine, Marcus has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, ABC's Good Morning America, and BBC Radio 4. He is a founding trustee of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and is the curator of landmark exhibitions at the New York Public Library and elsewhere. He teaches at New York University and the School of Visual Arts, and lectures about his work throughout the world. Leonard S. Marcus lives in Brooklyn, New York. Find him online at leonardmarcus.com or @leonardsmarcus.

The Children's Book Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting reading and the enjoyment of books for young people. Since 1945, the organization has been the overseer of Children's Book Week. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes toward helping the Council in its efforts. View titles by Leonard S. Marcus
  • WINNER
    Bank Street Child Study Children's Book Award
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Review, The New York Times Book Review, November 11, 2007:
"The book includes a wonderful selection of archival photos and artwork that convey the depth and breadth of the creative talent working there in those early years."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, December 2007:
"This winning combination of nostalgia and clear-eyed, meticulously researched history breaks new ground, and should have broad appeal."

About

Back in print, the fascinating history of Little Golden Books, in celebration of their 75th anniversary in 2017! With a Foreword by Eric Carle.

Eminent children's historian Leonard Marcus' Golden Legacy chronicles the fascinating story of the creation, marketing, and worldwide impact of Little Golden Books, the most popular children's books of all time. Launched during the dark days of WWII, Golden Books such as The Poky Little Puppy were an instant sensation. Hallmarked by their superlative quality yet affordable to nearly all, they changed the cultural landscape and mirrored our changing postwar culture: the powerful influence of television, the post-Sputnik renaissance in American science education, and the birth of the civil rights movement. Lavishly illustrated with the iconic Golden Book covers and colorful artwork  generations of children have pored over, Golden Legacy is a compelling tale of mavericks, innovators, and renowned authors and illustrators. . . a stirring celebration of the humble books in which we scrawled our names, with the cardboard cover and the shiny gold-foil spine.

Creators

Leonard S. Marcus is a leading historian and critic of children's literature, as well as the author of the award-winning books Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon, Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom, and Show Me a Story! Why Picture Books Matter. A frequent contributor to the New York Times Book Review and the Horn Book Magazine, Marcus has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, ABC's Good Morning America, and BBC Radio 4. He is a founding trustee of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and is the curator of landmark exhibitions at the New York Public Library and elsewhere. He teaches at New York University and the School of Visual Arts, and lectures about his work throughout the world. Leonard S. Marcus lives in Brooklyn, New York. Find him online at leonardmarcus.com or @leonardsmarcus.

The Children's Book Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting reading and the enjoyment of books for young people. Since 1945, the organization has been the overseer of Children's Book Week. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes toward helping the Council in its efforts. View titles by Leonard S. Marcus

Awards

  • WINNER
    Bank Street Child Study Children's Book Award

Praise

Review, The New York Times Book Review, November 11, 2007:
"The book includes a wonderful selection of archival photos and artwork that convey the depth and breadth of the creative talent working there in those early years."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, December 2007:
"This winning combination of nostalgia and clear-eyed, meticulously researched history breaks new ground, and should have broad appeal."
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