I don’t want to ever forget that it was my Mom who taught me to read to my own children, by her example. She was such a sweet young thing when my brother David and I were preschoolers….let’s see….yes, she was in her early twenties, and I remember her reading us all sorts of books, my favorite by far was Little House on the Prairie. What a safe and secure spot, to curl up by Mom, listening to her voice and soaking in the pictures of the books. She read books out loud to all five of her children and put the love of books and stories in our hearts.
I read and read and read and read to my own youngsters, now. I forget to soak in the pictures because I’m too busy being dramatic and theatrical as I read the stories. But the children cuddle up to me so very close and they sit still and listen and look at every page, every detail.
I started collecting Little Golden Books a few years ago because they are so easy to find, identifiable by their golden binding, and there are lots of them. The first 12 were originally published (in 1942) as a less expensive way to get children’s books into every household; they only cost 25 cents. Because they were affordable, these books were meant to be loved and handled by the children themselves.
They were known from the beginning for their wonderful illustrations and simple stories but were not without controversy. I was intrigued to learn that librarians were concerned about the books at first, believing that just because a book was inexpensive didn’t mean it was worth reading to children.
There are serious collectors out there, but I am not a serious collector. I get most of my books from library book sales for about 10 cents a piece. I don’t care about condition, I buy them when I find a title I don’t have, and if it looks like a book I’ll actually read to the kids.
This is the latest find, and it’s so sweet!
Here is a peek inside:
It was written and illustrated by Sharon Kane.
Another favorite writer and illustrator of mine is Eloise Wilkin.
The Little Red Caboose is a practically perfect story to read out loud, it reads well and the story is wonderful. The pictures are bright and detailed, there is lots to see as we turn the pages. We also sing “Little Red Caboose” when we read this book, too. “Tooot Toooooot!”
This is my Davy’s favorite Little Golden Book:
When You Were a Baby (1949) is so sweet and quaint, it makes me laugh and get the urge to put on a dress, heels, and a frilly apron.
This is most of my collection, I’ve been gathering them up from all around the house, when I first had the idea last week to do this blog entry.
Caleb went through a passionate BAMBI stage, and there is one Little Golden Book that had the cover loved off it, and we had to tape it back together with blue duct tape. 
These collector’s guides are fun to look through, especially the one listing all the titles. It pictures all the covers of most of the books printed.
Caleb’s happy because there are even Little Golden books about Thomas!
Even 15 month old Sethie has some favorites, we have a few of the smaller, square Golden books and he loves the ones that are about animals and the sounds they make. If you were to eavesdrop on us reading together, you would hear the most frightful sounds as he enthusiastically tries to imitate my best goat sounds, the piggy, the horse, the rooster, etc. He loves his little books and throws them at us, to get his point across (“READ TO ME NOW!”)
It’s been a fun hobby for us to collect the Little Golden books, and we enjoy them so much as a family.
Happy Reading! (Thanks Mom!)
Good to be Home 
Thanks for sharing your collection. You are an inspiration to read more to my kids. I remember loving my golden books as a child.
hi shanda…….we have lots of golden books, too. some from my and my husband’s childhood as well as some picked up at rummages. i’m saving them all for grandchildren someday! such wonderful reading for all.
I loved reading to my children. Now I read to grandkids.
I have started collecting Little Golden Books for us, too, mainly because I have such very fond memories of them from when I was a kid. Eloise Wilkin is one of my favorites, too. I LOVE her illustrations!
We loved many Little Golden books…both as children and then with the boys. Mary has your latest find, a treasure that reminded her of Bri. I sadly let some books go when we down sized…I regret that. I will be recollecting sweet books like that as I get rid of some of the big textbooks I will no longer need!! I want to read out loud, it is one of the greatest joys in life. We still read books together, but those little story books are sooooo much fun. I should go volunteer somewhere this summer I look forward to Grandchildren.
YAY! A post on one of my favorite topics!!! I loved seeing your collection. The first two you pictured are on my list to get, but I do not have them yet. However, I think my Little Golden Book collection is almost twice the size of yours! Next time we talk, we must share notes on our favorites!LOVE THIS LOVE THIS LOVE THIS!!!
oh wait, is your collection comprised of both top and bottom pictures, or just one of them? Terry is standing over my shoulder laughing that I am so excited over this! LOL
OH my favorite golden book was the Pokey Little Puppy! I remember my parents had to read it to me every night and if they missed a word or a page I knew! LOL
I just got some golden books from a co-worker. You have quite the collection!!! I think of you when I see them. Sorry I haven’t posted many comments lately. I am reading. I am so excited that Sarah will be here soon! Love you, Lish
I remember those – wonderful books!
I use to love Little Mommy!I had forgotten all about it until you posted this. Thanks for sharing!
my parents still have our entire collection of goldenbooks downstairs on the shelves. one of my fondest memories was curling up on the sofa or in my bed and having my dad and mom read to me. i also read through the little house series…what a wonderful time that was. i lovced when my parents got into the story…it was so much fun. my parents were very supportive of my voracious appettite for reading and so after kindergarten then made a huge effort to supply me with wonderful reading material. starting to become a teacher has opened my eyes to some of the older stuff that i remember loveing as a child as well as some of the new stuff…some of it i’m not too impressed with but some of it is fantastic. i’m so glad to hear that not only do your kids love books (i remember pictures and stories of going to the library) but you love to read to them.when SARAH soon enters our world…i pray that she too will be a lover of books when the time comes for her to both be read to and learn to read. what a beautiful blessing.
ahh, I love this post!!! I have such a love for reading and so does my KK, I hope that all my children will follow suit!! So nice to be able to “escape” to faraway lands without even leaving the comfort of your own home!
My mother read Little Golden Books to me as a child. I remember that we would buy one at the grocery store almost every week…when she didn’t buy a LGB, she bought a 45 record like the Do Bee. I wish I had those vintage LGBs as well as the records. Memories attached, you know?My absolute favorite LGB illustrator is also Eloise Wilkin. I have several…but want to find more. I am always on the look out for them… I love the way her detailed backgrounds reflect the era in which the books were written. Delightful.Have a good Thursday,D xo
I have a collection like that too! Most are from my childhood, but I’ve bought some as well, I’ve never seen that newest one of yours, it looks really good.
Those books remind me of my own childhood 🙂 my mom too was a reader – always read to us, even as we got older – reading George McDonald outloud and the like. What a wonderful thing you are doing for your kids. I am not much of an outloud reader. And granted, what do you know, my kids seem to read in silence as well – finding little corners of quiet to cuddle down for a book, etc. My husband though, being more outgoing personality, he reads outloud every night to the boys – they’ve gone through many missionary bios in the last year. I imagine your children love hearing you read and will remember it forever. 🙂
Those books were much beloved by my children, too. I especially like the ones illustrated by Eloise Wilkins — love those chubby cheeked little faces she would draw! I always read to my girls, too, and I have fond memories of my Mom reading to my sisters and I. I especially remember Old Yeller. We were all of us crying when “the bad thing” happened to that poor, faithful dog.
Coco is standing behind me and said “We have that one! Mommy we have that one too!” Wilkin is our favorite as well!You have a great collection Shanda!I have never seen “When you were a baby” but I am sure I would like it, the vinatge ones are the best, they hint of a much simpler, innnocent time.
Shanda, don’t know if you like garage sales but I have found some awesome surprises during the summertime. I read this today and I will be keeping my eyes open now for these books too! I too read these to my own children and now to my grandchildren.
The books command prices from ten to several hundred dollars in very good condition. The Eloise Wilkin Treasury; a delightful book filled with the artists’ cherubic faces and sweet stories, favorite nursery rhymes, prayers, and poems is currently at $60.00 to $75.00.
I used to LOVE LOVE LOVE the story books about the little girl who pretended to be a mommy. I always recognized so many things from my childhood home in the books. Those were always my favorite. 🙂
@lynn – Lynn, I think I have that one (the E. Wilkin Treasury book)!! I just pulled it off the shelf, I didn’t even realize it was a Golden Treasury book! I got it last year at a church tag sale (they call ’em tag sales here in CT)…..anyway the one I have was published in ’85 but it has a little bit of roughness in the corners of the cover. Yes, I love tag sales, thrift stores, library book sales, they all send my heart a fluttering! ~Shanda
What a great memory and legacy you are carrying on.
I love, love, love books and really enjoy reading to my children too. My daughter would absolutely LOVE the Little Mommy one. I just may have to buy that one for her.Great collection!
I love reading the Little Golden Books to my kids! It also brings back the sweet memories of when mom would read them to me and my sisters. I enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing.
The old little golden books were so beautiful and wholesome! I wish they still made books that way. I dont ever remember being read to…not once.
I also collect Golden books, well, actually lots of vintage children’s books. I love Eloise Wilkin. My mom read Baby Brother to me as a little girl and I’ve been searching (yard sales, antique stores, etc..) for a copy of it for a while now. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to don an apron and heels. 🙂 -Maria
LOVE this!we have a stack of GB too!! alot of them were mine growing up~ they’re my all time favorite children’s books because they’re bright, colorful and easy to read!! whenever Emma wants a book before bed i reach for a golden one. come to think of it, they’re well named. 🙂
Little Mommy was my all time FAVORITE book as a child and is one I STILL love as a grown woman!! I love to read it to my daughter!
A very sweet post! I buy Little Golden Books, too, and still have a few from when my children were small. The current favs for naptime at Mimi’s are The Jolly Barnyard and the Poky Little Puppy….gotta find Little Mommy for Addie Dear.
We love our Little Mommy book! I found it at Walmart one Christmas for one of my girls. My mom has an older more loved version of it that I remember reading as a little girl. My other favorites that I remember from childhood are We Help Mommy, and We Help Daddy. I read them slowly now to my kiddos because I get caught up looking at the pictures and how different life and homes were back then. I especially love how lgbooks fit so neatly on the shelf.:) Doctor Dan and Nurse Nancy are also favorites. I’ve not purposely collected these, but your post is inspiring, I think I might start! I, too, love a good booksale.Gyo Fujikawa books always remind me of childhood in the 70’s. Did your mom read you those? They are quite different from lgbooks, but sweet too.:) Richard Scarry books take me back as well. Thanks for the reminder to keep reading to my little ones, they will remember!
Little Golden Books bring back so many fond memories of my childhood, falling asleep reading them, about eight or so stacked on my lap in bed. My kids love them, too…Alex especially at this point.
I love Eloise Wilkin and Sharon Kane, the details and the sweetness they capture!I just cleaned off my bookshelf on Fri and kept all the Little Golden Books.
Lovely post. Thank you. btw, nice cursor. lol
We also have a little collection of them. We have “Little Mommy” and “My Puppy” too. Lilly loves her Little Golden Books. We usually pick ours up at yard sales or from other mom’s whose kids have “outgrown” them. They are cute, not too short and not too long of books to read before bedtime and I read to Lilly every night. On the “tired” nights, I love reading the Golden Books because of that reason. How did you get the shimmering letters in your first photo btw??