Children’s Literature & Fairy Tales
Children’s books are actually a great genre for the collector. The books remain desirable for a long time for nostalgic reasons, they provide a fascinating cultural snapshot of their time, and classic children’s literature draws the attention of many incredible artists and illustrators. Books series range from cheap and cheerful sets that brighten up any room, to collectible fine press editions. And collections can include genres, authors, illustrators or anything that takes your fancy.
This page provides a jumping off point with links to both vintage and contemporary illustrated bibliographies of stunning fairy tale collections, fascinating folklore, and beautiful children’s book series.
Contemporary Collectibles
NYRB Children's
Reprinted Classics
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the New York Review's Children's Collection
Chronicle's Folk Tales
Diverse Illustrations
A review of Chronicle's world folklore collections, with different illustrators for each volume.
Puffin Sisterhood
Classic Paperbacks
Bright beautiful paperback classics about strong, fearless and inspiring women and girls.
MinaLima
Interactive children's classics
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the interactive children's classics by the renowned illustrators of the Harry Potter universe.
Puffin Clothbound Classics
Glittering Classics
A review of Puffin's latest collector's editions of children's classics, bound in cloth with glittery gold highlights.
Puffin Hardback Classics
A Pastel Rainbow
A review of the 22 children's books in the Puffin hardback children's classics series.
V&A Children's Classics
Stunning Morris Designs
A review of the children's classics series produced by the Victoria & Albert Museum using William Morris designs on the bindings.
Cut Paper Fairy Tales
Die-cut Tales
A review of Sybille Schenker's magical die-cut fairy tale classics.
Arcturus Slipcased
Newly illustrated Slipcased children's classics with bright new illustrations.
Fancy & Fine Press Editions
Folio Society Rainbow Fairy Books
Beautifully bound Andrew Lang
A guide to the Folio Society's fdecoratively clothbound fairy book collection with stunning original illustrations by contemporary artists.
Andrew Lang's Original Fairy Books
Fairy tales from around the world
The original rainbow fairy book set by Andrew Lang and his wife, with their glorious decorative bindings and illustrations by Henry J. Ford.
Folio Society Classic Fairy Tales
Facsimiles of Golden Age Classics
The Folio Society's collection of facsimiles children's books by the best illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration.
Vintage Children's Books
Junior Deluxe Editions
Fabulous 1950s artwork
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the American children's classics series known as the Junior Deluxe Editions.
Best in Children's Books series
Famous 1950s artists
A collector's guide to the American children's classics series known as the Best in Children's Book Club series.
Hamish Hamilton
Books of Myth and Legend
A vintage series of children's books on dragons and goblins, princes and princess, and all manner of fantastic beasts.
Australian Fairies
The art of the Australian fairy
A review of those literary magical fairy beings of the sort that typically feature prominently in pan-European fairy tales but here are living in the Australian bush.
B&N Rainbow Collection
A leatherbound rainbow
Now out of print, this rainbow of children's classics from B&N is still a popular collectible series.
Muller's Folk & Fairy Tales
World folklore
World fairy tale collections published between the late 1950s to the early 1970s
Queen's Treasures
Delicate Designs
Delightful vintage children's books by Bell & Sons with pretty decorative bindings.
Dent Dutton
Children's Illustrated Classics
Pretty patterned bindings from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s
Collectible Titles
Alice in Wonderland
Down the rabbit hole
A collector's guide and illustrated bibliography of the wonderful variety of illustrated editions of Lewis Carrol's famous books.
The Princess Bride
As you wish...
A history and collector's guide to the various editions of William Goldman's classic novel The Princess Bride.
Beedle the Bard
The many illustrated tales
A collector's guide to the illustrated editions of J. K. Rowling's Tales of Beedle the Bard.
Mary Poppins
Spit, Spot, a Mary Poppins comparison
A review of the varied illustrated editions of Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers.
East of the Sun
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
A comparison review of the Nielsen-illustrated editions of this Nordic classic fairy tale.
Secret Garden
Find the key
A collector's guide and illustrated bibliography of the best editions of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Authors & Illustrators
Janet & Anne Grahame Johnstone
Twin illustrators
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the folklore, fantasy and children's illustration work by the wonderful Grahame Johnstone twins. Also includes a small gallery of their paintings, and a sampling of their work in the Finding Out magazine.
Fantasy & Fairy Tale Artist
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the illustration work by the amazing artist Errol Le Cain.
Charles van Sandwyk
Magical fairies and animal art
A complete collector's guide and illustrated bibliography of Charles van Sandwyk's delightful private press work and Folio Society publications.
Coming Soon...
Ruth Manning Sanders
The complete illustrated bibliography of works by wonderful fairy tale teller Ruth Manning Sanders, including her brilliant fairy tale and folklore series 'A book of...' illustrated by Robin Jacques.
