Collecting Beautiful Children's Books
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.
Fancy & Fine Press Editions
Folio Society Rainbow Fairy Books
Written by Andrew Lang, illustrated by a range of contemporary illustrators.
A guide to the Folio Society's fantastic complete Fairy Book collection. Decoratively clothbound, 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. Also includes a complete list of all the tales in each book.
Folio Society Classic Fairy Tales
Facsimiles of Golden Age Classics
Folio Society's collection of facsimiles children's books by the best illustrators of the Golden Age of Illustration.
Contemporary Collectibles
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 Sisterhood
Classic Paperbacks
Bright beautiful paperback classics about strong, fearless and inspiring women and girls.
Arcturus Slipcased
Newly illustrated Slipcased children's classics with bright new illustrations.
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.
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 and complete illustrated bibliography of the American children's classics series known as the Best in Children's Book Club series (spoiler alert: not actually book club editions and amazing illustrations).
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.
Collectable Titles
Alice in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures Illustrations
A collector's guide and illustrated bibliography of the wonderful variety of illustrated editions of Lewis Carrol's famous books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
Alice in Wonderland
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.
Authors & Illustrators
Janet & Anne Graham Johnstone
Children's literature, folklore and fantasy artists
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the 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.
Errol Le Cain
Fantasy & Fairy Tale Artist
A collector's guide and complete illustrated bibliography of the illustration work by the amazing artist Errol Le Cain.
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.
