What sort of titles are included in the collection? 

The books selected to be part of the Collection range from picture books for preschoolers, to chapter books for primary school, all the way to novels for older readers. There is a great selection of authors, and the series does include translated classics from around the world (albeit they are fairly Europe-centric choices). The titles are those you would expect to find in the well cared-for bookcase of an aged aunt living in a cozy country cottage – an eclectic and charming mix of mystery, adventure, myth, fantasy and more – but the books have been updated with new cover art, illustrated endpapers, and full color illustrations to ensure visual appeal for today’s young readers. There are a couple of exceptions with new books by American authors being published as well, notably Chris Rashka’s Doorman’s Repose and Alphabetabum.

What is the quality of the books like? Has it changed recently?

The production and design are thoughtful, and the books themselves are sturdy hardbacks with attractive paper boards and distinctive red cloth quarter bound spines. At least – the spines were cloth up until recently. Sadly due to rising publication costs, these cloth spines are being phased out and replaced with paper ones, so if you see a title with a cloth binding that you want you should grab it now! The page block is glue-bound not sewn in, but it is reinforced with head and foot bands that hide the glue and help to keep the spine together. 

Also of note, a couple of oversized titles are bound in blue instead of red – the d’Aulaires myth collections and the new Provensen Fairy Tales collection spring to mind here – but apparently this was purely an aesthetic decision by the publishers, and they are indeed part of the same series.

How much are the books worth?

Up until now, the books haven’t commanded much on the second-hand market (they are mostly reprints after all) but as people start to realise that older editions are made with higher quality materials this is rapidly starting to change.