Puppies and Kittens, 1956

Puppies and Kittens was the first book to be published in series 563 – the series written and conceived by Margaret Gagg.  It is very much a picture book for baby – a book to engage for the youngest of children.  There seems to have been quite a tradition of ‘puppy and kitten’ picture books at this period and earlier – and the illustrations here are decidedly of this type.  They are off-the-scale cute – a perfect addition to the genre by artist H Woolley who only illustrated a few books for Ladybird but who had the gift of giving a soft, nostalgic tinge to his work.

In common with all the books in series 563, Puppies and Kittens was originally issued with a dustwrapper.  For the earliest editions, you need to look out for those copies where the title is in white rather than black.

This matt copy is generally in very good condition but for an unfortunate scar to the spine.  Good condition copies of this title are unusual,  given that it was created for use by the youngest children so it’s usually only found very battered and chewed.  This copy has only light wear and the pages are very nice and clean but for a small mark to the front endpapers.  This copy dates from the 1970s and has an original price of 18p on the back.