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Below you’ll find interviews and information on Ladybird Book artists, writers and other figures significant in the Ladybird story. You’ll find a broader overview here.
I’ve always loved the pictures in Ladybird Books – but of course my preferences and tastes have changed over the decades. As a child, for example, I found most of John Berry’s ‘People at Work’ series dull and grey and…
Read moreThe original Kenney versions and a 1978 version When I met John Kenney’s relative (see last post) she asked me whether Ladybird had ever published a book in the Robin Hood series called ‘The Spy’. The reason for this…
Read moreLast month I had a truly Ladybird-Geeky treat. I met up with Ladybird artist John Kenney’s closest surviving relative and, over a very pleasant lunch, enjoyed the pleasure of talking with someone who shares my passion for these pictures and…
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Last summer, when the programme makers of BBC4’s ‘The Ladybird Book Story’ came to film, I showed the director Jon Bentley’s ‘Peter and Jane’ inspired art: ‘The Lost Episodes’. She liked them as much as I do and took the…
Read moreWe’re lucky enough to live for part of the year in North Wales. Earlier this month I went to Anglesey, to the Oriel Ynys Môn Gallery to see the Ladybird Tunnicliffe exhibition that’s on till the end of the year. …
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Superficially similar to Miriam Elia’s work (but actually very different) is this work of artist Jon Bentley: “Peter and Jane – The Lost Episodes”. What I like about this piece is that, once you get your head around it, you…
Read moreCinderella rides again – facsimile editions In the comments of my TV blog post , a number of people, perhaps not surprisingly, called for favourite old Ladybird Books to be re-issued. I didn’t like to say so, but actually, over recent years,…
Read moreRobert Lumley and Eric Winter are the two artists I am most often asked about. This reflects the enduring popularity of the 27 Well Loved Tales titles issued between 1964 (starting with Cinderella) until The Musicians of Bremen (1974). (For…
Read moreI’ve just made a new page about the life and work of the Ladybird artist B H Robinson. He illustrated a large number of books for Ladybird in the late 70s and 80s, including ‘Horses’ ‘Dogs’ and many of the…
Read moreAt 2.00 today the BBC programme See Hear will feature an updated interview with one of the best loved Ladybird illustrators (and one of my favourite people) Martin Aitchison. It will be screened today, 5th September 2012 on BBC 2…
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