Puppies and Kittens, 1956 (DJ)

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 copy still has its original DJ in good condition.  The book itself is in VG condition with a blue line-drawing cover and white endpapers.  There are nibbles to the DJ edges and some close tears at folds near spine panel.  Inside the book in in VG condition.  A nice copy of book with a delicate dj that was normally loved to death in very young hands.