I am going to discuss the course of lady bird books through time from both the readers perspective and from the business perspective, as this currently relates to my assignment.
By 1973, 20 million copies a year were being printed in Loughbrough
Each book was the same size and format, which kept costs low and kept them identifiable.
56 pages, 24 illustrations
The price was the same for 29 years, "2 and 6" which was around the same amount as average pocket money for children.
Translated into over 60 languages
Lady bird used top illustrators, many of which had ladybird books as a side project whilst working for big manufacturing companies or popular comics.
Books for boys and books for girls, Cinderella showed illustrations of big dresses which girls in that time looked up at as this could be their future.
"Magnets Bolts and Batteries" Instructs you on things such as cutting apart a battery and then lick a device which makes you use your tongue as a conductor.
The Ministry of Defense had copies of the How It Works series printed for their employees with plain brown covers so they didn't get embarrassed.
"They Wanted to have a book for every subject and I think they pretty much did it." - Ronnie Fairweather, creative director of Ladybird.
In the book "Things to Make" it gives instructions on how to build things from every day products which meant that even the lower class families could still have fun and put them on the same level as the upper classes. An example of these instructions tells children how to build stilts from some string and two syrup tins.
- James May: My Sisters' Top Toys. BBC, 2007.
By 1973, 20 million copies a year were being printed in Loughbrough
Each book was the same size and format, which kept costs low and kept them identifiable.
56 pages, 24 illustrations
The price was the same for 29 years, "2 and 6" which was around the same amount as average pocket money for children.
Translated into over 60 languages
Lady bird used top illustrators, many of which had ladybird books as a side project whilst working for big manufacturing companies or popular comics.
Books for boys and books for girls, Cinderella showed illustrations of big dresses which girls in that time looked up at as this could be their future.
"Magnets Bolts and Batteries" Instructs you on things such as cutting apart a battery and then lick a device which makes you use your tongue as a conductor.
The Ministry of Defense had copies of the How It Works series printed for their employees with plain brown covers so they didn't get embarrassed.
"They Wanted to have a book for every subject and I think they pretty much did it." - Ronnie Fairweather, creative director of Ladybird.
In the book "Things to Make" it gives instructions on how to build things from every day products which meant that even the lower class families could still have fun and put them on the same level as the upper classes. An example of these instructions tells children how to build stilts from some string and two syrup tins.
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