Encyclopedia of Collectible Children's Books [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Diane McClure Jones (Author), Rosemary Jones (Author)

Book Description

Encyclopedia of Collectible Children's Books is sure to invoke memories of bedtime stories or afternoons spent in the shade reading that favorite book. This book features two centuries of children's books with current values from $30 to thousands of dollars. The author/illustrator section includes historical and biographical information plus thousands of book listings, which include publisher, date, description, and current values. Hundreds of favorite books, categorized by series, with thousands of titles plus descriptions and values are contained in this book. Around 800 full-color illustrations plus explanations of pricing, listings of Newbery and Caldecott winners, and a glossary of publishing terminology highlight this volume. In addition, information on identifying first editions and on the history of individual publishers of children's books are given. 2008 values.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This useful and attractive compendium of Children's Books is a must-have for the collector or dealer. With close to 800 colour photos, you're almost sure to spot a book that you will remember reading as a child - or reading to your own child. Chapters are nicely categorized and explained in detail; Pricing, First Editions, Publishers' Histories, Book List by Author, Book List by Series and one covering award winners.

About the Author

Diane McClure Jones, along with author Rosemary Jones, is a noted collector and expert on children's books and young readers. She has co-authored three volumes, Collector's Guide to Children's Books, as well as Boys' & Girls' Book Series: Real World Adventures.

Rosemary Jones, along with author Diane McClure Jones, is a noted collector and expert on children's books and young readers. She has co-authored three volumes, Collector's Guide to Children's Books, as well as Boys' & Girls' Book Series: Real World Adventures.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Collector Books; Ill edition (July 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574325752
• ISBN-13: 978-1574325751
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #713,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias > Children's

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wide-ranging, informative, knowledgeable reference on vintage children's books, September 22, 2008

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Collectible Children's Books (Hardcover)

This outstanding reference has a range of material and specificity of information on particular books and authors to be of use to collectors at all levels. Even though somewhat specialized, the area of children's books is of interest to large numbers of collectors and dealers, even ones not particularly interested in books. Children's books can be used for gifts for children or adults; in many cases, they are sought after mainly for their illustrations; children's books reflect social history in shedding light on education, domestic life, and raising of children. Some children's books--especially prized ones--are illustrated by major illustrators or artists.

The format is not strictly that of an "encyclopedia" with the conventional, straightforward alphabetical entries. Unexpected, yet plainly relevant and useful sections are succinct publishers' histories, a listing of Newbery and Caldecott Winners from their beginnings in 1922 and 1938 respectively thru 2008, a glossary, and a bibliography. A listing of childen's books by author of about 160 pages with hundreds of illustrations of book covers and another section of about 150 pages also with hundreds of illustrations are the encyclopedia-like sections.

More so than with most categories of collectible books, with children's books, publishers can be a sign of age and value. Books by McLoughlin Brothers, for instance, are usually from the 1800s and are desirable for their handcoloring or chromolithography. Scribner's is well known for its especially desirable series of classics illustrated by notable illustrators such as N. C. Wyeth. Many of Mark Twain's books and books by Jules Verne and Alfred Hitchcock and other authors who are not automatically regarded as children's authors are included--one example of the information and guidance in the range of coverage.

As for a sampling of the reference's depth, the Oz Series by Frank Baum is laid out over four pages. As with many classic children's books, including Mother Goose rhymes and A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh books, popular children's books have gone on from their first publication to many subsequent reprintings over decades. The treatment of the Oz series helps readers distinguish between first and early printings that can be worth thousands of dollars and later reprintings having little monetary value.

All in all, this is a exceptional, knowledgeable, reliable reference on the perennially popular field of collectible children's books, one of the major categories of book collecting.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packs in the top collectibles and adds a healthy dose of publishing history insights to boot, January 9, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Collectible Children's Books (Hardcover)

Diane McClure Jones & Rosemary Jones' ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COLLECTIBLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS: IDENTIFICATION AND VALUES offers book lists by both author and series, the latest values, and color photos of selected books. The result is a fine survey perfect for any library catering to either general collectors or specializing in children's literature. It packs in the top collectibles and adds a healthy dose of publishing history insights to boot.