1955 First Edition - The Little Bookroom: Eleanor Farjeon’s Stories for Children

An especially charming first edition, gathering Eleanor Farjeon’s own chosen stories with Edward Ardizzone’s warm and unmistakable illustrations.

Author: Eleanor Farjeon.
Title: The Little Bookroom: Eleanor Farjeon’s Short Stories for Children Chosen by Herself.
Publisher: London, Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, 1955. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 8.5" x 5.5".
Pages: xii, 302 pages.
Binding: Near fine original red cloth binding.
Dust Jacket: Very good original illustrated unclipped dust jacket by Edward Ardizzone, with light wear, small chips, short closed tears, and mild toning, as shown. Protected in a removable mylar cover.
Content: Near fine content. Pages are clean, bright, and tight throughout.
Illustrations: Illustrated throughout in black and white by Edward Ardizzone, including chapter illustrations and decorative text illustrations. Complete.

Estimate: USD $250-$350.

The book: The Little Bookroom is a beloved collection of Eleanor Farjeon’s short stories for children, selected by the author herself from the imaginative world of her childhood reading. The stories move between fairy tale, folklore, humour, wonder, and quiet moral beauty, making the volume one of Farjeon’s most enduring works. First published in 1955, this collection was awarded the Carnegie Medal and remains one of the classic post-war children’s books.

The author: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) was an English writer, poet, and storyteller best known for her children’s literature, plays, poetry, and the hymn “Morning Has Broken.” Her writing is admired for its lyrical grace, gentle fantasy, and deep sympathy for childhood imagination.

The illustrator: Edward Ardizzone (1900-1979) was one of the most distinguished British illustrators of the twentieth century. His lively pen-and-ink drawings brought warmth, movement, and character to many classic children’s books, and his work remains highly sought after by collectors.