Experience the nostalgia of Little Golden Books with over sixty masterpieces of original illustrations from the Random House archives. Featured in the exhibition are pieces from beloved picture-book classics like The Poky Little Puppy, Tootle, Home for a Bunny, The Color Kittens, I Can Fly, and many more!

Launched in 1942—the first full year of America’s involvement in the Second World War—Little Golden Books made high quality illustrated books available at affordable prices for the first time to millions of young children and their parents. Among the artists who contributed to the ambitious series were greats of the European émigré community (including Garth Williams, Feodor Rojankovsky, and Tibor Gergely) who had gathered in New York as the European situation worsened; alumni of the Walt Disney Studios (including Gustaf Tenggren, Martin Provensen, J. P. Miller, and Mary Blair); and such American originals as Leonard Weisgard, Eloise Wilkin, Elizabeth Orton Jones, Richard Scarry, and Hilary Knight.

Exhibition Dates: February 16 - April 30

Exhibition Opening Reception: Thursday, February 16  |  5 PM

Golden Legacy: 80 Years of Original Artwork from Golden Books is underwritten by DTE Energy, Mike & Kay Olthoff, & the David & Carol Folkert Family Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.

This exhibition was organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, Abilene, Texas