Ladybird Books

Ladybird Books is celebrating its centenary this year. The familiar ladybird was first registered as a logo in 1915. Generations of children learned to read using the Ladybird method. The books also formed an introduction to art. Shown are Two Ladybird Covers by top wildlife artist Charles Tunnicliffe (CLICK). As an excellent BBC video explains, a shortage of paper after World War II caused the modern size and format of the books to be created, perfect for small hands (CLICK). To mark the centenary Lawrence Zeegen - Professor of Illustration and Dean of the School of Design at the London College of Communication - has written a new book Ladybird By Design, which will be published in March. He also helped curate the free exhibition Ladybird By Design at De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, showing over 200 original Ladybird illustrations from the late 1950s to the early 1970s (CLICK).