Figure 1.--The cover for "The Wonder Book of Do You Know?" had an illustration of an archetypical British schoolboy in his traditional school uniform. It looks like it was set in the 1930s. There is no indication of who the illustrator is. Image courtesy of the AM collection. |
One series was the Wonder Books published by ???. There were many books to the series such as the The Wonder Book of the Farm. It is from the British The Wonder Book
Series. I'm not sure of the date but I think it's the late-1930s or early-40s.
According to my bookdealer, the Wonder Book series were immensely popular in there day. They are crammed full of wonderful photos and colour plate illustrations. Usually the books extolled the wonder of current developments of science and industrial achievements. i.e. The Wonder Book of Aircraft. Another book in the series was The Wonder Book of Do You Know?. Unfortunately there are no credits or indication as to who the illustrators were. There were also Wonder Book activity books.
The Wonder Books are one of the Ladybird books dealing in non-fiction subjects like "Canal History". They had titles like "The Story of Steam", "The Story of Furniture", "The Story of Cricket" and many more.
There were many books to the series such as the The Wonder Book of the Farm. It is from the British The Wonder Book Series. As was the The Wonder Book of Aircraft. Another book in the series was The Wonder Book of Do You Know?. Notice behind the boy on the cover of The Wonder Book of Do You Know? there are all a variery of interesting items like a radio tower, an elephant, and a commet. All things of interest to boys.
There were also Wonder Book activity books. Other Wonder Books focused more on activities like the Wonder Book of Things to Do. Here the focus is on a range of
activities. Some were activities that the average child was unlikely to persue, such as a ocean crossing cruise. The stories were often used to present information needed for an activity, such as navigation. Another subject covered was mountain climbing. One
illustration is a dynamic but unlikely depiction of an adventurous boy scaling a precarious precipice. He is not distracted by the ferocious eagle which seems to not welcome his presence. Other articles dealt with activities that a boy might actually due, like
working with a Meccano (Erector) set. The books include many wonderful illustrated drawings as well as photographs. Usually the illustrations show children envolved in the various activities. The book was written to include activities for both boys and girls.
Most of the exciting activities were for boys. There is no indication as to who the illustrators might be.
I'm not sure of the date but I think it's the late-1930s or early-40s.
According to my bookdealer, the Wonder Book series were immensely popular in there day.
They are crammed full of wonderful photos and colour plate illustrations. Some if te drawings are quite charming. Unfortunately there are no credits or indication as to who the illustrators were.
We note some wonder books were more informative non-fiction, informing children about the world. The Wonderbook of the Farm, for example, informed children
about how a farm functioned and on the animals and plants that were raised there. Another Wonder Book: Do you Know was about a wide range of topics that might prove interesting to a
child, but again primarily providing information, not an activity book. Usually the books extolled the wonder of current developments of science and industrial achievements. i.e. The Wonder Book of Aircraft.
Navigate the HBC literary pages' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the main Main English children's non-fiction series page]
[Return to the main Main children's literary page]
[Return to the main Main literary page]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Satellite sites]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]