It’s actually
really hard to think back to a time when educational books for children to buy
and read and enjoy at home didn’t even exist.
You are in a time
machine and you are going backwards. How far back do you have to go? Now you
are in 1973 and Peter Usborne, who had helped to found ‘Private Eye’ is full of
ideas. He has just been given some money by his boss at the educational
publishing company he is working for so he can go and set up on his own
company.
The first book to
be published was ‘The KnowHow Book of Spycraft’. Its floppy, almost comic-book style format is aimed to appeal to children who are perhaps being lured by alternative entertainment – the television or comic books (some things never change).
Its fun presentation is innovative for the time and from these roots Usborne will go on to grow into a world-renowned publishing company, its books translated into over 100 languages.
We like to think
we make a little difference at Mostly Books. And one of the areas we do think
we make a difference is by being able to recommend the right books to keep
children reading and enthusiastic about books. But for this you do really need
fantastic innovative writers and publishers who produce books that children
love and will learn from. They are the tools of our trade.
And it’s no
secret that we love our Usborne books at Mostly Books. Often imitated, but
seldom bettered – they still have fantastic non-fiction books, those ‘That’s
Not My’ books – perfect as a first book for toddlers. And sticker books. How popular
is ‘Sticker Dolly Dressing’? A whole generation of children have grown up on ‘Farmyard
Tales’ and ‘find the yellow duck’. We love those little card with activities
you can use and then wipe off and use all over again. Genius.
So we were really
honoured to be invited to Usborne’s 40th birthday party celebrations
this week. With waiting staff featuring lots of black hats and moustaches following
the disguise guidelines in the ‘KnowHow Book of Spycraft’.
But you couldn’t
disguise the real enthusiasm Peter Usborne still has for reaching out to more
and more children across the world and bringing them fantastic books. 'Hear, hear' for his ambition to ‘never die and never retire’.
Thanks to Usborne
for involving us in their celebrations and also for the lightning tour of
Kensington Palace and a British history lesson in the Georges as a break from
all the cocktails.
We were really pleased to meet up with some old friends in the form of Usborne authors we know and love:
and meet fellow children's booksellers from Oxfordshire (*waves to Blackwell's wonderful children's bookshop*) and beyond:
The ‘KnowHow Book
of Spycraft’ is in our ‘3 for 2’ offer – along with our biggest ever selection
of inspired Usborne books – while stocks last!
Come in and join the celebration!
You are in a time
machine and you are going backwards. How far back do you have to go? Now you
are in 1973 and Peter Usborne, who had helped to found ‘Private Eye’ is full of
ideas. He has just been given some money by his boss at the educational
publishing company he is working for so he can go and set up on his own
company.
The first book to
be published was ‘The KnowHow Book of Spycraft’. Its floppy, almost comic-book style format is aimed to appeal to children who are perhaps being lured by alternative entertainment – the television or comic books (some things never change).
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