The Little Bookroom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Little Bookroom

First edition
Author	Eleanor Farjeon
Illustrator	Edward Ardizzone
Cover artist	Ardizzone
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre	Children's short stories, original fairy tales
Publisher	OUP
Publication date	1955
Media type	Print (hardcover, paperback)
Pages	302 pp (first edition)
ISBN	0-19-271947-5 (2004)
OCLC	632408232
LC Class	PZ7.F229

The Little Bookroom is a special collection of twenty-seven short stories for children. Eleanor Farjeon, a famous writer, wrote these stories. They were published in 1955 by Oxford University Press. Edward Ardizzone created the beautiful illustrations for the book.

Eleanor Farjeon chose these stories herself. Many of them are like classic fairy tales. The book quickly became very popular.

In 1956, the year after The Little Bookroom came out, Eleanor Farjeon won two big awards. She received the first-ever Hans Christian Andersen International Medal. This award celebrates writers who have made a huge difference in children's literature. She also won the Carnegie Medal for The Little Bookroom. This award is given to the best children's book by a British subject each year.

An American version of the book was released in 1956. Its full title was The Little Bookroom: Eleanor Farjeon's short stories for children, chosen by herself.

What Does "The Little Bookroom" Mean?

Eleanor Farjeon explained the title in her notes. She grew up in a house with a special room. This room was called "the little bookroom." It was full of forgotten books.

A Room Full of Magic

Even though the room was dusty, it was magical for young Eleanor. It was like a secret garden filled with stories. These books opened "magic windows" to other times and places. They filled her mind with a mix of facts, imagination, and romance.

This special room greatly influenced all her writing. She once said that even if seven maids swept for fifty years, they could not clear her mind. It was full of "dust" from old temples, flowers, kings, and the laughter of children.

What Stories Are in the Book?

The Little Bookroom has 27 different stories. Some of them are longer than others. Here is a list of all the stories you can find in the collection:

• The King and the Corn
• The King's Daughter Cries for the Moon
• Young Kate
• The Flower Without a Name
• The Goldfish
• The Clumber Pup
• The Miracle of the Poor Island
• The Girl Who Kissed the Peach-Tree
• Westwoods
• The Barrel-Organ
• The Giant and the Mite
• The Little Dressmaker
• The Lady's Room
• The Seventh Princess
• Leaving Paradise
• The Little Lady's Roses
• In Those Days
• The Connemara Donkey
• The Tims
• Pennyworth
• And I Dance Mine Own Child
• The Lovebirds
• San Fairy Ann
• The Glass Peacock
• The Kind Farmer
• Old Surly and the Boy
• Pannychis

The Amazing Illustrations

Edward Ardizzone created all the black-and-white pictures for the book. People say his drawings really capture the "magical feeling" of the stories. His art helps bring the tales to life for readers.

Ardizzone's Award-Winning Art

In 1955, no book was chosen for the new Kate Greenaway Medal. This award is for children's book illustrations. However, just one year later, Edward Ardizzone won the very first Greenaway Medal. He won it for his book Tim All Alone (1956), which he also wrote and illustrated.