Collecting milk bottle tops for the Blue Peter appeal ‘Girl Guides’ (1980)

Hanging out the washing Artist: Harry Wingfield (Helping at Home, 1960)

Beautiful everyday Ladybird things Before the blue Smartie Artist: Harry Wingfield (First Picture Book, 1970)

“The swallows can be distinguished from the martins by their reddish-chestnut throats and foreheads, their beautiful steel-blue backs and wings, and their long, forked tails” What to Look for in Autumn, 1960 Writer: EL Grant Watson Artist : CF Tunnicliffe

Pictures that explain things ‘Gradient’ Artist: Ronald Lampitt (Maps 1967)

Ladybird man never strays too far from his custard-powder tin of 2-inch nails. Artist: Martin Aitchison

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘Wheatham Hill, near Petersfield’ Artist: SR Badmin

The mastery of artist: Harry Wingfield ‘Moonlight’ (1970)

“The starlings in this picture are at the halfway stage between their juvenile and adult plumage” Artist: CF Tunnicliffe Writer: EL Grant Watson ‘What to Look for in Autumn’ (1960)

Ladybird books in the spotlight. ‘The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids’ (1969) Surely a contender for scariest ever Ladybird? Artist: Robert Lumley

These lovely but super-rare Ladybird colouring books are about a hundred years old (circa 1925)

Other work by the Ladybird artists. ‘Mam Tor, Derbyshire’ Artist: SR Badmin

“Nitty Nora” The school nurse, 1967 (More Words for Numbers) Artist: Kenneth Inns

The Milkman (Telling the Time, 1962) Artist: Harry Wingfield

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘September’ (1958) Artist: Ronald Lampitt

“September is the time for hop-picking, when large numbers of people come from the towns to help harvest them” (1960) Artist: CF Tunnicliffe Writer: EL GrantWatson

‘Oak’ Ladybird Book of Trees, 1963 Artist: SR Badmin

‘Bob-a-job’ Cub Scouts (1970) Artist: John Berry

Road safety and the Tufty Club. (I don’t recall there being an expiry date. I think that means I’m still a member of the Tufty club)

Old Ladybird books updated. ‘Visiting days’ (1963) and ‘Visiting hours’ (1985). Artists: John Berry Martin Aitchison

Party clothes, (1960) Artist: Harry Wingfield

Ladybird wisdom, 1977. How to make tea Artist: David Palmer

I came across these books in a charity shop today. Do I have them already? Of course. Should I have left them for someone else? Probably. Reader, I bought them.

Other work by the Ladybird artists 'September' (Shell Guide to Flowers of the Countryside) 1955 Artists: Edith and Rowland Hilder

Ladybird book in the spotlight. The Three Billy Goats Gruff Artist: Robert Lumley (1968)

‘Butterflies and Moths’ (1965) Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton

Ladybird book in the Spotlight ‘Smoke and Fluff’ (1941) Artist: Angusine Macgregor

Other work by the Ladybird artists. ‘ Cushendun, Northern Ireland’ Artist: Ronald Lampitt

And somehow it’s time for the first page of ‘What to Look for in Autumn’. Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘The South Hams of Devonshire’ (1951) Artist: SR Badmin

Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher Artist: John Leigh-Pemberton (Garden Birds, 1967)

Getting ready for PE - in shorts/pants and vest Artist: Harry Wingfield (Going to School, 1959)

Everyday Ladybird things. Unifix cubes (1967) Artist: Kenneth Inns

Picking Apples (Helping at Home, 1961) Artist: Harry Wingfield

Remember these two characters? I do, even though at school I learnt to read with Peter and Jane (Ladybird) rather than Janet and John (not Ladybird)

‘Hare’ Artist: Septimus Scott (In Green Pastures, 1945)

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘Harlech Castle’ Railway poster Artist: Ronald Lampitt

Back to school (1959) ‘Going to School’ Artist: Harry Wingfield

Ladybird book in the Spotlight The Magic Porridge Pot (1971) Artist: Robert Lumley

‘Monty the Motor Coach’ (Tootles the Taxi, 1956) Artist: John Kenney

The doorstep milk thief, 1966 Artist: Ronald Lampitt

“The tide has again receded over the sand-flats. The remaining framework of a wooden ship is half-sunken in the sand. On one of the ribs a cormorant stands with wings lifted” Writer: EL Grant Watson Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

The modern kitchen. Why serving hatches are a necessity from ‘Look and Learn’ 1963

Other work of the Ladybird artists. Shell Guide, 1955. ‘August’ Artists: Edith Hilder, Rowland Hilder

Other work by the Ladybird artists ‘August’ (Whitbread calendar, 1958) Artist: Ronald Lampitt

Rowland and Edith Hilder were husband and wife. Rowland is well-known but I’ve always wanted to find a solo work by Edith. I now own this one - subtle and understated and so reminiscent of her work in the 1957 Ladybird book ‘Wild Flowers’

‘Wild Flowers of Late Summer and Autumn’ by M de Sausmarez (not a Ladybird artist but I’m allowed a day off)

These endpapers aren't from a Ladybird book - but do they jog any memories?

Ladybird book in the spotlight. Three LittlePigs (1965) Artist: Robert Lumley

On #InternationalDogDay, meet the real ‘Pat’ - Peter and Jane’s Irish setter in the Ladybird Key Words reading scheme. One of artist Harry Wingfield’s original reference pictures