The British Library takes a look back at the artwork behind 10 of the most iconic children’s books produced throughout the 20th century with a new exhibition in The Folio Society Gallery, Picture This: Children’s Illustrated Classics.

From beautiful and rare first editions to original artwork by the likes of Quentin Blake Michael Foreman, Peggy Fortnum and Lauren Child, the exhibition revisits much loved stories and characters that have been re-illustrated and reinterpreted for different generations of children. The exhibition reveals, through these unique and changing styles and techniques, a new way in which to appraise some of the most familiar British children’s books.

Curated by Dr Matthew Eve, writer and illustrator, the exhibition explores how classic children's books are remembered not only through the printed text, but also through the artistic interpretation of the illustrator and their relationship with the story. Featuring at least four illustrated editions or pieces of artwork for each title, the exhibition focuses on 10 classics - Just So Stories, The Iron Man, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wind in the Willows, Paddington Bear, Peter Pan and Wendy, The Hobbit, The Borrowers, The Secret Garden and The Railway Children, many of which are published by The Folio Society in beautifully illustrated cloth-bound editions.

Dr Matthew Eve, says: “Whether you are familiar with Faith Jaques, Michael Foreman or Quentin Blake’s illustrations for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or were brought up reading The Wind in the Willows illustrated by Arthur Rackham or E. H. Shepard, this exhibition will whisk you nostalgically back to your childhood while providing some surprises among the array of material we're exhibiting.

“I’m delighted to tell this entertaining and enlightening history of illustrated children’s books here at the British Library and have had great fun selecting and rejecting titles from its superb collections. Alongside these treasured exhibits are works of art kindly loaned to the Library by celebrated contemporary British illustrators, but also, from my own collection, letters and early sketches sent to me as a child by artists and children’s authors.”

Picture This is accompanied by a series of events on children’s books and will be opened by celebrated author Jacqueline Wilson.

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