ORLANDO, Fla. – Get ready to step back to a time when you went to the library and picked up your favorite kid’s book from Little Golden Books.
A new exhibit at Orlando Museum of Art will be bringing all of the nostalgia with more than 60 masterpieces of original illustrations from the Random House archives.
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“Golden Legacy: 80 Years of Original Art from Golden Books” will showcase pieces from beloved classics like “The Poky Little Puppy,” “Tootle,” “Home for a Bunny,” “The Color Kittens,” “I Can Fly,” and many more.
Molly Lawson is the Associate Curator for Community Engagement at Orlando Museum of Art. She said the team at the museum loved the idea of the exhibit because Little Golden Books has so much history and it’s multigenerational.
“I think people will be amazed to see the variety of Little Golden Book illustrators represented, as well as how stories and illustrations have changed over time due to the invention of new mediums (example: digital art) and evolved cultural interests,” said Lawson.
“In addition, not only can visitors anticipate seeing authentic works of art, they can also expect to engage with a reading area that includes books from the show, interactive activities, and photo opportunities,” she explained.
She said she has always viewed books as portals to either going somewhere else, to bring comfort, or for self-reflection.
“Just seeing the golden spine of any Little Golden Book takes me down memory lane. I find myself reflecting on early childhood moments with my parents who would often read these stories to me before bed. In fact, as I answer this question it dawns on me that reading the Little Golden Books is what probably first sparked my love of books,” said Lawson.
She went on to say, “It also explains why simply glancing at any Little Golden Book fills me with happiness and comfort. For me, they are truly portals that transport me back to those golden moments with my parents.”
Little Golden Books first launched in 1942, making high-quality illustrated books available at affordable prices for the first time to millions of young children and their parents.
You can check out the exhibit for free during the museum’s next Access for All event on Thursday, Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.. The event will also feature a live performance from Blues/Rock singer, guitar player, and songwriter, Damon Fowler.
The museum will even have a family day to celebrate the exhibit. On Oct. 5, there will be hands-on art and gallery activities, storytelling, and music. Musicians from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a Symphony Storytime concert of the book, “The Poky Little Puppy” by Janette Sebring Lowrey, illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren.
A City of Orlando fire truck will also be on-site from 11 am – 1 pm. Family Days are free for the whole family.
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