Penguin First Editions :: Early First Edition Penguin Books

Noel Carrington persuaded Allen Lane to publish colourfully illustrated books for children. This was to become the first children's series issued by Penguin. The books were meant to be both entertaining and instructive. The series began with PP1 War on Land published in December 1940. After 120 volumes the series ended in March 1965. These were picture books, mostly in colour, with thirty two pages and were 7" x 8¾", twice the size of the ordinary Penguin Book.

These books were intended for children aged between 7 and 14, and great care was taken to ensure that the subject matter, writers and artists were not only knowledgeable but could produce work which would communicate with children. The series was a great success and many of the books were translated into other languages. The series also helped Penguin decide to launch other series, such as the popular Puffin Story Books a year later.

Because the covers of these books were so interesting, and had great art work on the front and back, we show both covers in the images below.

A Checklist of the Puffin Picture Books and Related Series
For those who want to know more about the PUFFIN PICTURE BOOKS - Penguin Collectors Society have produced an excellent checklist in book format (same size as the Puffin Picture Books). 80 pages packed with information on all the books, including the printing and various editions, with photographs. Just click on the link above - which will take you to the PCS shop.

Information and cover photographs of Puffin Picture Books Series:

Number: PP1	Series No.: PP1 Title: WAR ON LAND Author and Illustrator: James Holland Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 6 December 1940 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP2	Series No.: PP2 Title: WAR AT SEA Author and Illustrator: James Holland Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 18 December 1940 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP3	Series No.: PP3 Title: WAR IN THE AIR Author and Illustrator: James Gardner Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 6 December 1940 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP4	Series No.: PP4 Title: ON THE FARM Author and Illustrator: James Gardner Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 18 December 1940 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP5	Series No.: PP5 Title: A BOOK OF INSECTS Illustrator: James Holland Text: Richard James Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 25 November 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP6	Series No.: PP6 Title: FLOWERS OF THE FIELD AND HEDGEROW AND THEIR GARDEN COUSINS Author and Illustrator: Marion Rivers-Moore Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 25 November 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP7	Series No.: PP7 Title: ANIMALS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE Author and Illustrator: Anrid Johnston Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 23 September 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP8	Series No.: PP8 Title: GREAT DEEDS OF THE WAR Author and Illustrator: Roland Davies Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 15 May 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 6d.
Number: PP9	Series No.: PP9 (no number shown) Title: POND AND RIVER LIFE Illustrator: Brynhild Parker Text: Alwyn Richards Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 16 December 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by The Curwen Press Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP10	Series No.: PP10 (no number shown) Title: A BOOK OF TRAINS Author: W. J. Bassett-Lowke Illustrator: F. E. Courtney Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 6 December 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by The Curwen Press Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP11	Series No.: PP11 Title: A BOOK OF SHIPS Illustrator: Laurence Dunn Text: A. C. and M. J. Hardy Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 19 June 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP11 (1952)	Series No.: PP11 (1952) Title: A BOOK OF SHIPS Illustrator: Winston Megoran Text: A. C. Hardy Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: March 1952 Pages: 32pp. Printer: by Harrisons and Sons Ltd Price: 2/6d.
Number: PP12	Series No.: PP12 (no number shown) Title: A BOOK OF RIGMAROLES OR JINGLE RHYMES Illustrator: Enid Marx Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: April 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Sanders Phillips and Co Ltd at The Baynard Press; Price: no price shown
Number: PP13	Series No.: PP13 (no number shown) Title: HAMISH Author: Joanna Cannan Illustrator: Anne Bullen Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: May 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by George Philip and Sons Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP14	Series No.: PP14 Title: ORLANDO'S EVENING OUT Author and Illustrator: Kathleen Hale Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 22 August 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP15	Series No.: PP15 (no number shown) Title: LO CHENG: THE BOY WHO WOULDN'T KEEP STILL Author and Illustrator: Chiang Yee ('The Silent Traveller') Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 20 February 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP16	Series No.: PP16 (no number shown) Title: VILLAGE AND TOWN Author and Illustrator: S. R. Badmin Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 23 October 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Sanders Phillips and Co Ltd at The Baynard Press Price: no price shown
Number: PP17	Series No.: PP17 (no number shown) Title: 15 NURSERY RHYMES Illustrator: Clarke Hutton Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 16 December 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: drawn by Laurence Dunn and lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP18	Series No.: PP18 (no number shown) Title: ANIMALS OF INDIA Author and Illustrator: Arnrid Johnston Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 12 March 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP19	Series No.: PP19 (no number shown) Title: MARVELLOUS MODELS AND MODELS TO MAKE Author: W. J. Bassett-Lowke Illustrator: Paul B. Mann Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: April 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP19 (1947)	Series No.: PP19 (1947) (no number shown) Title: MARVELLOUS MODELS Author: W. J. Bassett-Lowke Illustrator: Paul B. Mann Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: New and Revised Edition December 1947 Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/6
Number: PP20	Series No.: PP20 (no number shown) Title: BIRDS OF THE VILLAGE Illustrator: P. F. Millard Author: James Fisher Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: May 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP21	Series No.: PP21 Title: THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN Author: David Garnett Illustrator: James Gardner Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 24 October 1941 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP22	Series No.: PP22 (no number shown) Title: A BOOK OF FABLES ADAPTED FROM AESOP Illustrator: Sheila Hawkins Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 19 June 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP23	Series No.: PP23 (no number shown) Title: U.S.A. - THE STORY OF AMERICA Illustrator: James Holland Author: Hazel H. Hallinan Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 21 August 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP24	Series No.: PP24 (no number shown) Title: ALEXANDER THE CIRCUS PONY Author and Illustrator: Phyllis Ginger Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: February 1943 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Sanders Phillips and Co Ltd at The Baynard Press Price: no price shown
Number: PP25	Series No.: PP25 (no number shown) Title: MISHA LEARNS ENGLISH Author and Illustrator: Pearl Binder Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 21 August 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Sanders Phillips and Co Ltd at The Baynard Press Price: no price shown
Number: PP26	Series No.: PP26 (no number shown) Title: ORLANDO'S HOME LIFE Author and Illustrator: Kathleen Hale Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 23 October 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP27	Series No.: PP27 (no number shown) Title: PUNCH AND JUDY: AN ACTING BOOK Author and Illustrator: Clarke Hutton Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 23 October 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP28	Series No.: PP28 (no number shown) Title: ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA Author and Illustrator: Arnrid Johnston Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1942 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP29	Series No.: PP29 (no number shown) Title: BUTTERFLIES IN BRITAIN Author and Illustrator: Richard Chopping Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 21 August 1943 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP30	Series No.: PP30 (no number shown) Title: PANTOMIME STORIES Contains six stories: Aladdin; Puss in Boots; Cinderella; The Sleeping Princess; Jack and the Beanstalk; and The Beauty and the Beast Author and Illustrator: Hilary Stebbing Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: February 1943 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP31	Series No.: PP31 (no number shown) Title: TREES IN BRITAIN Author and Illustrator: S. R. Badmin Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1943 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP32	Series No.: PP32 (no number shown) Title: WATERWAYS OF THE WORLD Author: W. J. Bassett-Lowke Illustrator: Laurence Dunn Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: April 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP33	Series No.: PP33 (no number shown) Title: COUNTRY HOLIDAY Author: Margaret Scott-Brown Illustrator: Leo P. Dowd Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: April 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP34	Series No.: PP34 (no number shown) Title: BRER RABBIT Author: Joel Chandler Harris Illustrator: Walter Trier Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: June 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Delittle, Fenwick and Co Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP35	Series No.: PP35 (no number shown) Title: THE STORY OF LOUISA Author: Diana Ross Illustrator: Kaye Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leers and Co Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP36	Series No.: PP36 (no number shown) Title: THE STORY OF MING Author and Illustrator: Chiang Yee Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Sanders Phillips and Co Ltd at The Baynard Press Price: no price shown
Number: PP37	Series No.: PP37 (no number shown) Title: A HISTORY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE Authors and Illustrators: Margaret and Alexander Potter Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1944 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP38	Series No.: PP38 (no number shown) Title: ABOUT A MOTOR CAR Author and Illustrator: Phyllis Ladyman Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: June 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: no printer shown; presumed to be W. S. Cowell Ltd (who produced the reprint) Price: 1/-
Number: PP39	Series No.: PP39 (no number shown) Title: FAMOUS SHIPS Author: Frank Bowen Illustrator: Frank Mason Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/-
Number: PP40	Series No.: PP40 (no number shown) Title: MAKE YOUR OWN ZOO, PART ONE Author and Illustrator: Trix Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: January 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 16pp. (Cut-out book) Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d. plus 2d. P.T. (purchase tax) This image is of a re-print with the price and purchase tax added
Number: PP41	Series No.: PP41 (no number shown) Title: MAKE YOUR OWN FARM, PART 1 Author and Illustrator: Trix Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: January 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 16pp. (Cut-out book) Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d. plus 2d. P.T. (purchase tax) The third image shows farm animals cut out and on display.
Number: PP42	Series No.: PP42 (no number shown) Title: THE BUILDING OF LONDON Authors and Illustrators: Margaret and Alexander Potter Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: August 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP43	Series No.: PP43 (no number shown) Title: OUR HORSES Author and Illustrator: Lionel Edwards Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: June 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: no printer shown; presumed to be Charles and Read Ltd (who produced second issue) Price: no price shown
Number: PP44	Series No.: PP44 (no number shown) Title: WONDERS OF ANIMAL-LIFE Illustrator: Erna Pinner Text: Monica Shorten Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP45	Series No.: PP45 (no number shown) Title: ANIMALS OF AUSTRALIA Author and Illustrator: Sheila Hawkins Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: July 1947 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Brown and Bibby Ltd Price: 1/- (although publishers stated it as 1/6d.)
Number: PP46	Series No.: PP46 (no number shown) Title: A CHILD'S ALPHABET Author and Illustrator: Grace Gabler Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 9d. Vertical format
Number: PP47	Series No.: PP47 (no number shown) Title: THE STORY OF CHINA Author: Tsui Chi Illustrator: Carolin Jackson Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: June 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Jesse Broad and Co Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP48	Series No.: PP48 (no number shown) Title: A BOOK OF SWIMMING Author: Janet Bassett-Lowke Illustrator: Lunt Roberts Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Chromoworks Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP49	Series No.: PP49 (no number shown) Title: THE MAGIC OF COAL Author and Illustrator: Peggy Hart Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: August 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Van Leer and Co Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP50	Series No.: PP50 Title: THE STORY OF FURNITURE Author: Gordon Russell Illustrator: Jacques Groag Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1947 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP51	Series No.: PP51 (no number shown) Title: WONDERS OF SEA LIFE Author: E. G. Boulenger Illustrator: Peggy Jeremy Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: July 1947 [printed date: 1946] Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Lowe and Brydone Printers Ltd Price: 2/- (only issued in harback)
Number: PP52	Series No.: PP52 Title: PAPER BIRDS (no number shown) Author and Illustrator: R. B. Talbot Kelly Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: July 1947 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. (Cut-out book) Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/-
Number: PP53	Series No.: PP53 Title: FISH AND FISHING Author and Illustrator: Bernard Venables Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: August 1948 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown
Number: PP54	Series No.: PP54 (no number shown) Title: THE TALE OF NOAH AND THE FLOOD Illustrator: Clarke Hutton Author: W. E. Williams Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/-
Number: PP55	Series No.: PP55 (no number shown) Title: EXTINCT ANIMALS Author and Illustrator: Hilary Stebbing Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 2/- (only issued in hardback)
Number: PP56	Series No.: PP56 (no number shown) Title: THE Author and Illustrator: Maurice Wilson Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: December 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/-
Number: PP57	Series No.: PP57 (no number shown) Title: WOODWORKING FOR CHILDREN Author and Illustrator: John Dumayne Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1945 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Fosh and Cross Ltd Price: 9d.
Number: PP57 (1946)	Series No.: PP57 (1946) (no number shown) Title: WOODWORKING FOR BEGINNERS Author and Illustrator: John Dumayne Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by Fosh and Cross Ltd Price: 1/-
Number: PP58	Series No.: PP58 (no number shown) Title: THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE Author and Illustrator: Isabel Alexander Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: October 1946 (no date shown) Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/-
Number: PP59	Series No.: PP59 Title: OUR CATTLE Author and Illustrator: Lionel Edwards Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1948 Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: 1/6d.
Number: PP60	Series No.: PP60 Title: BUILDING A HOUSE Author and Illustrator: Richard Leacroft Series Editor: Noel Carrington Date Published: November 1949 Pages: 32pp. Printer: lithographed by W. S. Cowell Ltd Price: no price shown

»next page»

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: penguinfirsteditions.com gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of PENGUIN BOOKS LTD. (UK) to reproduce its book covers and, where incorporated, its various logos. We would remind users of this site that, as appropriate, Penguin Books Ltd. and its designers retain their copyright and/or intellectual property in the relevant material.