Big Little Books and Better Little Books published, 1933-1943, by Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, and books of similar format published, 1934-1941, by the Saalfield Publishing Company, Engel-van Wiseman and Rand McNally.
Charles G. Wright is Professor Emeritus of Entomology at North Carolina State University. Big Little Books were inexpensive children's books about 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 1 1/2" in size. They were first published in 1932 by Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin. There was a captioned picture opposite each page of text. Most of them were based on radio, comic strips, or motion pictures. Other publishing companies which produced similar books were Dell, Engel-van Wiseman, Fawcett, Goldsmith, Lynn, Ottenheimer, Saalfield, Waldman, and World Syndicate.
Charles G. Wright, Professor Emeritus of Entomology at North Carolina State University, was born on 1930 June 12 in Boynton, Pa. He received an B.S. in 1951 and M.S. in 1953 from the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in entomology from North Carolina State University in 1958. Wright was employed as an entomologist with Wilson Pest Control from 1958 to 1963 and then by North Carolina State University from 1963 until his retirement.
In 1932 Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin began publishing small, fat books they called Big Little Books. Most Big Little Books were about 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 1 1/2" in size. There was a captioned picture opposite each page of text. These inexpensive books for children originally sold for a dime. Most of them were based on radio, comic strips, or motion pictures. In 1938, Whitman changed the name of its series to Better Little Books. The last Better Little Book was published in 1949. Other publishing companies which produced similar books were Dell, Engel-van Wiseman, Fawcett, Goldsmith, Lynn, Ottenheimer, Saalfield, Waldman, and World Syndicate.
Big Little Books and Better Little Books, illustrated children's books published, 1933-1943, by Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, and books of similar format published, 1934-1941, by the Saalfield Publishing Company, Engel-van Wiseman and Rand McNally.
The collection is organized into five series: Western, Characters from the Comics, War and Military, Adventure, and Other.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, MC 00814, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Gift of Charles G. Wright, 2003 October.
Processed by Linda Sellars, 2005 October
Encoded by Linda Sellars, 2005 October
Finding aid number changed by Ella Mayfield, 2026 September
The collection is organized into five principal series:
13 volumes
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm
Missing title page and other pages before p.9
12 cm.
12 cm
12 cm
12 cm
12 cm.
14.5 cm
12 cm.
14 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
10 volumes
12 cm.
With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature
12 cm.
With "Movies" of Donald flip book feature
12 cm.
Missing title page and other pages before p. 25
12 cm.
12 cm.
With "Movies" of Pluto flip book feature
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
14 cm.
12 cm.
7 volumes
12 cm.
17 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
With flip book feature
12 cm.
With flip book feature
12 cm.
18 cm.
9 volumes
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm.
12 cm
3 volumes
15 cm.
Missing title page and pages before p. 11
12 cm.
14 cm.
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[Identification of item], Charles G. Wright Collection of Big Little Books, MC 00814, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.