The Little Bookroom

London: Oxford University Press, 1955. First Edition. Hard Cover. Dust Jacket. First UK Edition. Eleanor Farjeon's short stories for children chosen by herself. Illustrated by Edward Ardizzone. Publisher's brown boards with gilt lettering to the spine. Spine a slightly lighter hue otherwise a near fine copy in in a D/W with minuscule fraying to the head and tail of the spine which is a touch darker. With the VERY SCARCE WRAP-AROUND BAND announcing "CARNEGIE MEDAL/ WINNER 1955/ for/ 'an outstanding children's book of the year'". The Wrap-Around Band is complete but slightly darkened to the spine. Eleanor Farjeon was that girl, who was so enchanted by her little bookroom that she recreated it by writing this wonderful collection of short stories selected by the author from stories published earlier in her career. Most were in the fairy tale style. This charming book was the winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal (recognising the little bookroom as the year's best children's book by a British subject) and is beautifully illustrated throughout by Edward Ardizzone, whose exquisite pictures immediately bring to mind the magical atmosphere of the stories. Uncommon in first edition with the WRAP-AROUND BAND in such lovely collector's condition. Scans/photographs available upon request.