First in the series, with #1 at the bottom of the back flap of the jacket as expected. Tight, flat, square, sharp and crisp book with owner's name on the FFEP/TOC in jacket with small chips and tears. Bright clean vinyl boards in two colors.
The ‘Best in Children’s Books’ series was released through the Doubleday Book Clubs from 1957 to the late 1960s. In total, there were 42 volumes published. The number of each volume is not indicated on the external binding, but can be found only via a very small number on the bottom right of the title page or on the back flap of the dust jacket. Each book was issued with a full color dust jacket, but the volumes are much more commonly found without the dust jacket. Each volume has a different collection of images on the spine, drawn from from some of the main stories in the volumes, to enable children to quickly select their favorite story from the shelf. Each volume contained a mix of classics, non-fiction, and also new stories.
Abraham Lincoln written and illustrated by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire (1-39).
How the Rhinoceros Got His Skin by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Nicolas (40-44).
Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Ruth Ives (45-60).
Hansel and Gretel by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm illustrated by Barbara Cooney (61-76).
Mother Goose Rhymes illustrated by Leonard Weisgard (77-84).
Story of Gold written and illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham (85-100).
Puppet Play by Tina Lee, illustrated by Manning Lee (101-108).
What a Magnet Can Do by Sara E. Baldwin and Gerald S. Craig, illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats (109-116).
Animal Children illustrated with photos (117-124).
Angus and the Cat written and illustrated by Marjorie Flack (125-134).
Pancakes for Breakfast written and illustrated by Grace Paull (135-156).
This is Australia illustrated with photos (157-160)