Step into the magical and vibrant world of Ladybird art, where every picture tells a story and unlocks a thousand childhood memories.

Ladybird books have been a familiar fixture on children’s bookshelves since the 1950s, but few people are aware that they date back to the early days of the Second World War. Told through an unparalleled collection of books, original artwork and artefacts, this exhibition shows how the many talented Ladybird illustrators played such an enormous role in the company’s success during the 20th century. 

Through the interconnected work of these artists, the story of Ladybird’s golden years, 1940 – 1975, is recounted. This visually rich exhibition will transport you to a land of wonder, learning and play.

To help keep everyone safe, we’ve made some changes at the Willis Museum. We have introduced a number of measures in line with government guidelines to help manage our visitor numbers and ensure we maintain social distancing to protect you, our staff and volunteers. You can find out what we are doing at the Willis Museum hereMore information is available in our FAQs.

  • Vintage Ladybird book spines
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