Little Orphan Annie and the Haunted Mansion (1941)

Whitman Publishing Company of Racine, Wisconsin, began publishing small, thick books in 1932, under the series title Big Little Books. These unique 3 ½ by 4 ½ by (roughly) 1 ½ inch volumes featured lively stories, adapted from popular radio programs, newspaper strips, comics, and books. Famous characters like Dick Tracy, Flash Gordon, and Mickey Mouse appeared in the books, with text on the left (verso) and an accompanying image on the right (recto) each time a reader flipped a page.

In 1938, the company changed began a new series called Better Little Books, with additional features. Little Orphan Annie and the Haunted Mansion (1941), by Harold Gray, was one of just 73 titles in this series. It's an especially interesting example of a Better Little Book due to its flip-book style illustrations in the top right corner of each spread. A reader could flip the pages quickly and see the beloved Annie (a blond in those days!) running and jumping.

This book is part of the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, and it is an item from the Robert D. Novak Collection. If you would like to view this item or other items in the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, stop by Special Collections in McCain Library, located between Cook Library and Hardy Street on the Hattiesburg campus. The book's call number is PZ7.G778 Lith 1941, and it is a non-circulating item (be prepared to view your "flip movie" in the comfort of the Reading Room on the 3rd floor!).

 For more information, contact Ellen Ruffin at or Karlie Herndon at .

Source: Big Little Book Collection, Library of Congress

Text by Karlie Herndon, Assistant Curator, de Grummond Children's Literature Collection.