Fans of the Ladybird Books series will be flocking to an Angus town to take part in a special exhibition.
The Gateway to the Glens Museum in Kirriemuir will be a hotbed of literature lovers on Thursday as it hosts an illustrated history of the pocket-sized classics.
David Frances of the Arran Alexander Collection will be on hand to deliver the talk and the event, which coincides with World Book Day, will provide collectors and fans with a chance to meet fellow enthusiasts, swap books and view the exhibition of rare editions.
Two of the museum’s staff are passionate followers of the books and will exhibit their own substantial collections.
Ruth Nelson (33), museum operator, said: “When I was really young my mum and dad brought a massive box of books back from an auction, which included the Well Loved Tales. I basically learned to read with them and as I grew older I always loved them.
“I spied one at a car boot sale once and since then I’ve just been obsessed. Now I have between 80-100 books.”
She continued: “I’m just a total bookworm who reads everything. I think I have passed it on to my children as well.
“I’m totally obsessed but I’m proud of it.”
Fellow museum worker Sheila Philp will also have her own collection of books on display.
Despite owning more than 100 titles, Sheila came to the books in a different way from most enthusiasts, but her passion for the franchise is a strong as anyone’s.
“I never had them as a child and I never even knew they existed,” she said.
“It was only when I had young children that I bought a book called the Ladybird Book of Garden Birds so they could identify the birds in the garden that I became interested.
“I liked the illustrations and I’ve got several hundred books now. I collect a variety. My favourites were What to Look for in the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
“Charles Tunnicliffe did a lot of illustrations in those books and also worked for the RSPB. He was quite a famous nature artist and I really liked his work.”
Thursday’s event starts at 7pm. While it is free, booking is essential to guarantee a space.
For more information, contact the museum on 01575 575479.
The Ladybird Books exhibition will run until April 27.