In the vast constellation of children’s literature, certain books shimmer with an understated brilliance that only reveals itself to those fortunate enough to discover them.
“Daddy, Please Tell Me a Story” by E. Ower, illustrated by the remarkably gifted A.H. Watson and published as a first edition by Frederick Warne Co. Ltd in London and New York in 1943, is precisely such a treasure.
What immediately captivates about this volume is Watson’s exceptional illustration work. Born in Cockermouth, Cumbria in 1896, Alice Helena Watson was a prolific and highly skilled artist whose graceful approach to children’s book illustration deserves far more recognition than history has afforded her. Her sinuous black-and-white line drawings, refined through her education at Glasgow School of Arts, possess a distinctive elegance that bridges the gap between the whimsical and the sophisticated.
Watson’s illustrations demonstrate a masterful understanding of childhood psychology – her characters seem to breathe with authentic emotion while maintaining the fantastical quality that makes bedtime stories so enchanting. Unlike some of her contemporaries, Watson’s work never condescends to its young audience; instead, it invites them into a world where imagination and reality dance together in perfect harmony.
The Frederick Warne Legacy
This first edition bears the prestigious imprint of Frederick Warne & Co., a publisher whose reputation in children’s literature was cemented by their association with Beatrix Potter’s immortal Peter Rabbit tales. Founded in 1865, Frederick Warne established themselves as purveyors of the finest children’s literature, and their decision to publish “Daddy, Please Tell Me a Story” speaks to the quality they recognized in both Ower’s narrative and Watson’s illustrations.
While E. Ower may not be a household name, this particular work demonstrates why certain authors deserve rescue from literary obscurity. The story captures the tender ritual of bedtime storytelling with remarkable authenticity – that sacred time when fathers become magicians, weaving words into worlds that exist nowhere else but in the shared space between parent and child.
The narrative structure mirrors the natural ebb and flow of a genuine bedtime story, complete with the delightful interruptions and course corrections that any parent will recognize. It’s a meta-narrative that celebrates the collaborative nature of storytelling itself, where the listener becomes co-creator of the tale.
Collector Value and Rarity
As a Frederick Warne first edition, this book holds significant collector appeal. Frederick Warne first editions, particularly those featuring quality illustrations, have shown remarkable appreciation in the collectibles market. The combination of Watson’s artwork and the Warne imprint creates a perfect storm of desirability for serious collectors of children’s literature.
Current market values for comparable Frederick Warne first editions with quality illustrations range from £200-£500 for books in good condition, with exceptional examples commanding significantly more. The rarity factor is enhanced by the relatively unknown status of both author and specific title – while Watson’s other works have gained some recognition among collectors, this particular collaboration remains delightfully obscure.
Reading “Daddy, Please Tell Me a Story” feels like discovering a forgotten conversation between generations. There’s something profoundly moving about holding a book that was designed to facilitate the ancient human ritual of storytelling, now preserved in this beautiful artifact of publishing craftsmanship.
The book represents a time when children’s literature was crafted with genuine reverence for its young audience – when publishers like Frederick Warne understood that children deserved not just stories, but beautifully illustrated, well-crafted books that would become treasured possessions rather than disposable entertainment.
“Daddy, Please Tell Me a Story” transcends its humble origins to become something genuinely special – a meditation on the power of shared imagination, brought to life through Watson’s exquisite illustrations and preserved in the distinguished tradition of Frederick Warne publishing. For collectors, it represents an excellent investment opportunity in an undervalued corner of the children’s literature market. For readers, it offers a timeless celebration of the bond between storyteller and listener.
A truly exceptional find that deserves a place in any serious collection of children’s literature.
