Ladybird's new “how it works” series for adults covers hangovers, wives and “the hipster”

Date
13 November 2015

As an adult you can often find yourself wistfully yearning for the simplicity of childhood. There was no council tax, no sitting in an office, no emails, no “networking,” no anxiety about sweat patches, no LinkedIn….the list is endless. Perhaps the objects that most succinctly sum up the curiosity and simplicity of childhood are Ladybird books. Their helpful, measured tone and sensitive painterly illustrations meant that learning about anything from a printing press to Joan of Arc seemed manageable and enjoyable.

Now, that same reassuring tone has been appropriated for some of the biggest and most knotty things in adulthood, thanks to a new satirical “how it works” series penned by Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris, whose CVs boast writing credits for shows like Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe and the Paddington film. Celebrating the Penguin imprint’s 100th birthday, the eight books include The Husband, The Wife, Dating and The Hangover. They use images from the extensive Ladybird archive as they were found, and the text simply complements the idealised images. It makes for a hilarious pairing, in a very similar vein to Miriam Elia’s superb We go to the Gallery Series (more on that here).

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‘How it works’: Dating

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‘How it works’: Mid-Life Crisis

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‘How it works’: The Hangover

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‘How it works’: The Hipster

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‘How it works’: The Hipster

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‘How it works’: The Husband

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‘How it works’: Mindfulness

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‘How it works’: Mindfulness

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‘How it works’: The Hangover

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‘How it works’: The Hangover

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‘How it works’: Mid-Life Crisis

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‘How it works’: The Shed

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‘How it works’: The Shed

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‘How it works’: The Wife

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About the Author

Emily Gosling

Emily joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in the summer of 2014 after four years at Design Week. She is particularly interested in graphic design, branding and music. After working It's Nice That as both Online Editor and Deputy Editor, Emily left the company in 2016.

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