Looking to identify reference book from my childhood in the late 60's / early 70's. It was multi-volume (my parents had the first 3 or 4) and had teal coloured hard covers. Books were approx A4 in size with thickness average 3" / 7.5cm.
They were aimed at adults and seemed to be a parental guide to childhood development. They had the word 'children' in the title. I seem to remember lots of text and photos but other illustrations like black and white cartoon type line drawings. A few stick in my mind and they seemed to have a moral point to make. For example two bad men were friends while the storm lasted (the drawing showed 2 men sheltering together from a rainstorm) and if children continue to suck their thumbs they risk having them chopped off by a mythical figure (drawing was an Edward Scissorhands-type old fashioned man holding scissors and ready to snip off a child's thumb!).
Does anyone remember them? Thanks
I may be wrong but I have a Canadian memory of a similar book written by a Dr. Dobson who ran a series called Focus on the Family. I think it was actually religious based but I could not swear to this. A local librarian who has a long-standing experience with children's books may be able to help further. They're becoming as valuable as platinum and just as difficult to find. Best of luck!
Have found it. It's a 4-volume publication from Caxton called 'The World of the Children' by Stuart Miall 1948.
Had to search databases of secondhand bookstores online but it paid off!