Me and You (Signed)

First edition, first impression.  Signed by Anthony Browne in ink on the title page. [26pp]  Glazed pictorial boards.  Two-coloured endpapers. 4to.  There is a hint of very pale yellow around the margins of one page else volume is neat, clean, bright and tight throughout.

A modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, Goldilocks and the Tree Bears, with extensive and charming illustrations by the author, exploring themes of economic disparity, urban isolation and family life through Browne surreal artistic style.  You and Me split critics at the time of its publication with some questioning its bleak depiction of city poverty and separation as too advanced, to scary,  for it intended audience while others welcomed the sensitive handling of complex concepts such as the class system and social exclusive to a young audience.  Anthony Browne’s standing as a former Children’s Laureate encouraged the trend among schools and educators to utilise You and Me as a teaching tool.