SOLVED. Children's Picture Book series. Similar to Usbourne "great search series". Title like "Things families do" or "Things to make & do". Illustrations of activities: making coiled pots, tree house, go kart; beach, hide & seek. Cover: red/ orange. [s]

[Ben]

Double page hardback picture book which has illustrated scenes of families doing activities together such as making a tent from a washing line, making coiled pots in the kitchen, going swimming at a swimming pool, making a tree house with the neighbourhood kids, visiting a beach, making a go kart, playing hide and seek in the garden with big leaves. The pictures were double spread.

There were other books in the series with different colour covers with topics like "under the sea", "under the ground", "dance around the world".

Pictures were similar in style to Graeme Base and Anthony Browne. Also similar to Usbourne "Great Search Series".

[Kris]

Illustrators mentioned by Ben: Graeme Base and Anthony Browne

Usborne "Great Search Series" are listed under different authors - e.g., Usborne the Great Undersea Search and Usborne the Great World Search

[Rainbowheart]

Out of curiosity, what are "coils pots?"

[Ben]

More like the Great Undersea search, less like the Great World Search. Coiled pots: https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/co...

[Rainbowheart]

Thanks for the link!

Do you think the book was definitely UK-based?

[Ben]

I am not sure, they probably were. They might have been purchased from the Early Learning Centre (https://www.elc.co.uk/) in the early 80s. There is a possibility it was a gift from a American relative. I remember the cover was most likely Red, with white writing on the front.

[Ben]

This is very similar in illustration style: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... but the format and style is maybe too modern.

ebook here: https://archive.org/details/sea00will

[Kris]

Ben, please post a new comment if you're still looking for this book - or if you found it.

Ben (OP) was last active on the site in August 2020. Moving to Abandoned folder.

[Ben]

I have not found this book series yet.

[Kris]

Thanks for the update, Ben. I moved your request back to the "Unsolved" folder. I copied a few book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

I'd suggest trying Worldcat.org's advanced search. It's good for finding old children's book. For example:

https://www.worldcat.org/advancedsearch
Keywords: juvenile activities illustrations | Title: things do | 1960-1986 ? | Book | English

[Simi]

I think one might be Things People Do from Usborne or Simple Things to Make and Do, also from Usborne.

Another book might be Round the World Picture Word Book.
A couple of the books' pictures can be seen here
https://storyseekersuk.wordpress.com/...

I couldn't find a candidate for the under the sea or under the ground books.

[Ben]

I have found them, they are by Bobby Kalman! A couple of titles, Our Earth, Animal Worlds!

[Ben]

Sorry it’s Bobbie Kalman.

[Kris]

Great! Glad you found your books, Ben. Here's a link for the first book - Our Earth by Bobbie Kalman.