Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children’s Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
59 Eric Carle (American, 1929–2021, author-illustrator) The Very Hungry Caterpillar New York and Cleveland: The World Publishing Company, 1969 21 x 29 cm Houghton Library, Typ 970.69.2604 Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2020 This beloved book addresses the young child’s first steps toward independence. Through the metamorphosis of the modest caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly, Carle introduces the days of the week, fruits, colors, and even the dangers of overindulgence. The book’s innovative design with stepped pages and punched holes necessitated its being printed in Japan. Shipping logistics delayed its US distribution; once available, it immediately enchanted children. To date, there are seventy translations, most recently Mongolian, Armenian, and several indigenous Australian languages. 103
- Page 66 and 67: 20 L. Frank Baum (American, 1856-19
- Page 68 and 69: 22 Beatrix Potter (British, 1866-19
- Page 70 and 71: 24 Charles Addams (American, 1912-1
- Page 72 and 73: 60
- Page 74 and 75: 26 Thomas Bewick (British, 1753-182
- Page 76 and 77: 28 Edward Lear (British, 1812-1888,
- Page 78 and 79: 30 Lulu Delacre (American, born 195
- Page 80 and 81: 32 Innosanto Nagara (Indonesian, bo
- Page 82 and 83: 33 Joel Chandler Harris (American,
- Page 84 and 85: 35 Julius Lester (American, 1939-20
- Page 86 and 87: 37 E. B. White (American, 1899-1985
- Page 88 and 89: 39 Dr. Seuss [Theodor Geisel] (Amer
- Page 90 and 91: 40 Photograph of Beatrix Potter as
- Page 92 and 93: 42 Beatrix Potter (British, 1866-19
- Page 94 and 95: 44 Wanda Gág (American, 1893-1946,
- Page 96 and 97: 46 Ashley Bryan (American, born 192
- Page 98 and 99: 48 Garth Williams (American, 1912-1
- Page 100 and 101: 49A Silver pocket watch belonging t
- Page 102 and 103: 49C Lewis Carroll [Charles Dodgson]
- Page 104 and 105: 50 L. Frank Baum (American, 1856-19
- Page 106 and 107: 52 Munro Leaf (American, 1905-1976,
- Page 108 and 109: 54 Nancy Ekholm Burkert (American,
- Page 110 and 111: 98
- Page 112 and 113: 56 Park Benjamin Jr. (American, 182
- Page 115: 58 Beatrix Potter (British, 1866-19
- Page 119 and 120: 61 Lewis Carroll [Charles Dodgson]
- Page 121 and 122: GAME CHANGERS Published almost two
- Page 123 and 124: 64 Jessica Love (American, born 198
- Page 125 and 126: RESTORING DIGNITY Indigenous people
- Page 127 and 128: 66 Brenda J. Child (Red Lake Ojibwe
- Page 129 and 130: CONTRIBUTORS H. Nichols B. Clark (H
- Page 131 and 132: ILLUSTRATION CREDITS Permission was
- Page 133 and 134: INDEX 1 12 Fables of Aesop (Aesop,
- Page 135 and 136: f Fables choisies, mises en vers (d
- Page 137 and 138: Oudry, Jean-Baptiste, 41 outsider s
- Page 140: ANIMALS ARE US: Anthropomorphism in
59<br />
Eric Carle (American, 1929–2021, author-illustrator)<br />
The Very Hungry Caterpillar<br />
New York and Cleveland: The World Publish<strong>in</strong>g Company, 1969<br />
21 x 29 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.69.2604<br />
Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2020<br />
This beloved book addresses <strong>the</strong> young child’s first steps toward<br />
<strong>in</strong>dependence. Through <strong>the</strong> metamorphosis of <strong>the</strong> modest caterpillar<br />
<strong>in</strong>to a beautiful butterfly, Carle <strong>in</strong>troduces <strong>the</strong> days of <strong>the</strong> week, fruits,<br />
colors, and even <strong>the</strong> dangers of over<strong>in</strong>dulgence. The book’s <strong>in</strong>novative<br />
design with stepped pages and punched holes necessitated its be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
pr<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> Japan. Shipp<strong>in</strong>g logistics delayed its US distribution;<br />
once available, it immediately enchanted children. To date, <strong>the</strong>re are<br />
seventy translations, most recently Mongolian, Armenian, and several<br />
<strong>in</strong>digenous Australian languages.<br />
103
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