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.
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Jessica Love (American, born 1982, author-illustrator)<br />
Julián Is a Mermaid<br />
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2018<br />
24 x 26 cm<br />
Houghton Library, PS3612.O945 J95 2018<br />
The Philip Hofer Charitable Trust, 2019<br />
Jessica Love’s recent award-w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g book about a boy and his<br />
grandmo<strong>the</strong>r, Lat<strong>in</strong>x of African descent, taps <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> imag<strong>in</strong>ary<br />
worlds of children where <strong>the</strong>y develop <strong>the</strong>ir sense of self and<br />
identity. Julián’s grandmo<strong>the</strong>r embraces his long<strong>in</strong>g to be a<br />
fantastical creature and br<strong>in</strong>gs him to <strong>the</strong> Coney Island Mermaid<br />
Parade. Love’s illustrations capture <strong>the</strong> joy of <strong>the</strong> gendernonconform<strong>in</strong>g<br />
boy whose daydream of personal transformation<br />
comes true. Picture books and young adult fiction represent<strong>in</strong>g<br />
LGBTQ persons are still relatively rare.<br />
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