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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Maurice Sendak (American, 1928–2012, author-illustrator)<br />
Alligators All Around: An Alphabet <strong>in</strong> Nutshell Library<br />
New York: Harper & Row, 1962<br />
10 x 7 cm<br />
Houghton Library, PS3569.E6 N88 1962<br />
Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2020<br />
Maurice Sendak is beloved as <strong>the</strong> most significant children’s<br />
book author and illustrator of <strong>the</strong> twentieth century.<br />
Alligators All Around teaches <strong>the</strong> alphabet through letter<strong>in</strong>spired<br />
activities with alligators full of personality and<br />
human behaviors. Cherished for decades, <strong>in</strong> recent years this<br />
book has been criticized for its stereotypical representation of<br />
Native Americans. For example, “I imitat<strong>in</strong>g Indians” reflects<br />
a long European-American tradition of appropriat<strong>in</strong>g Native<br />
American dress and “play<strong>in</strong>g Indian.”<br />
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