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.
26 Thomas Bewick (British, 1753–1828, illustrator) A New Lottery Book of Birds and Beasts for Children to Learn Their Letters by As Soon As They Can Speak Newcastle: T(homas) Saint for W. Charnley, 1771 11 x 7 cm Houghton Library, Typ 705.71.208 (B) Gift of the Peter and Susan Solomon Family Foundation, 2020 Thomas Bewick’s book appears to have been devised for toddlers, underscoring the long-held importance of early literacy. Small in format, ideally suited to small hands, and economical to produce, the book’s bold woodcut images are eye-catching. Most books of this type were serious in tone, but the representations of animals, both real and imagined, inject an element of fun and visual interest for the budding reader. 62
27 Heinrich Hoffmann (German, 1809–1894, author-illustrator) Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder: mit 15 schön kolorirten Tafeln für Kinder von 3–6 Jahren Frankfurt: Literarische Anstalt ( J. Rütten), 1845 26 x 21 cm Houghton Library, Typ 820.45.4545 Bequest of Philip Hofer, 1984 This series of moralizing tales in rhyme, notable for its grisly elements, was penned and illustrated by Hoffmann, a psychiatrist who was disappointed by then-contemporary children’s literature. Created for his three-year-old son, these brightly colored illustrations and memorable content have amused and shocked generations of readers. Elements of Hoffmann’s tales have found their way into twentieth-century popular culture: the rabbit stealing the hunter’s gun and glasses may have inspired Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. 63
- Page 24 and 25: figure 4. Garth Williams. Frontispi
- Page 26 and 27: William B. Osgood Field; John McAnd
- Page 28 and 29: 16
- Page 30 and 31: Stories with anthropomorphized anim
- Page 32 and 33: called for their censure, and libra
- Page 34 and 35: does not support the normalization
- Page 36 and 37: irds—play a critical role in his
- Page 38 and 39: As in The Lion and the Mouse, Black
- Page 40 and 41: notes 1 Maria Nikolajeva, “Animal
- Page 42 and 43: 30
- Page 44 and 45: 1 Ovid (Roman, 43 BCE-17/18 CE, aut
- Page 46 and 47: 3 Johann Amos Comenius (Czech, 1592
- Page 48 and 49: 5 J. J. Grandville (French, 1803-18
- Page 50 and 51: 7 Unknown author Gustav Sigismund P
- Page 52 and 53: 8 Jean de La Fontaine (French, 1621
- Page 54 and 55: 10 Aesop (Greece, 620-564 BCE, auth
- Page 56 and 57: 12 Alexander Calder (American, 1898
- Page 58 and 59: 14 Rudyard Kipling (British, 1865-1
- Page 60 and 61: 48
- Page 62 and 63: 16 Attributed to Oliver Goldsmith (
- Page 64 and 65: 18 Charles H. Bennett (British, 182
- 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 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 118 and 119: 60 Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2
- Page 120 and 121: 62 David Wiesner (American, born 19
- Page 122 and 123: 63 Unknown creator The Royal Game o
27<br />
He<strong>in</strong>rich Hoffmann (German, 1809–1894, author-illustrator)<br />
Lustige Geschichten und drollige Bilder: mit 15 schön kolorirten<br />
Tafeln für K<strong>in</strong>der von 3–6 Jahren<br />
Frankfurt: Literarische Anstalt ( J. Rütten), 1845<br />
26 x 21 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 820.45.4545<br />
Bequest of Philip Hofer, 1984<br />
This series of moraliz<strong>in</strong>g tales <strong>in</strong> rhyme, notable for its<br />
grisly elements, was penned and illustrated by Hoffmann, a<br />
psychiatrist who was disappo<strong>in</strong>ted by <strong>the</strong>n-contemporary<br />
children’s literature. Created for his three-year-old son, <strong>the</strong>se<br />
brightly colored illustrations and memorable content have<br />
amused and shocked generations of readers. Elements of<br />
Hoffmann’s tales have found <strong>the</strong>ir way <strong>in</strong>to twentieth-century<br />
popular culture: <strong>the</strong> rabbit steal<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> hunter’s gun and glasses<br />
may have <strong>in</strong>spired Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.<br />
63
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