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.
32 Innosanto Nagara (Indonesian, born 1970, author-illustrator) A Is for Activist New York: Seven Stories Press, 2013 24 x 24 cm Houghton Library, Typ 2070.13.5951 Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2019 A is for Activist reflects the broadening content and cultural diversification of children’s literature. A primer on social activism in the United States, this early reader is a far cry from the simplistic model of “A is for Apple.” Nagara highlights universal characteristics associated with animals across cultures and time: wisdom appears as the owl perched on the brash bull charging toward progress. First published in English, it is now also available in Spanish. 68
CONTROVERSY The history of children’s literature is fraught. Some of the works in this section, such as Little Black Sambo and Uncle Remus, are known for racist and culturally insensitive representations. Certain authors in the exhibition, including L. Frank Baum, Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl, have also been criticized for their racist views. This section, while not comprehensive, examines a range of issues affecting children’s literature, including outsider status, cultural appropriation, racism, and religious proselytization. 69
- 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 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 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
- Page 124 and 125: 110
- Page 126 and 127: 65 Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2
- Page 128 and 129: 67 Julie Flett (Cree-Métis, born 1
CONTROVERSY<br />
The history of children’s literature is fraught. Some of <strong>the</strong><br />
works <strong>in</strong> this section, such as Little Black Sambo and Uncle<br />
Remus, are known for racist and culturally <strong>in</strong>sensitive<br />
representations. Certa<strong>in</strong> authors <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> exhibition,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g L. Frank Baum, Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl,<br />
have also been criticized for <strong>the</strong>ir racist views. This<br />
section, while not comprehensive, exam<strong>in</strong>es a range of<br />
issues affect<strong>in</strong>g children’s literature, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g outsider<br />
status, cultural appropriation, racism, and religious<br />
proselytization.<br />
69
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