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.
35 Julius Lester (American, 1939–2018, author) Jerry Pinkney (American, born 1939, illustrator) The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1987 24 x 16 cm Houghton Library, Typ 970.87.5188 Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2019 Augusta Baker, a pioneering African American librarian who advocated for greater dignity in literature for children of color, wrote the introduction to Lester and Pinkney’s Tales of Uncle Remus. Here, Pinkney’s frontispiece depicts a dignified Uncle Remus conversing with Brer Rabbit. This interpretation constituted a profound departure from Frost’s scene of Uncle Remus sharing the stories with his white master’s young son, a scene long criticized for its antiquated depiction of Black subservience. 72
36 Julius Lester (American, 1939–2018, author) Jerry Pinkney (American, born 1939, illustrator) Sam and the Tigers: A New Telling of Little Black Sambo New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996 26 x 28 cm Houghton Library, Typ 970.96.5188 Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2019 After reclaiming Uncle Remus, Lester and Pinkney produced a radical makeover of Little Black Sambo, creating a utopian world where everyone is named “Sam”, and animals and humans coexist peacefully. Despite this harmony, Sam’s predicament endures, and the denouement echoes the original in highly entertaining dialogue. Lester believed the book transcended its stereotypes and admired its “truth of imagination.” Pinkney also inserted references to characters from Uncle Remus to discreetly connect the two controversial books. 73
- 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 80 and 81: 32 Innosanto Nagara (Indonesian, bo
- Page 82 and 83: 33 Joel Chandler Harris (American,
- 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
- Page 130 and 131: 116
- Page 132 and 133: Page 67: Illustration from CDB! by
35<br />
Julius Lester (American, 1939–2018, author)<br />
Jerry P<strong>in</strong>kney (American, born 1939, illustrator)<br />
The Tales of Uncle Remus: The Adventures of Brer Rabbit<br />
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1987<br />
24 x 16 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.87.5188<br />
Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2019<br />
Augusta Baker, a pioneer<strong>in</strong>g African American librarian<br />
who advocated for greater dignity <strong>in</strong> literature for children<br />
of color, wrote <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>troduction to Lester and P<strong>in</strong>kney’s<br />
Tales of Uncle Remus. Here, P<strong>in</strong>kney’s frontispiece depicts<br />
a dignified Uncle Remus convers<strong>in</strong>g with Brer Rabbit.<br />
This <strong>in</strong>terpretation constituted a profound departure from<br />
Frost’s scene of Uncle Remus shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> stories with his<br />
white master’s young son, a scene long criticized for its<br />
antiquated depiction of Black subservience.<br />
72
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