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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Julius Lester (American, 1939–2018, author)<br />
Jerry P<strong>in</strong>kney (American, born 1939, illustrator)<br />
Sam and <strong>the</strong> Tigers: A New Tell<strong>in</strong>g of Little Black Sambo<br />
New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996<br />
26 x 28 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.96.5188<br />
Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2019<br />
After reclaim<strong>in</strong>g Uncle Remus, Lester and P<strong>in</strong>kney produced a<br />
radical makeover of Little Black Sambo, creat<strong>in</strong>g a utopian world<br />
where everyone is named “Sam”, and animals and humans coexist<br />
peacefully. Despite this harmony, Sam’s predicament endures, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> denouement echoes <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong> highly enterta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g dialogue.<br />
Lester believed <strong>the</strong> book transcended its stereotypes and admired its<br />
“truth of imag<strong>in</strong>ation.” P<strong>in</strong>kney also <strong>in</strong>serted references to characters<br />
from Uncle Remus to discreetly connect <strong>the</strong> two controversial books.<br />
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