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.
46 Ashley Bryan (American, born 1923, author-illustrator) Beautiful Blackbird New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003 28 x 25 cm Houghton Library, Typ 2070.03.2411 Gift of H. Nichols B. Clark, 2019 Ashley Bryan’s celebration of beauty through a Zambian folktale about a blackbird sharing his unique qualities with others is a significant example of contemporary children’s literature. Publishers are only slowly catching up to the imperative need for children’s literature to reflect the diversity of society, creating a positive framework to promote respect for all. 84
47 E. B. White (American, 1899–1985, author) Garth Williams (American, 1912–1996, illustrator) Charlotte’s Web New York and Evanston: Harper & Row, Publishers, ca. 1970; first published 1952 21 x 15 cm Houghton Library, Typ 970.60.8775 Gift of Peter J. Solomon, 2020 E. B. White incorporated personal experiences into his story about the triumphant rescue of a pig from slaughter by a wise, literate spider. White inserted the human character Fern late in his writing and resisted his publisher’s efforts to change Charlotte, the spider. While the animals in the story are fully anthropomorphic, illustrator Garth Williams wrestled with the depiction of Charlotte’s face and ultimately reverted to a more scientific depiction, leaving her human qualities to the reader’s imagination. 85
- 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 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 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
- Page 134 and 135: Bryan, Ashley, 25, 84 Burkert, Nanc
- Page 136 and 137: Lac La Croix First Nation, 113. See
- Page 138: 3, 12-13, 18, 24-25, 35, 39, 43, 63
- Page 142: ISBN 9780981885872 90000 > 9 780981
47<br />
E. B. White (American, 1899–1985, author)<br />
Garth Williams (American, 1912–1996, illustrator)<br />
Charlotte’s Web<br />
New York and Evanston: Harper & Row, Publishers,<br />
ca. 1970; first published 1952<br />
21 x 15 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.60.8775<br />
Gift of <strong>Peter</strong> J. <strong>Solomon</strong>, 2020<br />
E. B. White <strong>in</strong>corporated personal experiences <strong>in</strong>to his story<br />
about <strong>the</strong> triumphant rescue of a pig from slaughter by a<br />
wise, literate spider. White <strong>in</strong>serted <strong>the</strong> human character<br />
Fern late <strong>in</strong> his writ<strong>in</strong>g and resisted his publisher’s efforts<br />
to change Charlotte, <strong>the</strong> spider. While <strong>the</strong> animals <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
story are fully anthropomorphic, illustrator Garth Williams<br />
wrestled with <strong>the</strong> depiction of Charlotte’s face and ultimately<br />
reverted to a more scientific depiction, leav<strong>in</strong>g her human<br />
qualities to <strong>the</strong> reader’s imag<strong>in</strong>ation.<br />
85
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