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This course will survey some cultural icons among American children's books. We will read novels that created or re-invented new myths about American pragmatism, resourcefulness, and optimism, novels that revealed American fears, sometimes by being banned, and novels that mirrored particular beliefs at particular times, especially beliefs about race, class and gender in a nation of immigrants. American approaches to traditional themes within children's literature--animals, fantasy worlds--will be explored, as will the effect of a particular setting on the unfolding story. A variety of literary intentions and styles will be explored, and an effort will be made to track the ways in which cultural norms change and are represented in children's literature. Students should purchase the following from the bookstore or internet sources. Please note: Little Women, Ragged Dick, and Tom Sawyer are also available free online. Most other books should not cost more than seven euros each. I've provided a choice of texts for most weeks; students should purchase the option that most appeals to them after looking up a description of the book.
Course Readings
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (1868) Coming of age story for girls set in mid 19th century New England OR Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House In the Big Woods (1932) Based on Wilder’s life, the series, which begins with this book, chronicles the American pioneer experience, including log-cabin building, survival under desperate circumstances, and antagonisms between European settlers and American Indians.
Horatio Alger, Ragged Dick (1868) OR Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer (1876) Popular boy's books, one urban, one rural.
E.B. White, Stuart Little (1945) OR E.B. White Charlotte's Web (1952) Famous animal books, one urban, one rural.
Beverly Cleary, Henry Huggins (1950) OR Beverly Cleary, Beezus and Ramona (1955) Gender roles, according to the 1950s. One "boy's" book, one "girl's" book.
Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle In Time (1962) OR L. Frank Baum The Wizard of Oz (1900) Visions of fantasy worlds from different eras in America.
Elizabeth Enright, The Saturdays (1941) Louise Fitzhugh, Harriet The Spy (1964) Books set in New York City.
John Scieszka, The Time Warp Trio (1997--) This is a series: choose just one. Sample titles: Knights of the Kitchen Table, The Not-So-Jolly-Roger, Your Mother Was A Neanderthal. Highly entertaining books written primarily to make boys read; the author has a website called Guysread.com
Judy Blume Forever (1975) OR Sonya Sones, What My Mother Doesn't Know (2004) Banned books that antagonized lingering American Puritanism
Highly recommended, but not required: Judy Blume, Blubber (1974) This is one of the best books to explore bullying (or mobbing)
Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting (1975) This book explores immortality and why it might not be desirable. A good introduction to the topic of death for middle schoolers or for high school.
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