SAQALEOILY © eEriticivra of childrens Liker ature robert bator american florary ssaciation / chicago 1983Designed by Vladimir Reichl Text composed by FM Typesetting Co, in Times Roman and Optima. Blippo display type composed by Total Typography, Inc. Printed on 55-pound Glatfelter Natural, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in B-grade Holliston Roxite cloth by Edwards Brothers, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Signposts to criticism of children’s literature. Bibliography: p. 1. Children’s literature—History and criticism— Addresses, essays, lectures. I. Bator, Robert. PN1009.A1S3924 1982 809'.89282 82-18498 ISBN 0-8389-0372-X Copyright © 1983 by the American Library Association. All rights reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. Printed in the United States of America.Trimmer att less work side by side. Like the children’s author, the critic labors under an atmosphere that breeds self-consciousness, if not self-defensiveness. No wonder that more assumptions are articulated than approaches or that few approaches are tested or challenged. Still, our plural approaches represent major growth since Trimmer launched the systematic criticism of juvenile books. The critics are, at times, understandably adrift and isolated in the vastness of the field. To see how they handle more manageable terrain, see Part 2, the territories that make up the domain that is literature for children, /_ The Guardian of Education Sarah Kirby Trimmer . . . Unhappily for us, such a rage for new publications is excited in the nation, that even children are taught to expect a daily supply of literature, and a daily supply is industriously provided for their gratifi- cation; but frequently of such a nature and tendency, as threaten the utter perversion of all principle; extraordinary care and circumspection are therefore required in selecting such publications as are proper and safe to be put into their hands; for the purchaser who is determined by the title of a book, is subject to great deception. Under the idea, there- fore, that we might render acceptable service to mothers who wish to train up their children in the ways of piety and virtue, and secure them from the corruptions of the age, we have been induced to offer our as- sistance, as the examiners of books of education, and children’s books; and we hope for the countenance and encouragement of all who are solicitous for the welfare of the rising generation. In the course of this work there will be frequent occasion to mention the Jacobinical sect, but we wish it to be understood that it is not our Excerpted from The Guardian of Education 1:15 (1802); 1:436 (1802); 2:184-5 (1803); and 4:412-14 (1805); courtesy of The Osborne Collection of Early Chil- dren's Books, Toronto Public Library.72 / Approaches design to bring forward subjects of a political nature any farther than as they are observed to affect the interests of religion and morality; and though we profess ourselves to be members of the Church of England, and zealous for the maintenance of its doctrines and ordinances, we have no intention to engage in questions of controversy with Christians of other religious persuasions; but having declared our own principles, we shall proceed in our examination of the books which come under our consideration, upon the supposition that these principles are established; and we shall exercise the utmost candour towards those who differ from us. It may perhaps be necessary to premise, in order to exculpate our- selves from the charge of plagiarism, that in our examination of books we shall frequently borrow the opinions of other writers, especially when by this means we have an opportunity of shewing at the same time the merits of one author, and the errors or defects of another. Indeed there would be no possibility of executing so extensive a plan, and which re- quires so much retrospection, without assistance from books; and though we have had considerable experience in the business of education, we are not so vain as to think our judgment ought to lead the public mind, without the support of concurrent authorities. . . . ART. XXIX.—The Renowned History of Primrose Pretty Face, &. Newbery. This Book was originally one of Newbery’s Lilliputian Library. It gives the history of a good Child, who, as she grew up, by her amiable conduct in various situations in life, became at last Lady of the Manor. Without such a conclusion of the story, we should think this a very proper book of amusement for children; but it certainly is very wrong to teach of girls [sic] the lower order to aspire to marriages with persons in stations so far superior to their own, or to put into the heads of young gentlemen, at an early age, an idea, that when they grow up they may, without impropriety, marry servant-maids. With a very little accommodation, Primrose Pretty Face might however be rendered “4 | @ very instructive as well as amusing Book, for the style is pleasing, and the “Ne | greatest part of it very fit for the perusal of children. ART. XXX.—The Preitiest Book for Children; being the history of the en- chanted castle, situated in one of the fortunate isles, and governed by the giant instruction, &c. &c. Price 6d. York. Wilson and Spence. We think we recollect this Book also as one of Newbery’s Lilliputian Li- brary. It is a kind of allegorical work, sufficiently intelligible to interest and entertain children, as well as to convey useful instruction to their minds. What Properly belongs to the History of the Enchanted Castle ends with the Sth chapter; but the Book is eked out to the sixpenny size, with some Dialogues copied from “Le Magazine des Enfans,” of Madame le Prince de Beaumont. It would have been better if it had been printed in larger letter without this addition.Trimmer / 73 ART. XXXI.—The Fisherman; an Interesting Tale, for Young People. Price 6d. Steart, Bath. Champante and Co. London. One of the Stories, we believe, from the Arabian Nights Entertainments. Not fit for Children. ART. VI.—The Life and Adventures of a Fly. Price 6d. Newbery. Every thing, animate or inanimate, may, by means of reflection and in- genuity, be made subservient to moral instruction; and we here find that little creature the Fly acting the part of a monitor to the juvenile race of mankind, and even giving lessons of Religion well worth their attention. In short, to speak the plain language of truth, this is a very entertaining little book, and if the young reader is not improved by the perusal of it, he must blame himself, not the author—A remark or two, however, we cannot forbear making; and one of them is, that as the tale is entirely fictitious, we think no incident in it should be imputed to the interposition of Providence, We also think that in this book, as in many others of modern date, humanity toward animals is carried to an extreme—not in the act, for we would by no means recommend inattention to the good of the lower creatures; but to the sentiment. Pity towards insects and brutes may be exercised without our feeling for them as if they were of the same species with ourselves; nor do their neces- sities ot feelings require this. A fly may be drowned even by a cruel boy without his being chargeable with murder, or in danger of eternal punishment; and another may be rescued from such a fate, without its awakening that powerful sympathy, which the preservation of a fellow creature should excite; or giving the preserver a title to the reward of benevolence, Great care, therefore, should be taken, to teach children to make a proper discrimination, that they may know how to proportion both their charity and restrain their revenge. ART. VII—Mother Bunch’s Fairy Tales. Price 64, Newbery. \ Partial, as we confess ourselves to be, to most of the books of the old; “ school, we cannot approve of those which are only fit to fill the heads of | [7 children with confused notions of wonderful and supernatural events brought . about by the agency of imaginary beings. Mother Bunch’s Tales are of this! description. ART. VI.—Mary and Her Cat; in words not exceeding two syllables. Price 1s, Tabart. A little simple but interesting tale, invented to intice young children to learn to read, for which purpose the words are divided into syllables, and the..." embellishment of prints is added. We rank it with interesting and innocent | ** books, which is all that an author can aim at in publications for infants. } ART. VIIL—Presents for Good Girls. Price 1s, Tabart. 1804. We conceive this little book to have been the production of the same amusing pen as the preceding article. We agree with the writer in approving of dolls and other toys of what may be called a domestic nature, as exciting a taste for feminine employments.74 / Approaches ART. IX.—Presents for Good Boys; or, the Toy Shop. Adorned with beauti- ful Engravings. Price 1s, Tabart. 1804. We have here a book of the same class as the last, but adapted to chil- dren of the other sex. The work is apparently of the same author. To these three articles no objection we think can be made but to the price of them. The expensiveness of children’s books is a growing evil! ART. X.—The Comic Adventures of Old Mother Hubbard and Her Dog. Price 6d. Harris, 1805. This little book, the poetry of which is of ancient date, comes forth in this edition as we must call it, with uncommon attraction. In the first place it has the following dedication: To J.B. Esq. M.P. County of at whose suggestion, and at whose house these notable sketches were designed, this volume is with all suitable deference dedicated by his humble servant, S.M.C. We consider as a jeu d’esprit, the designs for the Prints in which Mrs. Hubbard and her Dog, are very respectably represented to the eye in every situation described by the poetic writer of her history. We can recollect, at this distance of time, that in our infant days the Story of this renowned woman, though full of inconsistencies we confess, afforded us much entertainment. We hope it is not a sign of our being in our , Second childhood, that it diverts us now. But innocent trifles may be ' allowed to amuse at any age; and we scruple not to recommend this little Book as one that will afford this kind of amusement. Juvenile Books of the Past (1) Parables from Nature. By Mrs. ALFRED GATTY. 1865. (2) Aunt Sally’s Life 1865. (3) Melchior's Dream. ‘Unsigned review reprinted from The British Quarterly Review 47:128-49 (Jan- uary 1868).