As described on the library's website:
The ABC of It draws on collections across the Library to present the literature for children and teens against a sweeping backdrop of history, the arts, popular culture, and technological change. The books and related objects on view reveal hidden historical contexts and connections and invite second looks and fresh discoveries. They suggest that books for young people have stories to tell us about ourselves, and are rarely as simple as they seem.
I took a docent tour, and found so many things that were fascinating and made me take notice. It was one of those exhibits where I imagine every time through you could find new things, and that five people coming out of the exhibit would have seven different take-aways to discuss!
Some of my personal highlights:
The shift away from viewing children as sinners (as in the Primer) to being wonderstruck is shown by William Blake's "Songs of Innocence" from 1794. |
The idea that the best way to educate children is by delighting them, put forth by John Locke.
The actual stuffed animals that inspired Winnie The Pooh and friends (A.A. Milne had purchased them for his son Christopher Robin Milne, who had originally named the bear "Edward.") |
The exhibit had some visually dramatic installation moments as well, including:
The "Where The Wild Things Are" arch that you could walk through! |
A display of cartoon action figures, tied into the section on comics. |
The final exhibition room, "Storied City: New York" was about New York City itself, and the often starring role it has had in children's literature.
It held one more moment that delighted me:
This amazing illustration from Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach" |
Beautifully curated by Leonard S. Marcus, if you can make it to see "The ABC Of It: Why Children's Books Matter," do! The exhibit is free to the public, and open until Sunday September 7, 2014.
Illustrate and Write On,
Lee
2 comments:
I'm so glad I got to see it while at the SCBWI NY conference!! :) e
oh I wish I could visit that exhibit. Thank you for sharing this.
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