Other editions of book Behold the Child: American Children and Their Books, 1621-1922

In Behold the Child, Gillian Avery offers an engaging account of children's literature in America from colonial times to the early twentieth century. Exploring a variety of social, cultural, and practical forces, Avery shows how the literature of the old world influenced that of the new and describes the emergence of uniquely American styles and themes in children's books. Her topics include the early days of colonial publishing, the defenders and detractors of Mother Goose, the influence of Sunday schools and tract societies, the "chaste eroticism" of romantic fiction for young readers, and changing notions of American heroes and heroines.

Aimed at anyone interested in the history of children's literature, this book also offers the general reader an insight into the changing face of American childhood through three centuries. Drawing on a vast range of sources and uncovering a wealth of previously unpublished material, this study shows how social, cultural and often very practical forces were to shape American children's literature, and how, having grown out of the traditions of Europe, it established for itself a significant and vital role in world literature.