The ways in which the Cold War and McCarthyism circumscribed dissent are well known; less documented are the opportunities they inadvertently created. This book shows how pervasive and influential Left politics were in children's book writing, illustrating, publishing, and dissemination during the middle third of the twentieth century - precisely the time when Americans were most concerned about protecting their children against Communist influences. Many critically acclaimed and best-selling children's books were written and/or illustrated by Communists, former Communists, or "fellow travellers," the same groups of people who were fired from teaching jobs and blacklisted. Children's literature written by those on the Left embraced pan-ethnic, anti-racist, pro-labor, and internationalist values, injecting books for children with real-world concerns, and leaving lasting changes on books for youth.

About the Author
Julia L. Mickenberg is Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Texas, Austin.

Reviews
Mickenberg delivers a painstakingly drawn account of the multifold ways radicals influenced children's literature in the first decades of the twentieth century. * The Journal of American History *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195152814
Author Julia L. Mickenberg
Format Paperback
Page Count 408
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 567g
Dimensions(mm) 163mm * 233mm * 27mm