I chose to discuss three toys that were popular in our given time period, but are also still popular today. They are also examples of toys I had as a child.
The first is the Noah's Ark toy. I found this toy to be very interesting. It seems that miniature objects were very popular in the 19th century, including dollhouses, zoos, animals, etc. The Noah's Ark was one of the most popular animal toys in the 19th and early 20th century. Originating in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, these toys were handmade. Entire families were involved in the creation of thousands of these models, from the carving to the painting. However, the income received was often barely enough to put food on the table. Georg Lang was a large producer of these types of toys.
The toys were popular with both boys and girls, probably due to fascination of exotic animals that many had never seen before. The Ark ranged from primitive huts on rafts to more sophisticated ships. A hinged roof was a must, so that Noah, his family and the animals could be stored inside. These toys were often referred to as "Sunday toys because they were suitable to play with on the Sabbath due to their Biblical theme (Dalrymple, 46). The animals were often carved from wood, but their was experimentation with other materials, which didn't work really well. Most of the time, the animals were painted, but it was not always the case(King, 256).
I didn't actually have a Noah's Ark menagerie, but I did have a huge collection of plastic miniature animals, which included exotics, like lions, bears, zebras and other zoo type animals.
The Jack in the Box
A Jack in the Box is a figure that jumps out of a box on a coiled spring when the lid is unlatched. The lid usually comes undone after a crank is turned. It is one of the oldest types of mechanical toys(Dalrymple, 76). The first known appearance of the Jack in the Box is in Europe in the 16th century. It has also been known as the Punchbox, because the figure in the box was usually modeled after the puppets Punch and his wife, Judy. The name Jack in the Box came around in the 17th century. By the mid 1800s, most of these toys were made in either Germany or America.
The boxes were usually made of wood, which was covered with a colorful paper or lithograph, depicting a colorful scene. The figure, maybe a clown, is usually made with molded plaster or papier mache, and painted bright colors. The clothes of the figure cover the coiled spring and were either made of colorful cloth or crepe paper.
The Jack in the Box is still popular today. I had one as a child and, at the time, had mixed feelings about it. The box was plastic, and very bright, and the figure inside was a very bright clown. It wasn't scary at all. When the crank was turned, the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" was played. I just always found the sudden "pop" of the figure out the box a little unsettling. It would kind of take my breath away with surprise. I guess this is part of the attraction of this toy, and the reason it's popularity has lasted several hundred years.
Building blocks
This toy was popular due to its educational and fun factor. The first blocks were alphabet blocks made of wood or bone and used in England in the 1600s(Dalrymple,108). S.L. Hill was the first person in America to manufacture blocks in a large quantity. He patented his "Spelling Blocks" which included letters, numbers and pictures. Most of the blocks used were engraved, but by the 1870s, manufactures began to use colorful lithographs to decorate their blocks (Dalrymple,110). They also began to have more than just the ABCs on them. Many blocks had pictures of various scenes from nursery rhymes or other children's stories. In 1880, the Anchor Building blocks were patented by F. Ad. Rickter Company. These were building blocks of cast cement and were construction toys. The blocks included pillars, arches and other shapes conducive to building. Other interlocking block sets or puzzle block sets were also popular, eventually leading to the popular Lincoln Logs and that style building block sets.
Colorful wooden blocks displaying the alphabet, numbers and pictures are still popular today. It is an excellent way to educate children. I remember my set of alphabet blocks and the many hours spent playing with them.
Dalrymple, Marya. Toys and Games. Time-Life Books,1991. 174 pages
King, Constance E. Antique Toys and Dolls. Rizzoli International Publications, Inc, 1979. 256pages
"Classic Toys: Jack-in-the-Box" (2009, August 4) retrieved from http://www.retroplanet.com/blog/retro-archives/classic-toys/jack-in-the-box/
"Erzgebirge History and History of Noah's Ark" (2011) retrieved from www.germanchristmasgifts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=history
Story time
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Discussion Assignment for History of Children's Literature : The Horn Book
I was assigned the years 1935-1939.
Summarize an article from one issue:
In "Book Visits in England and Scotland," Helen Dean Fish met and interviewed several authors of children's books while visiting those countries. Her first visit was with Helen Bannerman, the author of "The Story of Little Black Sambo." After a sequel was written nearly 37 years later, titled "Sambo and the Twins," the public began to be interested in Mrs. Bannerman again and wanted to know more about her. Ms Fish visited the author at her home in Edinburgh, and was invited to tea. The article went into detail about the life of Mrs. Bannerman, of her birth in Edinburgh as the daughter of an army chaplain, and how her family lived all over the British Empire. During her marriage, she lived in India, due to her husband's military career. Her children were left in Scotland for health and education reasons. It was on a train to India that she first wrote the story of Sambo. She wrote it while on the train to India, after being separated from her children. This was just one of the many ways Mrs.. Bannerman corresponded with her children during this separation. Ms Fish also spoke to the daughter of Mrs.. Bannerman, who said that it was very sad without her mother around but the children "cherished the letters she wrote home."(p.356)
In Sussex, Ms Fish went to see Eleanor Farjeon, who had just finished her new book, "Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field." She was ready for a break and they embarked on a picnic lunch. During this lunch, they encountered a man trying to put out a wildfire along the road, so they stopped to help. Before leaving, Ms Fish was privileged to hear a story out of the new book.
The last place Ms Fish ventured to was Blewbury in Berkshire. This was the home of Kenneth Grahame, of "The Wind in the Willows" fame. She just had to include this in her pilgrimage, even though Mr.. Grahame was no longer alive and living there. The present owners did give her a tour of the house, including the study where he wrote and some of the views that were included in the book.
To me, the opportunity to visit these authors, who were popular at the time, and make a pilgrimage to one of your favorite author's homes, seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. What lover of books wouldn't jump at a chance like this? Ms Fish seemed to have a wonderful time during her journey, even if she did have to help put out a wildfire. It's always interesting to see or read about the stories behind the story and here is a person who got to experience it first hand.
Fish, Helen Dean "Book Visits in England and Scotland" The Horn Book v. 13 (November/December 1937) p. 355-358
Compare a regular column in two separate issues:
I chose to compare the editorial. In some issues, the editorial was an opinion peace by the editor. In some, it was just a poem. One editorial I chose describes a character from a book that was just coming out. The other editorial described a certain type of book.
The first editorial was about Mary Poppins and was written by Anne Carroll Moore. The book by P.L. Travers was getting ready to be released. Ms Moore describes the character of Mary Poppins as being sharp with "gifts of magic and cryptic speech."(p.6) According to Ms Moore, all children should read this book and all adults, too. She thought that this book would definitely have a place as one of the best of the 1930s. I wonder if she thought the book and character of Mary Poppins would still be loved as much almost 80 years later.
The second editorial was written by the editor of The Horn Book, Bertha E. Mahony. It is about quest books or adventure, and their popularity among children. In a quest book, there is always some sort of adventure, with one character that possesses magical powers or sees some kind of vision. Most if not all of the other characters do not share in the magic or visions. One book described is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which had been released shortly before. According to the editor, quest books are read over and over again by children, who might not quite catch their meaning, but may realize it many years later.
The interesting thing about these two editorials is they are about books written many years ago, but are still just as popular today. In fact, The Hobbit is being made into a movie right now, to be released next year. And of course, there is a Disney movie version of Mary Poppins that is still enjoyed by children today. There were several other issues that I looked at that featured books I read as a child. It was interesting to read the articles written about them when they were first published, or even to see the descriptions in the advertisements or booklists.
Mahony, Bertha E. "Wayfarers All." The Horn Book v.11 (May/June 1938)p. 141
Moore, Anne Carroll "Mary Poppins" The Horn Book v.14 (January-February 1935) p.6-7
Summarize a review of a nonfiction book:
Jessie Campbell Evans reviewed "Man's Worldly Goods" by Leo Huberman. This book is the "story of man's work from the feudal age to the present."(109). Evans described it as a really good way to describe economic growth and social development to a child. The book is divided into two parts. The first parts discuss the feudal periods of Europe all the way through to capitalism in the 18th century. Huberman discusses the growth of trade, manufacturing and banking and how this led to the revolutions in Europe resulting in the feudal system breakup and capitalism being established. This also led to the discovery of America, because there needed to be more trade and manufacturing, so the different countries sent explorers. All economic development in the world seemed to lead straight into the next one, with no gaps or breaks in between. The second part of the book discusses the time between 19th and 20th century(up until 30s). Huberman's book focused a lot on the combination of industry, money and banking, and the rise of imperialism and the labor movements. One thing he stresses is the oppressive conditions of the Russian people, and how they eventually revolted and became a socialist government. According to Evans, the book is a simple read, with clearly expressed ideas. It is described as a children's book, but some of the ideas might be over a young child's head, but older ones should understand. There are a lack of photographs and maps, which Evans believes would have enhanced the book. Another thing that Evans talks about is the fact that Huberman is overly excited about Russian socialism. He thinks this book would be a great supplement in a European or American history class.
I wonder what people thought of this book a few years later when people were being blacklisted or accused of being Russian spies. It probably wasn't recommended reading in schools during the Cold War. This is another example of how interesting it is to go back so many years and read this reviews about these books. This book was hailed as a great history of economics in 1938, but might have even been banned 25 years later.
Evans, Jessie Campbell "Man's Worldly Goods" The Horn Book v. 14 (March/April 1938)p. 109-112
Summarize an article from one issue:
In "Book Visits in England and Scotland," Helen Dean Fish met and interviewed several authors of children's books while visiting those countries. Her first visit was with Helen Bannerman, the author of "The Story of Little Black Sambo." After a sequel was written nearly 37 years later, titled "Sambo and the Twins," the public began to be interested in Mrs. Bannerman again and wanted to know more about her. Ms Fish visited the author at her home in Edinburgh, and was invited to tea. The article went into detail about the life of Mrs. Bannerman, of her birth in Edinburgh as the daughter of an army chaplain, and how her family lived all over the British Empire. During her marriage, she lived in India, due to her husband's military career. Her children were left in Scotland for health and education reasons. It was on a train to India that she first wrote the story of Sambo. She wrote it while on the train to India, after being separated from her children. This was just one of the many ways Mrs.. Bannerman corresponded with her children during this separation. Ms Fish also spoke to the daughter of Mrs.. Bannerman, who said that it was very sad without her mother around but the children "cherished the letters she wrote home."(p.356)
In Sussex, Ms Fish went to see Eleanor Farjeon, who had just finished her new book, "Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field." She was ready for a break and they embarked on a picnic lunch. During this lunch, they encountered a man trying to put out a wildfire along the road, so they stopped to help. Before leaving, Ms Fish was privileged to hear a story out of the new book.
The last place Ms Fish ventured to was Blewbury in Berkshire. This was the home of Kenneth Grahame, of "The Wind in the Willows" fame. She just had to include this in her pilgrimage, even though Mr.. Grahame was no longer alive and living there. The present owners did give her a tour of the house, including the study where he wrote and some of the views that were included in the book.
To me, the opportunity to visit these authors, who were popular at the time, and make a pilgrimage to one of your favorite author's homes, seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. What lover of books wouldn't jump at a chance like this? Ms Fish seemed to have a wonderful time during her journey, even if she did have to help put out a wildfire. It's always interesting to see or read about the stories behind the story and here is a person who got to experience it first hand.
Fish, Helen Dean "Book Visits in England and Scotland" The Horn Book v. 13 (November/December 1937) p. 355-358
Compare a regular column in two separate issues:
I chose to compare the editorial. In some issues, the editorial was an opinion peace by the editor. In some, it was just a poem. One editorial I chose describes a character from a book that was just coming out. The other editorial described a certain type of book.
The first editorial was about Mary Poppins and was written by Anne Carroll Moore. The book by P.L. Travers was getting ready to be released. Ms Moore describes the character of Mary Poppins as being sharp with "gifts of magic and cryptic speech."(p.6) According to Ms Moore, all children should read this book and all adults, too. She thought that this book would definitely have a place as one of the best of the 1930s. I wonder if she thought the book and character of Mary Poppins would still be loved as much almost 80 years later.
The second editorial was written by the editor of The Horn Book, Bertha E. Mahony. It is about quest books or adventure, and their popularity among children. In a quest book, there is always some sort of adventure, with one character that possesses magical powers or sees some kind of vision. Most if not all of the other characters do not share in the magic or visions. One book described is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which had been released shortly before. According to the editor, quest books are read over and over again by children, who might not quite catch their meaning, but may realize it many years later.
The interesting thing about these two editorials is they are about books written many years ago, but are still just as popular today. In fact, The Hobbit is being made into a movie right now, to be released next year. And of course, there is a Disney movie version of Mary Poppins that is still enjoyed by children today. There were several other issues that I looked at that featured books I read as a child. It was interesting to read the articles written about them when they were first published, or even to see the descriptions in the advertisements or booklists.
Mahony, Bertha E. "Wayfarers All." The Horn Book v.11 (May/June 1938)p. 141
Moore, Anne Carroll "Mary Poppins" The Horn Book v.14 (January-February 1935) p.6-7
Summarize a review of a nonfiction book:
Jessie Campbell Evans reviewed "Man's Worldly Goods" by Leo Huberman. This book is the "story of man's work from the feudal age to the present."(109). Evans described it as a really good way to describe economic growth and social development to a child. The book is divided into two parts. The first parts discuss the feudal periods of Europe all the way through to capitalism in the 18th century. Huberman discusses the growth of trade, manufacturing and banking and how this led to the revolutions in Europe resulting in the feudal system breakup and capitalism being established. This also led to the discovery of America, because there needed to be more trade and manufacturing, so the different countries sent explorers. All economic development in the world seemed to lead straight into the next one, with no gaps or breaks in between. The second part of the book discusses the time between 19th and 20th century(up until 30s). Huberman's book focused a lot on the combination of industry, money and banking, and the rise of imperialism and the labor movements. One thing he stresses is the oppressive conditions of the Russian people, and how they eventually revolted and became a socialist government. According to Evans, the book is a simple read, with clearly expressed ideas. It is described as a children's book, but some of the ideas might be over a young child's head, but older ones should understand. There are a lack of photographs and maps, which Evans believes would have enhanced the book. Another thing that Evans talks about is the fact that Huberman is overly excited about Russian socialism. He thinks this book would be a great supplement in a European or American history class.
I wonder what people thought of this book a few years later when people were being blacklisted or accused of being Russian spies. It probably wasn't recommended reading in schools during the Cold War. This is another example of how interesting it is to go back so many years and read this reviews about these books. This book was hailed as a great history of economics in 1938, but might have even been banned 25 years later.
Evans, Jessie Campbell "Man's Worldly Goods" The Horn Book v. 14 (March/April 1938)p. 109-112
Fall Semester!!!!
Here we are, only the end of the 2nd week of the fall semester, and already way too much work to do. I am just going to post some of my assignments up here, so if anyone wants to keep up with what I am doing they can. This means you DAD!!!!! Anyway, I am taking 4 classes this fall, which is kind of a lot. But I am determined and will plod my way through. My classes are Intro to Library Administration(required), Organization of Knowledge(required), History of Children's Lit(taught by the famous Dr. Henrietta Smith) and Materials for Young Adults(my favorite!). So far, so good, but as I mentioned, a lot of work.
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