false 4620044 1 Sure, this is an important work. But it ain't stuffy. Mickenberg and Nel have created a book that fascinates and entertains. A must for any student of history or children's books. A rarely discussed aspect of children's literature -- the politics behind, or part, of a book's creation -- has been thoroughly explored in this intelligent, enlightening, and fascinating account. Even those who have spent a lifetime studying children's books will find incredible surprises, such as Walter Crane's <i>Happy Valley</i> or information about Lynd Ward's political activism. But the book is not merely a history; it is a very timely exploration of the appropriate inclusion of political/social content in children's books, and it provides examples of titles that succeed as literature and those in which politics overwhelm the story. Every academic and public library should own a copy; every children's literature professor needs to read it; all children's book enthusiasts will want to share it with their colleagues. In 1912, a revolutionary chick cries "Strike down the wall!" and liberates itself from the "egg state." In 1940, ostriches pull their heads out of the sand and unite to fight fascism. In 1972, Baby X grows up without a gender and is happy about it. Rather than teaching children to obey authority, to conform, or to seek redemption through prayer, twentieth-century leftists encouraged children to question the authority of those in power. <i>Tales for Little Rebels</i> collects forty-three mostly out-of-print stories, poems, comic strips, primers, and other texts for children that embody this radical tradition. These pieces reflect the concerns of twentieth-century leftist movements, like peace, civil rights, gender equality, environmental responsibility, and the dignity of labor. They also address the means of achieving these ideals, including taking collective action, developing critical thinking skills, and harnessing the liberating power of the imagination. Some of the authors and illustrators are familiar, including Lucille Clifton, Syd Hoff, Langston Hughes, Walt Kelly, Norma Klein, Munro Leaf, Julius Lester, Eve Merriam, Charlotte Pomerantz, Carl Sandburg, and Dr. Seuss. Others are relatively unknown today, but their work deserves to be remembered. (Each of the pieces includes an introduction and a biographical sketch of the author.) From the anti-advertising message of <i>Johnny Get Your Money's Worth (and Jane Too)!</i> (1938) to the entertaining lessons in ecology provided by <i>The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo</i> (1971), and Sandburg's mockery of war in <i>Rootabaga Pigeons</i>(1923), these pieces will thrill readers intrigued by politics, history, and anyone with a love of children's literature, no matter what age. 4670027 1 11 2008 Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children's Literature total:19|5:6|4:6|3:3|2:3|1:1| 19 70 168 7 5 4 false false Mon Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sat Jan 03 09:51:52 -0800 2009 Fri Feb 13 12:48:06 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Thu Mar 05 11:51:38 -0800 2009 Thu Mar 05 11:57:24 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Nov 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 03 15:34:39 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 10 10:27:46 -0800 2009 more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Jul 30 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 26 06:06:45 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 30 14:31:34 -0700 2009 1 0 false false Sat Feb 28 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 25 18:29:37 -0800 2009 Sat Feb 28 18:54:41 -0800 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Jun 07 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Mar 13 06:11:27 -0700 2009 Mon Jun 08 05:47:40 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Mon Sep 14 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jan 26 13:41:13 -0800 2009 Tue Sep 15 13:18:27 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Nov 23 10:59:27 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 23 10:59:39 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sat Oct 03 12:36:48 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 03 15:18:05 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Sep 05 17:35:54 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 05 17:35:54 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Aug 26 17:42:51 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 26 17:42:51 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Aug 07 04:39:03 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 07 04:39:03 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jul 31 19:00:02 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 31 19:00:02 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Jul 28 22:45:21 -0700 2009 Fri Nov 06 20:40:26 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Mon Jul 27 20:27:22 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 27 20:27:22 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed Jul 22 11:25:11 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 22 11:25:11 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jul 17 18:21:40 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 17 18:21:40 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jul 17 16:13:19 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 17 16:13:19 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Jul 04 16:15:03 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 04 16:15:03 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jul 03 20:07:58 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 20:07:58 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=4620044