Once Upon a Time: Illustrations from Fairytales, Fables, Primers, Pop-Ups, and Other Children's Books (Paperback)

by Amy Weinstein (Author) "WHO would not give libraries for that dancing buoyancy of attention, and intensity of delight with which the first story-book of childhood is read?..." (more)
Key Phrases: fairytales and fables, New York, Mother Goose, Beekman Street (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
...fascinating short stories that accompany artwork culled from a vast collection of Victorian era picture books. -- Country Home, Dec/Jan 2006

Witches, ogres, circus scenes, alphabetical fantasies, familiar fairy tales and fables, all meticulously executed...fairly dance off these pages. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Nov 20, 2005

Product Description
Many of our most cherished childhood memories recall the pleasure of sitting in a big comfy chair while a doting parent reads from a lovingly illustrated picture book. Jack and the Bean Stalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Robinson Crusoe-the colorful illustrations that decorated the pages of these stories remain forever captured in the mind's eye. Once Upon a Time reawakens the joys of childhood reading, of seeing a story come alive in words and pictures on the printed page-and in our nascent imaginations. Drawing upon the extraordinary collection of Victorian-era illustrated books amassed by Arthur and Ellen Liman, it presents fairy tales and fables, nursery rhymes, instructional books, juvenile fiction, histories, and manners manuals. Created through a variety of illustration techniques and printing processes, most are beautifully colored. Many are also animated with moveable parts. These striking objects are accompanied by brief texts that place them within their era and illuminate the rise of children's literature in America as a cultural phenomenon related to the growth of literacy, an increase in leisure time, and an understanding of the "infant mind." The moral of this story: learning your ABCs can be a visual pleasure.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press; 1 edition (September 22, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568985649
• ISBN-13: 978-1568985640
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #700,330 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars illustrated overview of Victorian children's books, October 16, 2005

By	Henry Berry "Henry Berry" (Southport, CT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Novels, history books, Christmas books, and cautionary tales are other genres included not noted in the subtitle. American and English children's books are grouped by genre in this largely visual overview of mostly Victorian-era children's books with the colorful illustrations which made them so popular with mothers and children in their day and also of continuing interest to contemporary collectors. The illustrations are reproduced to retain their distinctive 19th-century tones and textures, most of these as chromolithographs. The varied, fetching illustrations are accompanied by Weinsteins's informative annotations containing remarks on the illustrations, characters, story, etc. of the particular book and its place in the field of Victorian children's literature. In brief introductions to each of the main genres, she refers to its influences, conventions, and aims; e. g., the moral tone of the cautionary tales and many other children's books was influenced by the 18th-century French philosopher Rousseau, "who theorized that children were imbued with an innate virtue" that could be fostered for exemplary obedience, a love of nature, and respect for reason. McLoughlin Brothers, the publisher of many of the most sought-after collectible children's books began by concentrating on small religious works for children as well as adults. The noticeable influence of German fairy tales on the American and English children's literature is cited too. Weinstein is a curator at the New York Historical Society who has done an exhibition of toys for the Museum of the City of New York. "Once Upon A Time" is an illustrated overview of the popular English-language Victorian children's books with fundamental factual information on the field. With its categorization of the different types of literature and plentiful representative illustrations, it's a good start for someone wanting to get filled in on the basics of this field.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure for any who love old-fashioned children's books, February 3, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Amy Weinstein's Once Upon A Time: Illustrations From Fairytales, Fables, Primers, Pop-Ups And Other Children's Books is based upon an art exhibition of the same name and uses colorful images from Victorian-era illustrated books by Ellen Liman and her husband Arthur to provide a review of striking art objects and the rise of children's literature. Exquisite full-page color plates - some on double-page spreads - liberally accent descriptions which include story plot summaries and commentary. A treasure for any who love old-fashioned children's books.