Children’s books are really adult business

Before l launch into the topic, how many of you feel that children’s books are childish?

There is a common belief that if books are written for children they are not serious literature. Yet some of them endure over lifetimes. The skilled author doesn’t write differently or less carefully for children. A fine book has something to say and says it with consideration for style, plot, characterisation, theme and format.

While some authors claim to write for themselves, drawing on their own memories of childhood, others write for a particular reading audience. Beatrix Potter was loyal to her audience and she definitely wanted her books to be brought out in a format small enough for children to hold in their hands. She held out against the commercialism of her books during her lifetime.

I wonder how many of you have cherished memories of a particular book or remember being read to as a child. For myself I was one of those people referred to as a “bookworm”, which is to say that I bored through books in corners while others were playing. I read beneath the covers when the lights were meant to be out. In the classroom, I read under the desk instead of attending to the textbook I was meant to be looking at. I would hold

an exciting book before my eyes as I walked down the street and I learnt how to read while on the back of a bumpy bus.

When I had just started school at the age of four and a half, I took it upon myself one evening to go to South Melbourne Children’s library alone instead of waiting for my Dad. This was the height of my infant naughtiness.

I remember the day that I understood that letters represented sounds. On that day, I burst into the house full of the news and was rewarded with encouragement and smiles. “At last”, they said when my penny finally dropped.

Now that I was a reader my mother subscribed to a magazine just for me. When we went to the newsagent to collect her magazines from Great Britain my Enid Blyton Magazine was waiting too. It was full of Noddy and Big Ears stories, Fairy Fluster and the now banned Gollywogs.

At this time, I so looked forward to the weekly delivery day of the magazines that I skipped home from school with speed and threw a tantrum if the ship that delivered them, happened to be held up by the tide. “I hope that’s your biggest problem in life”, my mother would say to me but as it turned out it wasn’t. I have had others.

Now seems to be a good time to raise the great Blyton debate. Enid Mary Blyton was born in 1897. Her book “The adventures of the Wishing Chair” is eighty years old. This and “The Magic Faraway Tree” seem to have enduring appeal with classic features of magic, new worlds, a bit of danger and enticing food. Does anybody remember pop biscuits, made by Silky? I remember how I loved the stories but Enid Blyton’s work became increasingly controversial from the 1950s onwards because of its alleged unchallenging nature. Her range of plots and settings have been described as limited and continually recycled.

During her lifetime she wrote as many as six hundred books, of different genres, leading to the accusation that she employed ghost- writers. However she strenuously denied it and described her writing technique:

I shut my eyes for a few minutes, with my portable typewriter on my knee – I make my mind blank and wait – and then, as clearly as I would see real children, my characters stand before me in my mind’s eye – The first sentence comes straight into my mind, I don’t have to think of it – I don’t have to think of anything.

Blyton further explained in her biography:

If I tried to think out or invent the whole story, I could not do it. For one thing it would bore me and for another it would lack the verve and the extraordinary touches and surprising ideas that flood out from my imagination.

From the 1930s to the 1950s the BBC did not dramatise any of Enid Blyton’s works for radio, considering her works to be second rate. Margery Fisher, a well-known literary critic, considered them to be “slow poison”. This did not stop me from cherishing my collection of “The Famous Five” and eying off all my cousin’s books.

Although Blyton’s works have been banned from more public libraries than those of any other author, there is no evidence that the popularity of her books has ever suffered and by 1990 she was still described as being very widely read. A current list from Port Phillip library shows that some of her books are among the top twenty on the borrowing list today.

However Blyton has been criticised on the more serious charges of racism and xenophobia. To address these issues, some later editions have been altered. Modern reprints of the “Noddy” series substitute teddies for gollywogs. Mention of corporal punishment is erased, as Dame Slap becomes Dame Snap. Attempts to change “old fashioned” dialogue were seen as patronising and dropped but Dick and Fanny have been changed to Rick and Frannie for some reason.

The alleged racism in the “Noddy” series is based on golliwog characters that are not only black, but bad.

Gollywogs were central to a series of popular nineteenth century children’s books, written by Florence Kate Upton. They were so popular that they were reproduced as toys and used as commercial icons.

The British company James Robertson & Sons, makers of jam, was one of these companies. Just before WW1, a son of the owner, visiting the backwoods of the United States, noticed children playing with the rag dolls that they called Gollies.

He thought that they would make an ideal trademark for the company. Later hundreds of enamelled mascots were produced and given away. They became collectables, even worn as jewellery. The Robertson Golly icon was used for other products as well, dolls and games. Despite criticism and threatened boycotts, the

company continued its use of the Gollywog trademark until 2002. At this time management insisted that the discontinuation was not due to political correctness but for commercial reasons.

For the past four decades Europeans have debated whether the Golliwog is a lovable icon or a racist symbol.

In the 1960s relations between racial groups were often marked by conflict. Contributing factors in Britain included increasing numbers of immigrants from previously British territories, who arrived in the UK, unwilling to follow the old patterns of racial and ethnic subordination. On the opposite side, there was fear among many British people of loss of their national character. View of the brutal images of the conflicts in the United States added to the unrest. In other parts of the world, North Africans migrated to France, resulting in similar ethnocentrism or xenophobia directed towards the newcomers. This was also the era of apartheid in South Africa and Rhodesia. Here at home we were just coming out of the period of White Australia. Indigenous Australians were only able to vote from 1962 onwards.

In this climate Golliwogs and their depiction began to be seen as symbols of racial insensitivity. Not only were they seen as hurtful, it seemed as if there is an association with the word “wog”, which during World War 2 was a strong slur against dark skinned people, including Arabs.

According to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, in the 1960s, members of one of the most noted regiments in the British Army wore a Robertson’s Golly brooch for each Arab they had killed.

This museum in Michigan holds thousands of articles, depicting the history of racist activities against African Americans over time.

The rationale for the collection, is explained by David Pilgrim founder of the museum:

“… I believe and I know to be true, that forms of intolerance can be used to teach tolerance.”

A feature of the museum is the “room of dialogue” where visitors are encouraged to discuss how the objects might be used to promote tolerance and social justice.

Truth and conciliation commissions in different parts of the world have set out to recognise and face past injustices with the purpose of setting wrong to right. Many schools have also taken up this cause, creating programs to address these issues.

The Gollywog celebrated its 100year anniversary in 1995. There are still numerous eBay and Yahoo Internet auctions and still many supporters of the gollywog. They contend that it is a doll and its original creator, Florence Upton, was neither intentionally or unintentionally racist.

However the Trinidadian writer, Darcus Howe, said:

“The English never give up. Gollywogs have gone and should stay gone. They appeal to White English sentiment and will do so until the end of time… They are offensive caricatures of Black people.”

“The Snowy Day”

“The Snowy Day” is a 1962 picture book for young children, written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats. He received the most prestigious Caldecott Medal for the illustrations in his book. It features a boy exploring his neighbourhood after the first snowfall of the season. The inspiration for the book came from a Life Magazine photo of a child, taken in

1940 and also from Keat’s desire to depict minority children as central characters in his stories.

The book was immediately welcomed by educators and critics. It was considered a benchmark in fair racial representation in literature and noteworthy for its elegance and simplicity.

Ezra Jack Keats

As the Civil Rights Movement entered a new phase of consciousness, “The Snowy Day” began to meet with criticism, for not addressing the central character’s cultural identity or race. It was considered too integrationist. “The whole social, political and cultural significance of being black is left out”

However by the eighties the cultural landscape had shifted again:

“Keat’s vision of the universal human spirit as personified by his central character marks this book for attention.”

Throughout these debates “The Snowy Day” has remained a deeply loved and profoundly influential book and currently it is high on lists of recommendation.

The genre of children’s books created to address particular social issues is growing nowadays. However the term “social issue” is so broad as to mean

nothing or it may mean different things to different people. It is the author’s job to shed light on how people may behave by arousing empathy and showing different viewpoints with relevant plots and characters, rather than preaching or attempting to make the readers’ decision for them. “Issues books” need to be done very well or they seem trite and ineffective.

For me a significant time in my reading life was my ninth birthday. At that time there was no local library in St. Kilda so my birthday present was a year’s subscription to the Athenaeum Library. My Dad used to take me into the city on the number 15 tram, all dressed up for the occasion and we would enter the building very quietly. I would need to stand on the wooden platform under the shelf and crane my neck, as I wasn’t very tall. A knowledgeable librarian helped me to find just what I was looking for. By this time I was reading by myself and I read series after series.

“Milly Molly Mandy”

At first I read books about families. The series of “Milly Molly Mandy” books conveyed a sense of order to me. On the first page there was a map. Everything had its place in this small world. The stories about the little girl who was maybe my age, were about everyday adventures in her village, going to school, running errands and meeting her friends and family. She wore a pink and white striped dress and lived in the “nice white cottage with the thatched roof”. When her little

attic bedroom was painted apple green as a surprise for her I was delighted.

When she came home one day to find her teacher having afternoon tea with the family I felt the same confusion in her, that in later years I saw when my own students met me out of context.

Although they were small stories, the author expertly described the feelings of the child.

Joyce Lankester Brisley wrote the first of the series in the 1920s and I was fascinated with her simple illustrations of a past but comforting life. To this day some small country towns and the square outside South Melbourne Library, with its planned sense of community makes me think of Milly Molly Mandy.

“The Family From One End Street’’

Later, as a mother myself, I read “The Family From One End Street” to my children. It is by Eve Garrett and written in 1937. Although I didn’t know it, it was considered ground breaking and innovative for its portrayal of working class life at a time when the Middle Class dominated in children’s books. For this the author was awarded a Carnegie Medal.

The Ruggles family live in a fictional town resembling Lewes in Sussex. Josiah, the father works as a dustman and his wife Rosie takes in washing. They have seven children so life is hard but they are a happy family.

Irritating but realistic things happen to them.

The baby doesn’t win the grand prize in the Baby Show because he grows his new tooth too late. Children lose their school hats, and both adults and children make mistakes, which are eventually resolved.

My family remembers the amusement of the stories and the feeling of warmth brought about by the evocative language, “… fragrance of warm, sundried cotton clothes”, “… small thrill of curling up in bed with an old dog-eared book”. The power of the family to help and support each other is strong, in these books.

“The Family From One End Street” is regarded as a classic and was most recently reissued as a Puffin Classic in 2014.

“Dr.Dolittle”

Returning to the little bookworm, another series that I read as a child, was:

“The Story of Dr. Dolittle: Being the History of His Peculiar Life at Home and Astounding Adventures in Foreign Parts Never Before Printed”. First published in 1920

Hugh Lofting wrote the first book of the series from the trenches in World War 1 as a distraction from the horrors surrounding him. He sent the episodes of his story to his children, rather than giving them war news. Although the books are still considered as classics there is much discussion about the clear colonial and racist attitudes in the stories.

The illustrations of the King of Jolliginka are grotesque to me now.

When I read these books as a child, I was completely caught up with the ideas of speaking to the animals, of the Pushmi-Pullu, which is an imaginary animal with two heads, and of the adventures of Dr. Dolittle. I looked at the illustrations without judgement and I couldn’t wait for the next book. I was unaware and uncritical of adult issues but used the books as a basis for my pretend games. Emily Neville, a literary critic says “Most of the time a child is not listening, she is waiting to see what

happens” and I think she was writing about me at that time.

There have been film versions of “Dr.Dolittle”, one starring Rex Harrison and the latest one, stars Eddy Murphy. Neither is very true to Hugh Lofting’s spirit but of course film is a different media from books. There are usually large changes. I find it hard to imagine what Hugh Lofting would have thought of the latest updated version with its crude humour and PG rating.

A question concerning writers for children is, whether they can please themselves and not be ruled by public taste and beliefs. When social sensitivities change, is it correct to amend or upgrade books? I guess there are questions too, for the makers of films and their obligation to the original source.

Chapter 1 - Dr. Dolittle

“Heidi”

“Heidi” was one of the first stories that I read about an orphaned child who, with her intelligence, cheerfulness and sheer goodness wins over her embittered grandfather and befriends the crippled Clara. The story was written by Johanna Spryi in 1881. It is one of the best selling books ever written and is among the best known works of Swiss literature.

“Pollyanna”

Continuing with my booklist I read many of the “Pollyanna” books by Eleanor Porter. The heroine is such an optimist that her name has entered the English language and she is known as the “Glad Girl”. She uses her good nature to redirect the cynical, disillusioned adults around her. In the sixties, Hayley Mills played the lead part in a Disney production based on the original book. Although I enjoyed it at the time now I can see the usual Disney stamp.

the glad game

“Little Lord Fauntelroy”

A book about a good boy suffering hard times was “Little Lord Fauntleroy” of suit fame. The publishing of this book in 1886 by Frances Hodgson Burnett resulted in a major fashion storm for little boys. They wore velvet suits, floppy bows or lace collars on their blouses, and their hair was combed into ringlets.

Cedric, the hero of the book itself was the Harry Potter of his time and his author was as celebrated as J. K. Rowlings is today. The rags-to-riches story was a hit.

In a shabby street in the mid-1880s, young Cedric lives with his widowed mother. The story

demonstrates how his innocent nature wins over his tough old grandfather who in

order not to disappoint his grandson begins to behave in a compassionate way to those in his care.

There have been many film and television versions, even a Japanese anime that is forty-five episodes long.

“The Secret Garden”

Another book by the same author is “The Secret Garden” which was not as celebrated as her other works and almost completely eclipsed by the time of her death. However in modern times it has steadily risen in prominence. The fictional Garden itself is the site of both the near destruction and the subsequent regeneration of the family that is the subject of the story. The theme is “when a thing is neglected it withers and dies, but when it is worked on and cared for, it thrives” – like the principal children in the story.

the secret garden

“Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”

“Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm” is a classical 1903 novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin. It tells the tale of Rebecca and her two stern aunts. Once again I was drawn to a story where the heroine is joyful despite the lot that life has dealt her. Her cheerful character inspires her aunts in spite of initial disapproval. She comes from a poor family and is one of seven children. Her father has died but Rebecca is imaginative and charming. She often composes little songs and poems. In fact she is irrepressibly talkative. She is a good student and goes on to attend high school. Through her own diligence and her aunts’ kindness, Rebecca is able to save her family from poverty.

The book has been filmed three times, once with Shirley temple in the lead role. The book is reminiscent of “Anne of Green Gables” and of course I had to read and dream and ponder about this series too.

In all these books that I have described so far, although social problems were elements of the story, what was important to me, as a young girl growing up, was the personal heroism of the principal characters, their ways of dealing with hardship and the happy endings. In the past books dealt with “good” and “bad” but today we live in a more confused world without absolute values.

There was no such difficulty in the “Sue Barton” or “Cherry Ames” books even if today they may be considered counter-feminist. With them I travelled on cruise ships and planes. I went to foreign countries and worked in the outback as a nurse, as a sister, wearing my coveted badges and appropriate uniforms, but first I had to live in a Nurses Home with the other students. There, it was getting up at midnight for cups of cocoa, being chosen to go on to the ward to assist with a terrible emergency… life was very busy in those days and I couldn’t pass The Alfred Hospital Nurses Home without looking at it with great curiosity.

E.Nesbit

There was one author whose works I read, who was different from the others. She wrote about children but not for children. However she created a world of magic and inverted logic that was entirely her own.

In the “The Treasure Seekers” we see many of the characteristics that are so distinctive of the works of E. Nesbit. The oldest boy, Oswald, uses the first person to tell the story, showing us that he considers himself to be superior to the others. The device of using first person makes it possible for the author to comment and instruct through the character, Oswald, without being prosy or over intrusive. In other books too, her characters show themselves through their direct speech avoiding description or wordiness.

Usually, the story is about a family who is involved in magical or real adventures, but never both at the same time. The magical creatures come from ancient history, the British Museum to be exact and Nesbit displays the saying “be careful what you wish for”, as the children always have unexpected problems. At home there is some sort of domestic issue, a missing parent, not enough money. Yet the family is shown as united and permanent. In her books, all of every day belongs to the children and there are no expectations to be anything but children.

It was Nesbit’s books that made me decide to give up nursing and take up archaeology.

My father read to me every night until I went to high school. Two books in particular stand out in my memory.

“Alice in Wonderland”

“Alice in Wonderland” has been abridged, adapted, translated and made into musicals and plays. The version that my Dad read was original and I found it very unsettling as a child. It is after all a dream and its events are unconnected. There is a feeling of madness to it. I enjoyed the card gardeners painting the roses red but I knew even then that there was more meaning than I could understand. In later years I “grew into it”. Today, I find it an amazingly clever book. I still don’t understand all the references but I’m glad to have had my first introduction to it as a child.

ballet Alice in Wonderland

“The Waterbabies”

The other book is an equally difficult one for children, “The Water Babies”. It was written as part satire in support of Charles Darwin’s “The Origin of the Species”. It is also a tract against child labour. The language in the book is dated, stylised, preachy and often refers to things unknown to me. My father explained the main storyline and I just listened each night as he read. Understanding was not important. I liked hearing my father’s voice as he read to me.

It seems to me that in an era where parents didn’t have contact with schools and teaching was left to teachers, my parents did all the right things to put me on the path of long life reading.

At the moment there is great emphasis on testing, on gaining reading skills and forever changing the “best” method of teaching. Yesterday schools taught the “language experience” way, a fancy way of saying, “write about something you’ve done”. Today it is phonics, with emphasis on correctness and measurable scores. Phonics, grammar, understanding of new vocabulary, all the components that make up our language must be explicitly taught but it is the desire to read that makes a reader. If you overemphasis skills, to the exclusion of meaningful ideas and content you take away the reason for learning to read. While some children do require specific help, most children will learn if they are given the kind of support that I had. You don’t even have to have lots of fancy books.

“To a child who is intent on reading all books are children’s books.”

Books don’t always have to challenge the reader either. Nowadays, there seems to be a great fear of wasting time. There is scope in a child’s life to read for comfort or to gain meaning at different levels, to see more into a book later.

My last comment for the day is that while reading is definitely adult business we need to be careful of the kind that is exploitative, rubbishy adult business.