Sticks and Stones: The Troublesome Success of Children's Literature from Slovenly Peter to Harry Potter

Jack Zipes examines the history and cultural impact of children's literature from the 19th century through modern times. His analysis spans from Heinrich Hoffmann's 1845 Struwwelpeter to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. The book tracks how children's literature has evolved alongside societal views on childhood, education, and moral instruction. Through case studies of specific works and authors, Zipes documents the transformation of children's books from strict moral tales to more complex narratives. Zipes incorporates perspectives from publishing history, educational theory, and literary criticism to analyze how children's books reflect changing power dynamics between adults and children. He examines the commercial forces that shape children's publishing and the role of institutions in determining which books reach young readers. This scholarly work raises questions about the purpose of children's literature and its function as both entertainment and socialization tool. The intersection of commerce, ideology, and artistic expression emerges as a central theme in understanding how children's books impact culture.

Readers describe this academic work as dense but informative in examining how children's literature perpetuates cultural values. Many note it works best as a reference text rather than a cover-to-cover read. Likes: - Detailed analysis of specific works like Struwwelpeter and Harry Potter - Historical context for how children's books reflect societal attitudes - Extensive research and citations Dislikes: - Academic writing style can be dry and repetitive - Some readers found the arguments against commercialization obvious - Several note the book doesn't fully deliver on its premise about the "troublesome success" aspect Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (4 ratings) One Goodreads reviewer wrote: "Interesting ideas but could have been edited down significantly." Another noted: "The historical background is fascinating but gets lost in academic jargon." Most recommend it for academic research rather than casual reading about children's literature.

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🔸 Jack Zipes, a world-renowned fairy tale scholar, has translated over 65 fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm that had never before appeared in English. 🔸 The book's title reference to "Slovenly Peter" comes from Der Struwwelpeter, an 1845 German children's book famous for its harsh moral lessons and deliberately frightening illustrations. 🔸 The book challenges the common perception of children's literature as innocent entertainment, revealing how many beloved classics were actually created to discipline and socialize young readers. 🔸 Zipes examines how Harry Potter represents a significant shift in children's publishing, being one of the first series marketed simultaneously to both children and adults as "crossover literature." 🔸 The author argues that the most enduring children's books are often those that were initially considered controversial or inappropriate for young readers, such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Where the Wild Things Are.