Children’s Books Are “good” and “bad”: Critics’ Discussions of the 1890–1920s.

Abstract

In the introduction to the archive, the principle of selecting material for publication is commented on, the connection between the articles presented in the department and discussions on children’s literature and children’s reading in the second half of the 19th century is revealed — the first third of the XX centuries. The articles by E. I. Tikheeva, N. Ya. Abramovich, and I. Zlobny touch upon questions about which topics in children’s literature are, from their point of view, undesirable and “harmful”, and which are “useful” and necessary. Critics express thoughts about the social function of children’s literature, about the nature of the reader-child, and what should be the goals and objectives of his education. The introduction also provides brief information about E. I. Tikheeva and N. Ya. Abramovich as critics of children’s literature.

Keywords: criticism of children’s literature, discussions of critics about children’s literature, undesirable topics in children’s literature, discussions about a fairy tale, E. I. Tikheeva, N. Ya. Abramovich, I. Zlobny