Stories And Fables

Childcraft - The How and Why Library 1973-1982 #2

by Childcraft International, Hugh Lofting, Margot Austin

Contents:
Animals Tales
Fables
Fairy Tales
Favorites Old and New
Tales From Other Lands
Myths and Legends

Genres: Poetry, Short Stories, Childrens, Reference, Collections, Fiction, Classics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1934

About the author

“Character training, discipline guidance, and habit formation are processes in your child’s development that cause you serious concern. You want your child to develop habits and traits of character that are admirable and worthwhile—habits and traits that will ensure happiness and success in life.”

These are words of introduction from the inaugural 1934 Parent Guide Supplement to Childcraft, a 15-volume annual series launched as a home instructional and educational resource for parents. Childcraft remained a mainstay within American households over 7 decades, sold door-to-door, direct to parents.

Childcraft was succeeded by Discovery and Discovery Science. Discovery and Discovery Science are multivolume print and digital reference resources for elementary readers.

The iconic Childcraft brand remains in the public domain as an Annual Update to owners of an original Childcraft set and is displayed each year at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder’s meeting.

Reviews

[Cheryl Gatling]

When I was a child, we had a full set of the 1949 Childcraft books with the burnt orange covers. My two favorite volumes were the first two, Poems of Early Childhood, and this one, Storytelling and Other Poems. I read and reread both poetry books many times, but I liked this one better, as the poems were a little more complex and sophisticated. Poems of Early Childhood began with nursery rhymes and very short poems. Storytelling also contains some short poems about waking up, and going out to play, and things like the wind, and the weather, and holidays, and fairies in the garden, but it progresses to longer and longer story poems, including The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Paul Revere’s Ride, and the noir-ly dangerous and sexy, and totally-not-appropriate-for-children-by-today’s-standards-but-who-cares story of The Highwayman.

From the perspective of the 21st century, it is striking what a vanished world is depicted here: millers, and organ grinders, and woodstoves, and people traveling by horse. There are no televisions, and few cars. Children play outdoors unsupervised. All the girls are wearing dresses, and almost everyone is white. The few minorities that are included are depicted in broad stereotypes. I never noticed those things as a child.

I also never noticed, because I didn’t know enough to know, that many of these “poems for children” were actually the work of Big Names of Poetry: Wordsworth, Tennyson, Frost, Sandburg, Browning, a little Emily Dickinson, a little Edna St Vincent Millay, even a little Shakespeare.

Among my favorites were: “The Potatoes’ Dance” by Vachel Lindsay, which I loved as much for the illustrations of the potatoes on their wobbly, burned-matchstick legs as for the singsong fantasy; “Loveliest of Trees,” by A. E. Housman, which, a few years ago, I tried to recite to my own daughter, who didn’t appreciate it; and “Sea Fever,” by John Masefield, which is simply one of the most recitable of poems ever written:

I must go down to the sea again,
To the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
And a star to steer her by

Even as a child, I could feel the music of it, and if there is one reason that I loved this book, it is that it taught me to learn and love the sound of the rhythm and rhyme of poetry, and that has stayed with me the rest of my life.

[Lucia Biondi · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Warning: may contain spoilers) This review is in reference to the story "Poppet" by Margot Austin. I recommend this short story to a younger age as it is a children's book, however, I still enjoyed rereading the story since it is very nostalgic of the times I read these stories as a child. The characters are very well presented through the cute names (Poppet, Puttle and Puttler) and personalities in addition to the well drawn illustrations by Margot. The story follows this charismatic group through a late night journey trying to catch a bear. On the adventure, the characters stumble upon many different animals and struggle to reach their goal with a dying flashlight and an empty bag. In the end the boy is able to capture the bear under a hammock which only turns out to be his cherished stuffed teddy bear. This conclusion is a perfect ending to portray an ironic situation where the reader was supposed to be fearful of this particular scenario, but then realizes that the characters were not searching for something harmful all along. In a way the story teaches the value in being persistent and determined in addition to being adventurous. Although, I would like to add that occasionally when the boy releases the other animals from his bag that the way this is described in a jerking or shoving motion is borderline aggressive. However, the story is made more personal through the structured dialogue and the accompanying pictures. This is definitely an easy read but also has many alternative meanings if analyzing through multiple literacy lenses. Thus reading this book can give great incite on children literature.

[Christine Sy · Rating 3 out of 5]

reading this in a woke gen z perspective, you'll find how some stories can be a little racist, misogynistic, and promoting unrealistic standards. some could be also a little violent for a child. some also leaves you with a question mark written on your face. but with nostalgia, this book is amazing. really brings me back to childhood.

[Dayna Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous fantasy collection of short stories and fables. I wish I still had the complete set I had as a child. These are magnificent classic tales for young children. A must have for all new parents. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books! Having these books growing up is, I think, the reason that I to this day love poetry so much!

[Meredith Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

(with Ben & Mabry)

[Liz Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leía estos cuentos cuando era niña ¡Una belleza! Nunca olvidé las fábulas de Esopo y volver a leerlas fue volver al pasado. Tampoco es que sea tan vieja, pero sentí mucha nostalgia.

[Margaret Chind]

Excerpts and reprints include:

[Yssa Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

I owe my life of reading to this book set. My family had the whole set and I'm pretty sure I've read all those books word per word, but I will write this here as this compilation of stories (Volume 1 in my edition, no longer sure what Volume 2 was for me) was definitely my favorite.

At home, we used to have this bland bookshelf (that I eventually filled up over time) that spanned one whole side of our living room. I remember being a small child, unable to reach for my parent's books on the upper shelves, so I satisfied myself with the books on the bottom shelf: this set, among other educational books (which, now that I think about it, seemed strategic on my parents' part).

I would silently sit by the bookshelf with the book laid on top of my lap and would turn the pages to read the stories, and I don't think I ever grew tired of it. Eventually, my parents started buying me other books. At that age, when other girls around me were brought clothes and needed to be forced to read, I was spoiled with books. Just recently, I was reminded of this book and decided to dig it out of our old boxes. Very nostalgic.

[Edacheeky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god the childcraft books were my childhood!! right now they're buried in my garage somewhere but I can't seem to find them. Anyways, recently I found myself remembering stories and nursery rhymes that I use to love as a kid and I remembered that they were from this collection of encyclopaedia-type books and I remembered that these encyclopaedias were called "The World Book" so after some googleing, I found the childcraft books and all the memories came flooding back. When I was little I loved reading them. I remember my parents bought the entire set from the flea market and I'd read them all the time. I sure hope I can find them and pass them onto my kids one day.

[J. Wootton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An attempt at a diverse collection of classic stories from around the world, both old and modern, which is laudable in intent even it does have a perhaps-inevitable bias towards Western->English stories. I've owned this collection since I was little, and re-reading it now see more shortcomings with the collection than I did then. Still an enjoyable read, still full of great stories, but perhaps its time for a new collection to be assembled based on the original vision.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the stories in this book approximately a million times while growing up. It has Goldilocks, Wolf and the Seven Little Kids, The Five Chinese Brothers and more. It even has the polish that Steph would wipe on it while doing her nails. Ah the memories!

[Alejandra Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are several stories compacted into this book. This book is basically a kiddie book but it is a really good one. It contains pictures and it is easy to comprehended when you are young.

[Kidsbookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were so fortunate to find this set at a local used book store! These are marvelous treasures that every family should own!

[Rebecca Rodrigues]

Part of the quest to reunite myself with stories of my childhood

[Cassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite!