Tell Me a Story

With more than half a million children’s books in its collections, the Library of Congress has everything from beloved classics to forgotten treasures ready for rediscovery. These range from an early American edition of John Newbery’s Little Pretty Pocket-Book to twentieth-century classics introducing familiar characters such as Dorothy and Toto or Frog and Toad. In addition to books, the Library holds original artwork by illustrators Jerry Pinkney and Vera B. Williams; manuscripts by pathbreaking authors Virginia Hamilton and Jade Snow Wong; and influential magazines such as St. Nicholas and The Brownies’ Book—not to mention the nation’s largest public comic book collection.

Tell Me a Story reimagines the canon of American children’s literature, in the process highlighting the evolution of literary, artistic, and publishing trends. From classic books and award-winners to little-remembered gems, this engaging volume features more than two hundred children’s books, original artworks, and manuscript pages, all created, read, and sold in the United States from the eighteenth century to today. With a foreword by National Ambassadors for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett and including poignant contributions from former Ambassadors reflecting on their own inspirations, this book will charm readers of all ages.

Hannah Freece is a writer-editor in the Library’s Publishing Office. She is the co-author of Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote and The Joy of Looking: Great Photographs from the Library of Congress.