Rutgers University Press Raising Your Kids Right: Children's Literature and American Political Conservatism (Rutgers Series in Childhood Studies)

Review "A brilliant study that marks a significant intervention in both the fields of political science and children's literature."-- "The Lion and the Unicorn""Raising Your Kids Right is an eye-opening examination of how the contemporary conservative movement has deployed children's literature. Michelle Ann Abate adds a crucial dimension to the study of the conservative movement while simultaneously expanding the discussion about the intersections of children's literature and American politics."-- "Children's Literature Association Quarterly""The role of children's literature in laying the groundwork for future generations to embrace conservatism is worth exploring and understanding. Abate's book helps open that conversation, while leaving plenty of questions for future scholars to pursue."-- "Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth""A timely and engaging study of the rise of conservative children's books published in the United States. It is a valuable study of the political nature of some of children's literature as it zeros in on a handful of high-profile conservative titles published since the 1990s."--Jan Susina "Teachers College Record""Few people are aware of the right's attempts to use children's literature ideologically to indoctrinate American youth. While this book will certainly be valuable to scholars of children's literature and education, those outside of academe should also sit up and take notice."--Philip Nel "coeditor of Tales for Little Rebels" Product Description Dr. Seuss’s classic character the Lorax has delighted children for decades while passing along a powerful message about environmental responsibility. The book’s young readers, and their parents, would likely be surprised by the emergence of a new character, Truax, a kindly logger created by a longtime employee of the wood products industry, who, not surprisingly, has a far different viewpoint to share. Yet the Truax character, and the book of the same name, is just one example of a growing genre of conservative-themed narratives for young readers spawned by the continuing strength of the American political right. Highlighting the works of William Bennett, Lynne Cheney, Bill O’Reilly, and others, Michelle Ann Abate brings together such diverse fields as cultural studies, literary criticism, political science, childhood studies, brand marketing, and the cult of celebrity. ‘Raising Your Kids Right’ dispels lingering societal attitudes that narratives for young readers are unworthy of serious political study by examining a variety of texts that offer information, ideology, and even instructions on how to raise kids right, not just figuratively but politically. About the Author Michelle Ann Abate is an associate professor in the English department at Hollins University. She is the author of Tomboys: A Literary and Cultural History, and the editor of the journal Children's Literature.