Reception of the initial text
When it was first published, the reviews of the book were generally positive. Margaret Wise Brown’s lyrical, poetic language and Garth William’s adorable illustrations were considered perfect complements. Chicago Daily Tribune praised the book as “cunning and Garth Williams’ illustrations are truly beautiful paintings in miniature” (Goodwin, 1946). The 1951 review written by Jennie D. Lindquist and Siri M. Andrews in Horn Book Magazine (which was reviewing the reissue of the book in a traditional hardcover format), was incredibly positive, calling Little Fur Family “a heart-warming little story with lovely colored illustrations that seem even lovelier in the larger format” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 10, p. 53). Another 1951 review, printed in The University of Chicago's Bulletin of the Children’s Book Center, praised the book as “simply told in a rhythmic prose that is pleasant to read aloud and will please young listeners” and the illustrations “add much to the enjoyment of the book” (Bulletin of the Children’s Book Center, 20). The Bulletin was pleased at the new format with its "larger size (9x6 1/2) that is more suited to library use" (Ibid, 20). In re-evaluating the book, Goodwin declared it “a beautiful little book” and the “larger size shows off to wonderful advantage the lovely colors and details of Garth Williams’ enchanting pictures” (Goodwin, 1951).
The novelty of the fur binding was prevalent in most of the reviews. The book became a de facto toy for children, an item to be played with like another stuffed animal. In the same 1951 review One of the two Horn Book Magazine writers said, “I know a little girl who used to give the furcovered book to her kitten each night and he actually did sleep with it between his paws” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 107, p. 80). “Every one loves to stroke soft fur and no one more than little children,” so the book “with its detachable fur cover, all wrapped up in a little box to fit, should make them very happy” (Goodwin, 1946). The New York Times declared it “the ultimate in gadget books…something that very young members of the family may pat and stroke and take to bed” (Buell).
Despite Margaret Wise Brown’s request to have the first edition of Little Fur Family bound in real rabbit fur, this was a point of contention for some readers and reviewers. “Adults who objected to the unusual cover” missed out on a good children’s book, according to a 1951 Horn Book Magazine review ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 107, p. 80). Kirkus Reviews accused the unusual fur cover as being a marketing ploy, beginning with, “No question but what this will sell, but the perceptive customer for children's books will find it a disappointing book.” The magazine’s criticism continued, chiding the book as “lavish looking merchandise to appeal to the holiday trade” (Kirkus Reviews, 1946). Although Kirkus Reviews typically does not reveal who writes the reviews, at this time, it was still under the control of its founder Virginia Kirkus, so it is possible she was writing these critiques. May Lamberton Becker of the New York Herald Tribune agreed, “This is, of course, a stunt, causing one who knows the edition to be large to question in advance whether the story will be worth so many rabbits” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 10, p. 53).
In fact, Kirkus Reviews was negative of the book in 1946, criticizing its smaller size, “Both pictures and text- tiny type-will strain the child's vision” and declaring it a “rather affected story” which “seems pointless” (Kirkus Reviews, 1946). However, five years later when the book was reprinted as a traditional children’s book, the magazine’s view changed. The 1951 edition “of this gentle little story” is “much more successful in its present simple form” (Kirkus Reviews, 1951). This time around, the book is no longer “affected” or “pointless” but rather a “sleepy-time story, with its lovely, quiet text” and “exquisitely colored and detailed pictures” and the book “is a perfect bridge between waking and sleep” because of its “soft lulling repetitious style.” Unfortunately, neither review was signed, The lullaby aspect of the book is also mentioned in other reviews; Becker from the New York Herald Tribune called it “rhythmic and soothing…sounds the way it feels, like something soft as one goes to sleep” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 10, p. 53). But the lack of plot was echoed in other reviews, “The narrative is a bit skimpy” (Buell).
The 1951 edition was preferred for schools and libraries as it was difficult to shelve a book with fur binding and fur cover. Editor Nordstrom herself pushed for the reissue in a normal format as it "will sell very well" in comparison to the 1946 edition which was "even more difficult to sell to the libraries, which favored standard-size books in standard bindings" (Nordstrom, 33). However, it was the 1946 edition that got lots of publicity in a Life magazine profile piece on Margaret Wise Brown. "The new fur-covered Little Fur Family merited a photograph all its own" within the article (Marcus, 196).
The novelty of the fur binding was prevalent in most of the reviews. The book became a de facto toy for children, an item to be played with like another stuffed animal. In the same 1951 review One of the two Horn Book Magazine writers said, “I know a little girl who used to give the furcovered book to her kitten each night and he actually did sleep with it between his paws” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 107, p. 80). “Every one loves to stroke soft fur and no one more than little children,” so the book “with its detachable fur cover, all wrapped up in a little box to fit, should make them very happy” (Goodwin, 1946). The New York Times declared it “the ultimate in gadget books…something that very young members of the family may pat and stroke and take to bed” (Buell).
Despite Margaret Wise Brown’s request to have the first edition of Little Fur Family bound in real rabbit fur, this was a point of contention for some readers and reviewers. “Adults who objected to the unusual cover” missed out on a good children’s book, according to a 1951 Horn Book Magazine review ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 107, p. 80). Kirkus Reviews accused the unusual fur cover as being a marketing ploy, beginning with, “No question but what this will sell, but the perceptive customer for children's books will find it a disappointing book.” The magazine’s criticism continued, chiding the book as “lavish looking merchandise to appeal to the holiday trade” (Kirkus Reviews, 1946). Although Kirkus Reviews typically does not reveal who writes the reviews, at this time, it was still under the control of its founder Virginia Kirkus, so it is possible she was writing these critiques. May Lamberton Becker of the New York Herald Tribune agreed, “This is, of course, a stunt, causing one who knows the edition to be large to question in advance whether the story will be worth so many rabbits” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 10, p. 53).
In fact, Kirkus Reviews was negative of the book in 1946, criticizing its smaller size, “Both pictures and text- tiny type-will strain the child's vision” and declaring it a “rather affected story” which “seems pointless” (Kirkus Reviews, 1946). However, five years later when the book was reprinted as a traditional children’s book, the magazine’s view changed. The 1951 edition “of this gentle little story” is “much more successful in its present simple form” (Kirkus Reviews, 1951). This time around, the book is no longer “affected” or “pointless” but rather a “sleepy-time story, with its lovely, quiet text” and “exquisitely colored and detailed pictures” and the book “is a perfect bridge between waking and sleep” because of its “soft lulling repetitious style.” Unfortunately, neither review was signed, The lullaby aspect of the book is also mentioned in other reviews; Becker from the New York Herald Tribune called it “rhythmic and soothing…sounds the way it feels, like something soft as one goes to sleep” ("Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)," v. 10, p. 53). But the lack of plot was echoed in other reviews, “The narrative is a bit skimpy” (Buell).
The 1951 edition was preferred for schools and libraries as it was difficult to shelve a book with fur binding and fur cover. Editor Nordstrom herself pushed for the reissue in a normal format as it "will sell very well" in comparison to the 1946 edition which was "even more difficult to sell to the libraries, which favored standard-size books in standard bindings" (Nordstrom, 33). However, it was the 1946 edition that got lots of publicity in a Life magazine profile piece on Margaret Wise Brown. "The new fur-covered Little Fur Family merited a photograph all its own" within the article (Marcus, 196).
1946 New York Times review
1946 Chicago Daily Tribune review
Works Cited/Reference List
Buell, Ellen. "Books for Younger Readers.” New York Times (1923-Current file) 20 Oct. 1946, ProQuest Historical Newspapers New York Times (1851-2007) w/ Index (1851-1993), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
"Brown, Margaret Wise. Little Fur Family." Bulletin of the Children's Book Center: 5(3). Chicago: Center for Children's Books, University of Chicago, 1951. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/12400
Goodwin, Polly. "Book Wrapped in Fur for Child to Cuddle." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 24 Nov. 1946, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Goodwin, Polly. "New Editions of the Old Favorites." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 11 Nov. 1951, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Kirkus Reviews. “Little Fur Family.” 9 Oct. 1946. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/margaret-wise-brown-20/little-fur-family/> Accessed 26 October 2010.
Kirkus Reviews. “Little Fur Family.” 5 Sep. 1951. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/margaret-wise-brown-28/little-fur-family-2/> Accessed 26 October 2010.
"Kirkus Reviews History." <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/about/history/> Accessed 1 December 2010.
Marcus, Leonard. Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon. Boston: Beacon. (1992).
"Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)." Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Gerard J. Senick. Vol. 10. Detroit: Gale Research, 1986. 37-69. Literature Criticism Online. Gale. University Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 27 October 2010
"Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)." Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 107. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005. 51-85. Literature Criticism Online. Gale. University Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 27 October 2010
Nordstrom, Ursula. Dear Genius: the letters of Ursula Nordstrom. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (1998).
"Brown, Margaret Wise. Little Fur Family." Bulletin of the Children's Book Center: 5(3). Chicago: Center for Children's Books, University of Chicago, 1951. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/12400
Goodwin, Polly. "Book Wrapped in Fur for Child to Cuddle." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 24 Nov. 1946, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Goodwin, Polly. "New Editions of the Old Favorites." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 11 Nov. 1951, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Kirkus Reviews. “Little Fur Family.” 9 Oct. 1946. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/margaret-wise-brown-20/little-fur-family/> Accessed 26 October 2010.
Kirkus Reviews. “Little Fur Family.” 5 Sep. 1951. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/margaret-wise-brown-28/little-fur-family-2/> Accessed 26 October 2010.
"Kirkus Reviews History." <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/about/history/> Accessed 1 December 2010.
Marcus, Leonard. Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon. Boston: Beacon. (1992).
"Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)." Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Gerard J. Senick. Vol. 10. Detroit: Gale Research, 1986. 37-69. Literature Criticism Online. Gale. University Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 27 October 2010
"Margaret Wise Brown (1910-1952)." Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 107. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005. 51-85. Literature Criticism Online. Gale. University Library, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 27 October 2010
Nordstrom, Ursula. Dear Genius: the letters of Ursula Nordstrom. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (1998).
Bibliography of reviews
Becker, May L. "Little Fur Family." New York Herald Tribune Weekly Book Review. 1946 Oct. 28. p.8.
"Brown, Margaret Wise. Little Fur Family." Bulletin of the Children's Book Center: 5(3). Chicago: Center for Children's Books, University of Chicago, 1951. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/12400
Buell, Ellen. "Books for Younger Readers.” New York Times (1923-Current file) 20 Oct. 1946, ProQuest Historical Newspapers New York Times (1851-2007) w/ Index (1851-1993), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Goodwin, Polly. "Book Wrapped in Fur for Child to Cuddle." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 24 Nov. 1946, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Goodwin, Polly. "New Editions of the Old Favorites." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963) 11 Nov. 1951, ProQuest Historical Newspapers Chicago Tribune (1849 - 1987), ProQuest. Web. 27 Oct. 2010.
Kirkus Reviews. “Little Fur Family.” 9 Oct. 1946. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/margaret-wise-brown-20/little-fur-family/> Accessed 26 October 2010.
Kirkus Reviews. “Little Fur Family.” 5 Sep. 1951. <http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/childrens-books/margaret-wise-brown-28/little-fur-family-2/> Accessed 26 October 2010.
Lindquist, Jennie D. & Andrews, Siri M. "Little Fur Family." Horn Book Magazine 27, no 5. (September-October 1951): 319-320.
