An image from La civilité puérile et honnête, expliquée par l’oncle Eugène, illustrated by Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel.
Case III:
"Courtesy, Manners, and Politeness: A Sampler of Children’s Literature, 14th Century-1963."
The dust jacket for What do You Say, Dear?, written in 1958 by Sesyle Joslin, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak.
Some classic children's books are as well-known for their illustration as as they are for their stories. One of the earliest illustrated children's books is Orbis Pictus, a German publication from 1698 that features a number of woodcuts alongside educational lessons. The tradition of illustrating these books grew out of the desire to cater to the visual learning styles of young children, and are often as memorable as the lessons themselves. Some of the more famous illustrators include Quentin Blake, who is best known for his work in the publications of Roald Dahl, Dr. Seuss, and Maurice Sendak. Maurice Sendak's magnum opus, Where the Wild Things Are (1963), was awarded a Caldecott Medal in 1964 for achievement in illustration. It has since been voted amongst the "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children" and the 'top picture books,' as well as earning numerous other accolades, from a number of journals.
Though not widely known to modern readers, Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel was a major figure of 19th century children's illustration. De Monvel is unique for being classically trained, having descended from a long line of artists and studying at such institutions as the École des Beaux-Arts and the Julian Academy. Though he intended to work exclusively in the 'high art' of watercolor and historic painting, he turned to illustration to support his family. De Monvel's work is seen in La civilité puérile et honnête, expliquée par l’oncle Eugène (published in English as Good Children and Bad: A Book for Both), which he also designed in its entirety. It includes his signature illustrative style, which was highly regarded for its muted color palette, sophisticated simplicity, and ability to capture the character of children, as well as for the manner in which it frames the text.
![A quote from 'The Babee's Book,' in which Dr. Furnivall instructs young women on behavior, reading, "The man that shall thee wed before God with a ring, Love thou him and honour most of earthly thing. Meekly thou him answer and not as [a shrew], So mayst thou stake his mood, and be his dear darling."](http://s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/4697/images/PS_Babees_Book.jpg)
An image from Where the Wild Things Are, written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
Significant ink has been spilled concerning how children ought to behave. A reflection of ever-changing customs, children's courtesy books emerged as early as the 14th century. Many of these books were intended to be read by adults who sought help in educating their children, but others were designed for children themselves. One of the better known examples of this phenomenon is Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. The book uses whimsy and illustration to subtly teach children about managing their emotions and parental love. Another beloved classic, Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham, uses the main character's eventual acceptance, and enjoyment of, green eggs and ham to teach early readers about trying new foods.
The title page for A Father's Legacy, which contains guidelines that the author wishes his daughters to follow.
The frontispiece illustration in The Book of Fun, etched by author Percy Cruikshank.
The cover of Table Etiquette for Children, depicting a number of tidy, well-dressed children.
The title page for The Polite Present; or Manual of Good Manners.
A page from Manners Can Be Fun, which is a basic primer in behavior for early readers.
From La Civilité puérile et honnête, an illustration reading "castigat ridendo mores," a Latin phrase usually adapted to mean "one corrects customs by laughing at them."
