Tagged Children's Literature Research Collection
Snow-Drop: A Märchen, a Mouse, and a Mystery
The exhibition Into the Night features two paintings by N. C. Wyeth, The Admiral's Ghost and Snow-Drop . The first's title is somewhat explanatory ( It's a ghost! ), but the second is more confusing. Who or what is…
Advancing African-American Education: The Helen Adele Whiting Collection
Helen Adele Johnson Whiting (1885 – 1959) was a trailblazer in the education of African-American students, particularly those in rural areas of the South. Her education from Columbia University, Howard University, and several…
Spotlight: The Letter People
For the last year, the shared offices of the Children's Literature Research Collection and the Map Collection have had a consistent litmus test for visitors. When a new visitor enters (either a researcher or a staff member),…
The Human Who Was Amazed by "The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man"
In 1973, author Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) wrote The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man , a comical fantasy novel about a housecat who is magically transformed by his wizard-owner into a human. The story is everything you'd…
Profiles in Literature
The Free Library of Philadelphia has some wonderful resources for people researching the history of children's literature in America. With just a library card , several databases are available to help you learn more about the…
Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building
Mapping Imagination: The Art of World-Building opens Monday, March 6 on the Third Floor of Parkway Central Library and has been extended to run through August 31, 2023. Whether real or imaginary, maps guide travelers, define…
Children's Book Week & the Free Library
From May 2nd to May 8th, the country will be celebrating Children's Book Week , an annual celebration that promotes the joy of reading to children and young people. The event began a little over 100 years ago when Franklin K.…
Grip: A Poem, Book, and Raven
Updated Wednesday, December 15, 2021 4:20 p.m. One of the most popular attractions of the Free Library's Rare Book Department is Grip the Raven, the late lamented pet of author Charles Dickens. A few years ago, we shared Grip's…
For the Greatest Number: The New Deal Revisited
by Laura S. and Caitlin G. It’s been ninety years since the crisis of the Great Depression inspired the New Deal’s government investment and aid. But it’s not just history. The country is again facing a choice: What do…
Frank Stephens, Jr.: A Free Library Legacy
When Frank Stephens, Jr., passed away in March at the age of 89, many mourned the loss of a friend and colleague. Others were hearing about Frank for the first time. And it was an opportunity for all of us at the Free Library to learn…
#SpecialCollectionsAtHome
The Free Library of Philadelphia is home to a myriad of Special Collections . Since mid-March, we have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that those of us who work with the Special Collections, are unable to work…
Celebrate Preservation Week at the Free Library!
Preservation Week is an annual celebration that began in 2012 with the American Library Association and is celebrated in libraries, museums, and households around the country. The theme for this year is Preserving Oral Histories , and…
The Rights and Wrongs of Social Distancing
by Karin S. and Chris B. Social Distancing can be a challenge! It seems like the rules of what you should and shouldn't do are always changing. To help you learn* about the right and wrong ways to do it, a team of Special…
#ColorOurCollections: Creating Art with the Free Library's Digital Archive
Do you remember that scene at the beginning of Tangled where Rapunzel completes a day's worth of tasks before breakfast? Yeah, that's a lot less funny now. But if the school assignments are done and your Netflix…
Remembering Tomie DePaola (1934 - 2020)
Tomie dePaola (1934 - 2020) knew how to tell a story. In person, he could keep you spellbound with his stories. His eyes would twinkle and he knew just the right moment to pause and let a joke or a witty observation hit and…
Window Birding
With the current quarantine for Covid-19 affecting Pennsylvania, many parents are looking for fun, educational activities for their children. One activity worth exploring is window birding . Due to the seasonal change, birds around the…
There's a Rumbly in My Tumbly
Grab your honey pot, ‘cause it’s National Winnie the Pooh Day this upcoming Saturday, January 18! Author Alan Alexander Milne ’s birthday is also January 18, and for good reason, there is a holiday made in his stead.…
Our Five Senses - A Conversation with Author Jen Bryant
Our Five Senses , a new exhibition in Parkway Central Library 's Dietrich Gallery opened earlier this year, and we had the honor of sitting down with some of the authors and illustrators who appear in the show. This month, we…
Our Five Senses - A Conversation with Book Artist Eriko Takahashi
Our Five Senses , a new exhibition in Parkway Central Library's Dietrich Gallery opened last month, and we have the honor of sitting down with some of the authors and illustrators who appear in the show. This month,…
Take a Free Family Tour of Our Five Senses, a Fully-Interactive Exhibition
Take a free tour of Our 5 Senses , a fully-interactive exhibition that connects the science of the senses with the mind and the literary experience. Tours begin at 3:00 p.m.and finish at 3:45 p.m. Visitors may view…