In 1912, a revolutionary chick cries, "Strike down the wall!" and liberates itself from the "egg state." In 1940, ostriches pull their heads out of the sand and unite to fight fascism. In 1972, Baby X grows up without a gender and is happy about it.

Rather than teaching children to obey authority, to conform, or to seek redemption through prayer, twentieth-century leftists encouraged children to question the authority of those in power. Tales for Little Rebels collects forty-three mostly out-of-print stories, poems, comic strips, primers, and other texts for children that embody this radical tradition. These pieces reflect the concerns of twentieth-century leftist movements, like peace, civil rights, gender equality, environmental responsibility, and the dignity of labor. They also address the means of achieving these ideals, including taking collective action, developing critical thinking skills, and harnessing the liberating power of the imagination.

Some of the authors and illustrators are familiar, including Lucille Clifton, Syd Hoff, Langston Hughes, Walt Kelly, Norma Klein, Munro Leaf, Julius Lester, Eve Merriam, Charlotte Pomerantz, Carl Sandburg, and Dr. Seuss. Others are relatively unknown today, but their work deserves to be remembered. (Each of the pieces includes an introduction and a biographical sketch of the author.) From the anti-advertising message of Johnny Get Your Money's Worth (and Jane Too)! (1938) to the entertaining lessons in ecology provided by The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo (1971), and Sandburg's mockery of war in Rootabaga Pigeons (1923), these pieces will thrill readers intrigued by politics and history — and anyone with a love of children's literature, no matter what age.

"A rarely discussed aspect of children's literature — the politics behind, or part, of a book's creation — has been thoroughly explored in this intelligent, enlightening, and fascinating account.... Every academic and public library should own a copy; every children's literature professor needs to read it; all children's book enthusiasts will want to share it with their colleagues." Anita Silvey, author of 100 Best Books for Children

"Sure, this is an important work. But it ain't stuffy. Mickenberg and Nel have created a book that fascinates and entertains. A must for any student of history or children's books." Lane Smith, author of John, Paul, George & Ben and illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man

"For those who want to understand a time when radicals could think of themselves as having a central place in U.S. culture, right down to science instruction; for those who cherish beautiful, playful, wistful and stark illustrations; for those who can use reminders, after horrors and defeats, of the bedrock ethical bases of socialism, for those who want to know where a Dr. Seuss came from, and what he was part of, and for those who still think the world could use more little and grown-up rebels, this is the book." David Roediger, University of Illinois, and author of How Race Survived U.S. History

"Mickenberg and Nel have switched on the power of radical children s literature to maximum wattage, revealing a rich, compelling tradition that deserves our attention. Creating an archive that will have authority and endurance, they have recovered stories encouraging children to engage with social, economic, and environment challenges and to become agents of change." Maria Tatar, Harvard University, and author of The Annotated Hans Christian Andersen

A rarely discussed aspect of children's literature — the politics behind a book's creation — has been thoroughly explored in this intelligent, enlightening, and fascinating account.

Sure, this is an important work. But it ain't stuffy. Mickenberg and Nel have created a book that fascinates and entertains. A must for any student of history or childrenas books.

--Lane Smith, author of John, Paul, George & Ben and illustrator of The Stinky Cheese Man

A rarely discussed aspect of children's literature — the politics behind, or part, of a book's creation — has been thoroughly explored in this intelligent, enlightening, and fascinating account. Even those who have spent a lifetime studying children's books will find incredible surprises, such as Walter Crane's Happy Valley or information about Lynd Ward's political activism. But the book is not merely a history; it is a very timely exploration of the appropriate inclusion of political/social content in children's books, and it provides examples of titles that succeed as literature and those in which politics overwhelm the story. Every academic and public library should own a copy; every children's literature professor needs to read it; all children's book enthusiasts will want to share it with their colleagues.

--Anita Silvey, author of 100 Best Books for Children

In 1912, a revolutionary chick cries Strike down the wall and liberates itself from the egg state. In 1940, ostriches pull their heads out of the sand and unite to fight fascism. In 1972, Baby X grows up without a gender and is happy about it.

Rather than teaching children to obey authority, to conform, or to seek redemption through prayer, twentieth-century leftists encouraged children to question the authority of those in power. Tales for Little Rebels collects forty-three mostly out-of-print stories, poems, comic strips, primers, and other texts for children that embody this radical tradition. These pieces reflect the concerns of twentieth-century leftist movements, like peace, civil rights, gender equality, environmental responsibility, and the dignity of labor. They also address the means of achieving these ideals, including taking collective action, developing critical thinking skills, and harnessing the liberating power of the imagination.

Some of the authors and illustrators are familiar, including Lucille Clifton, Syd Hoff, Langston Hughes, Walt Kelly, Norma Klein, Munro Leaf, Julius Lester, Eve Merriam, Charlotte Pomerantz, Carl Sandburg, and Dr. Seuss. Others are relatively unknown today, but their work deserves to be remembered. (Each of the pieces includes an introduction and a biographical sketch of the author.) From the anti-advertising message of Johnny Get Your Money's Worth (and Jane Too) (1938) to the entertaining lessons in ecology provided by The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo (1971), and Sandburg's mockery of war in Rootabaga Pigeons (1923), these pieces will thrill readers intrigued by politics, history, and anyone with a love of children's literature, no matter what age.