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

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. (20110801) Michelle Ann Abate Examines A Variety Of Texts That Offer Information, Ideology, And Even Instructions On How To Raise Kids Right, Not Just Figuratively, But Politically. Highlighting The Works Of William Bennett, Lynne Cheney, Bill O'reilly, And Others, She Brings Together Such Diverse Fields As Cultural Studies, Literary Criticism, Political Science, Childhood Studies, Brand Marketing, And The Cult Of Celebrity. --from Publisher Description. Give Me Some Of The Old-time Reading : William Bennett's The Book Of Virtues And The Rise Of Right-leaning Literature For Young Readers -- I Speak For The National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association : Truax, The Anti-green Movement, And The Corporate Production Of Children's Literature -- Not Just Christianity, But The Christian Right : The Battle Over Public Education And The American Sunday School Movement In The Left Behind Series For Kids -- Patriot Acts : Fighting The War On Terror Via The Canon Wars In Lynne Cheney's Picture Books -- Pundit Knows Best : The Self-help Boom, Brand Marketing, And The O'reilly Factor For Kids -- One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State : Bringing Partisan Politics To Picture Books In Katharine Debrecht's Help! Mom! Series. Michelle Ann Abate. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 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. Highlighting the works of William Bennett, Lynne Cheney, Bill O'Reilly, and others on the American political right, 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.< Raising Your Kids Right dispels the dismissive attitude that narratives for young readers are unworthy of serious political study. Michelle Ann Abate examines a variety of texts that offer information, ideology, and even instructions on how to raise kids right, not just figuratively, but politically. Highlighting the works of William Bennett, Lynne Cheney, Bill O'Reilly, and others, she brings together such diverse fields as cultural studies, literary criticism, political science, childhood studies, brand marketing, and the cult of celebrity. - Publisher. 9780813549958-1......Page 1 9780813549958-2......Page 3 9780813549958-3......Page 6 9780813549958-4......Page 33 9780813549958-5......Page 58 9780813549958-6......Page 84 9780813549958-7......Page 107 9780813549958-8......Page 131 9780813549958-9......Page 157 9780813549958-10......Page 179 9780813549958-11......Page 194 9780813549958-12......Page 208 9780813549958-13......Page 232 9780813549958-14......Page 245