A Wondrous menagerie Book

Here are some of the most imaginative and distinctly American fantasy stories written during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. American children's authors experimented with many kinds of fantasy, but the animal story, which crossed social and cultural boundaries, was their best vehicle. Breaking away from European models, it featured American animals and dealt with such uniquely American concerns as westward expansion. Some authors turned to Native American and African American folktales for inspiration, fashioning their stories from indigenous motifs that showcased the true cultural diversity of the country. Several writers in this anthology rank among America's most important authors. Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Joel Chandler Harris are here - along with Frank Stockton, Mary Mapes Dodge, Zitkala-Sa, a Dakota Indian, and others. Editor Mark West contributes a general introduction and headnotes to each of the fourteen selections, setting each story in a literary context for teachers of children's literature, librarians, and anyone interested in American literature and writing for children.