June 18, 2013
11 covers of Japanese children’s textbooks, 1920s
by Kirsten Reach
Will Schofield recently shared a whimsical assortment of 1920s covers from Japanese children’s textbooks on his blog, “50 Watts” (formerly “A Journey Round My Skull”).
The series was called Complete Works for Elementary School Students, and though the focus is on nonfiction, a few classic novels are included, like Alice in Wonderland. From Schofield’s blog:
I think the series ran to 80+ books—the NDL has digitized 37 volumes published between 1927 and 1929. The books covered many topics—Western classics, Japanese history, fairy tales, science, religion…. Many volumes were edited, translated, or written by Kan Kikuchi (菊池 寛).
How do you make subjects like engineering and geography appealing to young children? With color, animals, ships, and lots of gold, it seems. A few favorites are in the slideshow below. Who knew Physiology and Hygiene would have such elegant end papers?
Previously, Schofield has showcased covers from Poland in the 1970s and Ireland in the 1930s.
End papers for Children’s Physiology and Hygiene, 1928.
Foreign History, 1929.
Physical Chemistry, 1928. Signed “BIN.”
Story of Insects, 1928. Signed “SA.”
Alice In Wonderland, translated by Akutagawa, 1927.
Robinson Crusoe, 1927.
Story of an Airplane, 1928. Signed “Sen.”
Animal Botany for Children, 1929.
Engineering for Children, 1929.
Story of the Army and Land Battles, 1929.
Story of Astronomy and Minerals, 1929.
Kirsten Reach is an editor at Melville House.