The article explores the historical and ongoing debate regarding the content children should be exposed to in literature. It examines concerns surrounding moral development influenced by literature, as expressed by various figures since the post-Civil War era. With the growth of children's literature and public libraries, the question of how children's exposure to stories shapes their character and intellect has been a continuing theme. The article emphasizes the necessity of providing children with complex narratives rather than simplified tales to prepare them for literary appreciation in adulthood.
In 1902, librarian Hiller C. Wellman was convinced that a novel could irrevocably change a child's morals, which raises the question of literature's impact on youth.
C. M. Hewins in 1888 argued against oversimplifying stories for children, stating that watered-down tales would leave them unprepared to appreciate great originals later.
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