In recent years literature for children has seen a tremendous surge in the public consciousness, and many concerned adults have spoken out against what they perceive as a growing trend towards "darkness" in children's books. Sex, drinking, drugs, violence, death and even magic are often cited as dangerous themes from which young readers should be protected. However, if one looks at the history of writing for children, it becomes clear that those elements have been present from the very beginning. This exhibition will explore the vast wonderland of children's literature, shedding new light on the shadows lurking in the rabbit holes.
M.T. Anderson, an American author of picture books, pre-teen books, and young-adult novels, delivered the opening lecture for Wardrobes and Rabbit Holes: A Dark History of Children's Literature on November 7, 2012.
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