Books for children are an index of changing social values and often have dated values, revealing prejudices about race and gender. They are a useful gauge for policy makers of changing social values. They continue to be hotly disputed as to their appropriateness for school libraries.
One succinct comment by Evie Blad on this can represent what has all the signs of being an endless debate:
“Around the country, school librarians have found themselves on the front lines of the culture wars. As states pass laws that restrict teaching of “controversial” or “divisive” subjects, school libraries have seen calls to remove books about issues like race, gender, and sexuality from their shelves.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, for example, wrote to his state’s school boards association this month, saying districts should remove ‘pornographic or obscene material’ from school library shelves. That letter came after a state senator launched an inquiry into whether schools shelve a list 850 books titles about issues like transgender identity, AIDS, the history of the abortion debate, and racial justice…But school librarians have a responsibility to assemble collections that represent all students, helping them to learn about themselves and the world around them, said Jennisen Lucas, the president of the American Association of School Librarians.”
Westphalia Press offers titles representing a whole variety of issues and eras, in keeping with the contention that bibliography has a place in policy analysis and often buttresses the arguments for policy decisions. If you use some of our books please tell us how and perhaps we can publish your use.

Andy Gordon
by Horatio Alger, introduction by Dr. Wallace Boston Purchase The young Horatio Alger heroes often sold newspapers or delivered telegrams, a reminder of how…
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Dan, The Newsboy
by Horatio Alger, introduction by Dr. Wallace Boston Purchase The young Horatio Alger heroes often sold newspapers or delivered telegrams, a reminder of how…
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Pomona’s Travels: A Series of Letters to the Mistress of Rudder Grange from Her Former Handmaiden
by Frank R. Stockton (Author), A. B. Frost (Illustrator) Purchase Francis Richard Stockton was born April 5, 1834, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. He was an esteemed writer, using…
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The Navy Boys on Lake Ontario: The Story of Two Boys and Their Adventures in the War of 1812
by James Otis Purchase The Navy Boys was a popular series which offered children adventure stories, often with a historical background. Author James Otis,…
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Dave Darrin and the German Submarines
by H. Irving Hancock Purchase through Amazon Harrie Irving Hancock was born on January 16, 1868 in Massachusetts, passing away on March 12, 1922.…
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Doctor Rabbit and Tom Wildcat
by Thomas Clark Hinkle Purchase through Amazon Thomas Clark Hinkle wrote many children’s books, such as Snowy Tail, A Champion Jack Rabbit, Doctor Rabbit…
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The Ranger Boys Outwit the Timber Thieves
by Claude A. Labelle Purchase through Amazon In 1922, the A. L. Burt Company developed The Ranger Boy Series, which was aimed at boys…
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The Magic Casement: An Anthology of Fairy Poetry
by Alfred Noyes Purchase through Amazon This cleverly illustrated volume by Alfred Noyes offers a literary selection of poetry that reference fairies in all…
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The Jester’s Sword: How Aldebaran, the King’s Son, Wore the Sheathed Sword of Conquest
by Annie Fellows Johnston Purchase through Amazon Annie Fellows Johnston, born in 1863, grew up in McCutchanville, Indiana as Annie Julia Fellows. Her father,…
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Aunt Jane’s Nieces in The Red Cross
by Edith Van Dyne Purchase through Amazon This work, although credited to Edith Van Dyne, was actually written by L. Frank Baum. Although his…
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The Girls of Central High at Basketball, or, The Great Gymnasium Mystery
by Gertrude W. Morrison Purchase through Amazon The Girls of Central High was a seven book series published between 1914-19, of which this is…
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The Dog and the Child and the Ancient Sailor Man
by Robert Alexander Wason Purchase through Amazon Robert Alexander Wason was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1874. He attended high school, later marrying his…
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The Town Crier, to Which is Added, The Children With the Indian-Rubber Ball
by Florence Montgomery Purchase through Amazon In 1843, Florence Montgomery was born into very comfortable surroundings in Chelsea, London. Her family was of wealth,…
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Miscellaneous Conjuring Tricks, From ‘Modern Magic’
by Professor Hoffman Purchase through Amazon Magic is, by nature, a rather secretive field. One of the first people to write in detail about…
Keep readingIndividual Cookery: 357 Recipes
by H. Mabel Hutchings Purchase through Amazon This collection of old recipes was aimed at those cooking for one, either for the self, or…
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Patty Gray’s Journey from Boston to Baltimore: Stories for Children
by Caroline H. Dall Purchase through Amazon Caroline Healy Dall (1822-1912) was a Transcendentalist who fought tirelessly for women’s rights. She was born in…
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American Indian Fairy Tales: To Young America from the Oldest Americans
by W. T. Larned, Illustrated by John Rae Purchase through Amazon This imaginative work is an adaption of stories collected by Henry R. Schoolcraft,…
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Letters from Uncle Henry: Being His Adventures with Children, Dogs, Fairies, Ambitious Pigs and Others
by Henry B. Mason Purchase through Amazon Notable for his curiously upturned eyebrows, Uncle Henry offers his many nieces, nephews and other interested children…
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The Fire-Fly’s Lovers: And Other Fairy Tales of Old Japan
by William Elliot Griffis Purchase through Amazon William Elliot Griffis (1843-1928) served in the Union Army during the Civil War, then graduated from Rutgers…
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Joe Strong, the Boy Wizard
by Vance Barnum Purchase through Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace Joe Strong was a favorite hero and could ride any horse, juggle most anything,…
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The Magic of Oz
by L. Frank Baum Purchase through Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace When Kiki Aru discovers the magic word “PYRZQXGL” can transform him into anything…
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A Young Volunteer in Cuba: Or, Fighting for the Single Star
by Edward Stratemeyer, Illustrated by A. B. Shute Purchase on Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace A Young Volunteer in Cuba is a work of…
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Sturdy and Strong: or How George Andrews Made His Way
by G. A. Henty Purchase through Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace George Alfred Henty (1832-1902) was born at Trumpington near Cambridge and attended Gonville and…
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Schooldays of Fred Harley: Or, Rivals for all Honors
by Arthur M. Winfield Purchase through Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace Arthur M. Winfield was the pseudonym of Edward L. Stratemeyer, who was an incredibly…
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John Hawke’s Fortune: A Story of Monmouth’s Rebellion
by G. A. Henty Purchase through Amazon | Purchase through CreateSpace George Alfred Henty (1832-1902) was born at Trumpington near Cambridge and attended Gonville and…
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Captain Bayley’s Heir: A Tale of the Gold Fields of California
by G. A. Henty Purchase through Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace George Alfred Henty (1832-1902) was born at Trumpington near Cambridge and attended Gonville and…
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Indian and Scout: A Tale of the Gold Rush to California
By F. S. Brereton, Illustrated by Cyrus Cuneo Purchase on Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace Frederick Sadleir Brereton (1852-1957) was a prolific author of children’s…
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Harvard Episodes
by Charles Macomb Flandrau Purchase on Amazon | Purchase on CreateSpace When this book first appeared in 1897, the student newspaper the Harvard Crimson, was…
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The Boy Chums Cruising in Florida Waters
by Wilmer M. Ely with a new preface by Robert Rich Jr. Wilmer M. Ely introduced whole generations of American youth to the adventures of…
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Opportunity and Horatio Alger: Horatio Alger’s Mark Mason’s Triumph
Purchase through Amazon Edited and Introduced by Wallace Boston Horatio Alger created youthful heroes whose persistence and pluck triumphed over enormous odds, often…
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Careers in the Face of Challenge: Horatio Alger’s Telegraph Boy
Purchase through Amazon | Download FREE Kindle version Edited and Introduced by Wallace Boston The young Horatio Alger heroes often sold newspapers or delivered…
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Paddle Your Own Canoe
Purchase through Amazon Edited and Introduced by Wallace Boston The protagonists in Horatio Alger stories are often, if one may play on a metaphor,…
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