Evenings at Home facts for kids
Title page from a later (1858) edition.
|
|
| Author | John Aikin and Anna Letitia Barbauld |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Longman and Co. et al. |
|
Publication date
|
1796 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
Evenings at Home, or The Juvenile Budget Opened (1792–1796) is a collection of six books filled with stories. These books were written by John Aikin and his sister Anna Laetitia Barbauld. It is one of the first examples of books made just for children.
A famous children's writer from the Victorian era, Mary Louisa Molesworth, said that almost every family had this book when she was a child. She remembered that everyone loved reading it. The authors explained the book's title in their introduction. They described how a family called Fairborne would gather for evening fun.
...Some of them [the Fairborne family] liked to write stories. They would often create a fable, a story, or a dialogue. These were made for young people to understand. It was always a special treat when they wrote something new. Mrs. Fairborne carefully kept these writings in a box. She held the key to this box. No one was allowed to take them out until all the children were together for the holidays. Then, one of the evening games was to rummage the budget, as they called it. One of the youngest children would reach into the box. They would pull out the next paper and bring it to the living room. An older child would then read it clearly. After everyone thought about it, another young messenger would get a new paper. This continued until the parents decided it was enough. Other children were also invited to these readings. The Budget of Beechgrove Hall became quite well-known in the area. So, its owners were finally asked to share it with everyone...
The book was later translated into French. A writer named W. S. Gilbert used the title for one of his plays, Eyes and No Eyes (1875). This play was based on one of the stories from the collection. Also, Ichchharam Desai translated these stories into the Gujarati language. His version was called Balkono Anand (1895).
Contents
What is Evenings at Home About?
Evenings at Home is a collection of short stories, fables, and dialogues. It was created to teach children important lessons in a fun way. The stories cover many different topics. They include science, history, and good manners.
Who Wrote This Book?
The book was written by a brother and sister team. John Aikin was a doctor and writer. His sister, Anna Laetitia Barbauld, was a well-known writer and teacher. They both believed that children's books should be both entertaining and educational.
Why Was This Book Important?
This book was very important for children's literature. Before this book, many children's books were only for teaching lessons. Evenings at Home showed that books could be fun and teach at the same time. It helped create a new way of writing for young readers.
How Was the Book Used?
The book was designed to be read aloud in families. The idea was for children to learn and discuss the stories together. This made reading a shared activity for the whole family. It was like a game where children would pick a new story from a "budget" box.
What Kind of Stories Are Inside?
The stories in Evenings at Home are very varied. Some are about nature and animals. Others teach about different jobs or how things work. There are also stories that help children understand right from wrong. Each story was short and easy for young minds to follow.
Learning Through Stories
The authors used simple language to explain complex ideas. For example, a story might explain how a clock works. Another might teach about different types of plants. This made learning enjoyable and easy to understand for children.
Legacy and Influence
Evenings at Home became very popular. It was read by many generations of children. It also influenced other writers to create similar educational and entertaining books for kids. Its ideas about learning through stories are still used today.
How It Inspired Others
The book's success showed publishers that there was a big market for children's books. It encouraged more authors to write for young audiences. It also helped shape what people thought a good children's book should be.
A Lasting Impact on Children's Books
Even today, Evenings at Home is remembered as a classic. It helped set the stage for modern children's literature. It proved that books for kids could be both fun to read and full of valuable lessons.
Images for kids
-
Frontispiece to the 1858 Longman and Co. et al. edition.
See also
In Spanish: Evenings at Home para niños
