When We Were Free to Be: Looking Back at a Children’s Classic and the Difference It Made

“An unprecedented insiders’ view by the original creators, as well as accounts by activists and educators who changed the landscape of childhood in schools, homes, toy stores, and libraries nationwide.” — Forces of Geek

“Readers familiar with the original record or book, both still available, and researchers interested in social, gender, and media studies will appreciate this work.” — Library Journal

“Like any compilation, some entries are more compelling than others, but overall I really liked the extremely broad approach, ranging from behind-the-scenes accounts of the original production to critiques of how well the material has held up in terms of the changing social values. Anyone interested in nonsexist child rearing or the history of women’s liberation should pick this up.” ― Sarah Holt, Children’s Book Buyer, Left Bank Books, St. Louis

“Recommended. All levels/libraries.” — CHOICE

“[A] thoughtful, nuanced work of scholarship. . . . The essays engage Free to Be from a diverse array of perspectives, situate it in a clear and compelling historical context, and bring to bear satisfying cultural analysis and cultural criticism.” — H-Childhood

“Important, rousing, and thought-provoking.” — The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth

“How wonderful it is to see the paths taken by the younger contributors to this book — the ones who were children when Free to Be was first released. Reading about their journeys delighted and inspired me.” — Marlo Thomas, from the Prologue

“A moving reminder that the women’s movement was and is ardently pro-child. These fascinating reminiscences and timely essays about what still needs doing to make our children truly ‘free to be’ will have you singing the songs again — or discovering the joy of learning them.” — Stephanie Coontz, author of A Strange Stirring: the Feminine Mystique and American Women at the Dawn of the 1960s

“A revolutionary document breaks with the past, yes, but it also exposes the former taken-for-grantedness of the world it’s displacing. Free to Be was a declaration of independence for children’s dreams, unshackled by archaic stereotypes that had once seemed timeless truths. That it is seen by some today as obvious or naive is because it so utterly supplanted the previous mindset. This marvelous collection reminds us of that paradigm shift, still gently iconoclastic, while reminding us how far we have yet to go.” — Michael Kimmel, author of The Gendered Society

“Like the children’s classic that inspired it, When We Were Free to Be is a groundbreaking cultural critique wrapped in an inspiring, funny, and creative package. It’s filled with incisive reflections on the long-lasting impact of Free to Be and the legacy of feminism. Nothing like it exists.” — Christina Baker Kline, author of novels and nonfiction books, including Bird in Hand

“Like the children’s classic that inspired it, When We Were Free to Be is a groundbreaking cultural critique wrapped in an inspiring, funny, and creative package. It’s filled with incisive reflections on the long-lasting impact of Free to Be and the legacy of feminism. Nothing like it exists.” — Christina Baker Kline, author of novels and nonfiction books, including Bird in Hand