Bandontwerp voor: Felicie Jehu e.a., Het reuzenboek voor onze kleintjes, 1937 before 1937

Miep de Feijter designed this cover in 1937 for a children's book titled "The Giant Book for Our Little Ones," amidst a period of social change and growing awareness of childhood development. This cheerful, colorful illustration invites us to consider the cultural values being transmitted to children during the interwar period. De Feijter presents an image of childhood centered on learning and innocence, but it also subtly reflects the era's notions of gender and class. Note the two children sharing a book, sitting together on a chair. The boy looks inquisitively at the book, while the girl smiles knowingly. This might reflect contemporary attitudes towards male inquisitiveness versus female confidence. The act of reading together stages a moment of shared learning, but also perhaps a lesson in social conduct. As we observe these children absorbed in their giant book, consider the power of literature to shape young minds and reflect the values of their time.