Tag Archives: cotsen children’s library

Tiny Treasures

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The Doll’s Library : Book [1-6] (1802). The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

Last week, I blogged about “Miniature Worlds: An Artistic Collaboration of Tiny Libraries,” our beautiful exhibition of twelve original miniature libraries created by local artists. Today, I’ll be sharing the event and special collections we hosted in tandem with the exhibit, including some amazing kid-created book art.

As visitors entered, they first encountered the exhibit case with the miniature worlds libraries, which they were free to examine and enjoy. There were definitely lots of finger, chin, and nose prints on the glass after the event!

Image courtesy of Hope Van Cleaf

Inside the gallery, the theme continued with “teeny tiny reads” (i.e. several sets of ZURI Mini Brands Books with magnifying glasses) and a drawing to win one of four miniature goodie baskets – a tiny early reader library, a personal library stamp kit, a miniature bookshelf that doubles as an office supply holder, and a blank version of the diorama box we gave our local artists, so kids could have a go at creating their own miniature world (that last one was definitely the most popular)!

At the back of our gallery was mini book decorating, where kids received a 2.5″ x 4″ journal and then used various supplies (washi tape, gold stickers, glitter markers, stencils, star stickers, and more) to decorate the book. We also had bookmarks handy for decorating as well.

The creativity was definitely flowing as kids designed their books! One ingenious young man made his books even smaller by cutting the journal in half to make two smaller books. Brilliant!

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Scattered throughout the book decorating activity were exhibit signs featuring some of the amazing tiny historical treasures we have in Cotsen’s special collections. A big shout out to Katie for delving into the vaults and sharing!

The Doll’s Library : Book [1-6] (1802). The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

Publisher John Marshall printed these miniature titles, typically around 50 mm (less than 2 inches) tall, in brightly colored cover boards. The various collections of books were often housed in doll-house-like bookcases, which became incredibly popular and spawned dozens of lackluster replicas.

Left: Bathing and Sleeping [洗澡和睡觉 Xi zao he shui jiao] (1961). Right: The Swallow and the Bumblebee [燕子和黄蜂 Yan zi he huang feng (1960). The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

These tiny accordion style books were published for Chinese children during the 1950s and 60s. Measuring less than 3.5 inches tall, the book’s small size was a less expensive way to print multiple copies of the books in full color. The accordion fold was a clever way for a child’s hands to learn to separate the pages rather than a normal single page book. This unique printing approach also demonstrated an adult’s expectation that a child would be able to easily read the story entirely on their own.

Le bijou des enfans: pour l’année 1817. The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

Cotsen’s copy of Le bijou des enfans (The Children’s Jewel) is accompanied by a real magnifying glass. Both are carefully housed together in a protective box designed to look like a leather bound book. Le bijou des enfans is just 28 mm (less than an inch) tall. Children may be able to hold and read this tiny book, but it is challenging for adult size fingers and hands!

 

 

 

Letters to Jack Ripley from Beatrix Potter (1909). The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

Beatrix Potter often wrote letters, some illustrated, to children she knew. Many of the charming drawings and stories she told in the picture letters were the inspiration for her beloved children’s books, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher. She also penned miniature letters to children using the voice of her animal characters. In 2020, Cotsen acquired this collection of little letters Potter wrote to Master Jack Ripley.

Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, Volume II (1744).
The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

Tommy Thumb’s Pretty Song Book, Vol. II is the oldest collection of English nursery rhymes known to exist. It is a miniature book that measures just three inches tall, and it was the sequel to the now-lost first volume printed earlier that same year. There are just two known copies of Volume II: Cotsen has one in its special collection and the other is at the British Library in London, England. The super rare tiny book has 40 nursery rhymes printed on pages that alternate between red and black ink. Some of the nursery rhymes are still popular today, such as “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and “Hickory Dickory Dock”.

The Bronte Castle Alphabet (1981). The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University

At just 3 cm (1.18 inches) tall, this tiny book is small enough it can be stashed inside of a leather-hinged walnut shell! The Bronte Press, who published this and many other miniature books, has been in business since 1977.

Miniature Worlds

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This spring, the Arts Council of Princeton and the Cotsen Children’s Library presented  “Miniature Worlds: An Artistic Collaboration of Tiny Libraries,” a unique and innovative exhibition of local artists. To begin, we gifted twelve creative individuals the same unpainted library diorama set…

Then, we invited them to create their own wild, wonderful, and whimsical libraries. From cozy nooks, to gorgeous collages of color, to clever twists on what a library is, the results are absolutely stunning.

The miniature libraries were displayed in Firestone Library at Princeton University, and celebrated at an accompanying event featuring activities and special collections that I will post about next week.

Below artists’ name is a link to their bio and/or vision statement. We would like to sincerely thank each and every person who was so generous with their time and talents. Thank you so much for creating such powerful and imaginative inspiration for future readers!

BRITTANY NORWOOD
Artist’s statement

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PARI HAZAVEH
Artist’s statement

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NISHANT THELAKKAT

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HANNAH HADLEY
Artist’s statement

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ARLENE GALE MILGRAM
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MAREN JOHNSON
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MICHELLE IGLESIAS – HOLLAND

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BETH KUSHNER
Artist’s statement

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SARAH REIFF CONELL
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GENEVA ANASTASIO
Artist’s statement

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META DUNKLY ARNOLD
Artist’s statement

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HOPE VAN CLEAF
Artist’s statement

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Have You Hugged Your Bread Today?

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We absolutely love when an author brings their talent and enthusiasm to our story time, but Pooja Makhijani scored an absolute first when she brought her personal starter to share along with her newest book, Bread is Love! Please enjoy my interview with Pooja later in the post, and at the very end, don’t miss a chance to enter an awesome little giveaway!

We read Bread is Love, written by Pooja Makhijani and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu (Roaring Book Press, 2026). It’s the weekend, which means it’s time for mama and her children to bake bread! With warmth and enthusiasm, we join the family through the entire process of bread making, from the oozy starter to a delicious fragrant loaf. There’s even a recipe in the back!

After she read her book, Pooja handed out stickers, pencils, and talked about the steps of bread making. Then she amazed us all by introducing a very special guest – “Mr. Willdoughby,” her 10 year-old starter. He smelled absolutely marvelous.

Wanting to get little bakers started on the right foot, we had them customize white aprons with fabric markers, and tucked a sample pouch of Model Magic “dough” into the pocket. Note the various bread-themed illustrations that bedecked some of the aprons.

There was a chunky croissant…

A fluffy muffin…

And a border of green croissants and blue baguettes!

After we finished our aprons, we were joined by a giant, extremely huggable, 30″ bread pillow. The hugging quickly evolved into an impromptu game of “Hug & Toss” which eventually became “Loaf Hide & Seek.” If you ever want to liven up a story time, by all means, introduce a giant bread pillow!

After the loaf was all hugged out, I caught up with Pooja to chat about her delightful work…

Hi Pooja! Please tell us a little bit about yourself!

By day, I manage communications and marketing strategy for the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, an academic department at Princeton University, and serve as co-editor of Princeton Int’l, an annual publication that highlights the University’s international initiatives and projects. Outside the office, I channel my creativity into baking and writing children’s literature! I’m the author of four books: Mama’s Saris, Bread Is Love, Together For Mama (June 2026), and Aunties (2027). My writing has also appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, WSJ.com, The Cut and Bon Appétit, among other outlets. A lifelong Garden Stater, I’m also a 2026 New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellow in prose.

How did this book come to be?

Bread baking entered my life during a difficult divorce a decade ago. What began as a coping mechanism grew into a grounding ritual, one that calmed my anxiety, deepened my connections with others, offered weekly sustenance, and nourished me creatively as both an artist and a photographer. During the pandemic, I took stock of the creative work I felt called to do. Telling a story about bread, and honoring everything it had come to represent for me, like science and self-care to sustenance and sharing, felt like the most natural place to begin.

In early drafts, I mapped out the mechanics of making a loaf—gathering ingredients, mixing, fermenting, shaping, and more. With time and my editor’s guidance, I wove into those early drafts the elements they lacked—and that became central to the book’s message: patience, adaptability, and attentiveness as essential baking skills; the way baking itself nurtures hope; and how bread, in all its forms, connects us across cultures.

Not to spoil your beautiful Author’s Note, but can you tell us about how you “bake in” the new year?

In 2016, I founded a new family tradition: my daughter and I “bake in” the new year. Each year, on December 31, we choose a bread recipe—cinnamon raisin bread, milk bread, brioche—and make sure that our loaf of bread emerges from the oven at the stroke of midnight. (We aren’t always successful in this regard; bread can be temperamental.) The bread then becomes breakfast on January 1, topped with runny yolks or slathered with jelly or dipped in olive oil. This rite steeped in togetherness and warmth and bounty, reminds us that life has seasons and that time is supposed to pass. It’s also delicious!

Please tell us about the distinguished Mr. Willdoughby.

I’ve been a Janeite since I was 12 years old. Pride and Prejudice was my favorite book as a teenager; as an adult, I reread Persuasion at least once a year. It’s customary for sourdough bakers to name their starters; “Mr. Willdoughby” is my humble homage to one of the greatest writers in the English language.

Mr. Willdoughby has been my steady companion for 10 years. Ironically, John Willoughby, his namesake, was not constant. But I do believe he genuinely loved Marianne Dashwood, and his confession showed real remorse. Despite his lack of steadiness and discipline, he meant well. He’s also not as slippery as Austen’s other scoundrels, like George Wickham or William Elliot. Mr. Willoughby was also very handsome, attentive, and passionate—the perfect qualities for a starter.

If you had to eat only ONE bread for the rest of your life, what would it be?

This is an impossible question! I would have to say naan with ghee, minced garlic, nigella seeds, and fresh coriander. My homemade naan have a crisp exterior and a pillowy core, a wonderful “chew,” a slight tang and a distinctive char, and best paired with rich, aromatic grilled meats and curries. I’m hungry now.

Giveaway alert! Readers who live in the United States can win a Bread is Love pencil and sticker set! Simple email cotsenevents@princeton.edu and tell us your favorite type of bread! Three winners will be randomly selected on May 26th 2026 and we’ll mail your prize to you! Good luck!