The Doll’s Library : Book [1-6] (1802). The Treasures of the Cotsen Children’s Library, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University
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!
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
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
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.
Q: In the background of your story time photos, I always see amazing stuff like a cross section of a house, a big wall of book, and a giant tree??? What is that? Can you give us a tour?
The Cotsen Library opened its doors in 1997. Back then, its public gallery looked a little different. But in 2002, architect 
I love the inlay on the floor of the garden. Not only is it beautiful, it also made a great fire pit for a 
Past the garden, you find yourself in a little house. Stretched across one side of the house is a fireplace.
See the black railing on the top of the house? That marks the perimeter of a little hidden room. You climb the bookshelf stairs on the left and unlock a trap door to gain access to the room. We currently use it for office storage. But sometimes, I climb up there to launch 
The bookshelves that flank the fireplace are stocked with wooden books. Many of them have tongue-in-cheek titles, courtesy of the Cotsen staff.
Here are just a few titles:
Opposite the fireplace is the “study.” Here you’ll find bookshelves and big, squashy leather coaches. This is also the chapter book section of the gallery.
Over the years, I’ve used the bookshelves for hiding things during scavenger hunts, or for holding items like this orange mailbox during a 
Outside the house, in the back of the gallery, is our bridge, wishing well, and bonsai tree.
The bridge is prime toddler territory. They love to test out their walking skills on its gentle slope.
But the bridge also comes in handy when you need a 
The wishing well is next to the bridge…
There’s an entrance to the well on the right – it’s shaped like a jagged crack. Look closely in the above photo and you’ll see the water “escaping” from the right side of well and flowing under the bridge. It ends in this cute little koi pond.
We’ve certainly done a lot of fishing and splashing in the pond at story time. It’s also a popular location for Vikings and Pirates to search for 
In the back right-hand corner of the gallery is our giant bonsai tree.
The tree has two floors. The ground floor can comfortably fit a family or a group of kids. There are 3 alcoves for picture book storage, and big puffy floor pillows.
When our 
Curling along the back of the tree is a staircase that leads to a small upstairs room and another pair of comfortable pillows.
Both tree rooms have graffiti carved into the walls by literary characters. Here’s my favorite:
The back left-hand corner of Bookscape isn’t the most glamorous area of our gallery, but it’s certainly the place closet to my heart. It’s our program area.
This is where the magic and the mess happens.
There are lots of other little touches and surprises in our gallery, but I won’t reveal them all. You’ve got to come and discover them for yourself! Ten years ago, when I was interviewing for my job at Cotsen, I walked into the gallery and was overwhelmed with emotion. Yes, I had seen pictures of Bookscape online, but they didn’t prepare me for what it felt like to be fully immersed in the gallery. I silently swore that if I got the job, I would do my best to create programs that would match the love, care, and consideration that went into designing this amazing space for kids.
If you’d like to see a little video the University made about our space, and meet some of the students who work here, you’ll find it