The Acquisitions Table: Juno on a Journey

Abbott, Jacob. Juno on a Journey.The Juno Stories.New York: Dodd & Mead, ca. 1870.

Jacob Abbott’s Juno was among the first female African American protagonists of a children’s book series.  In this book, Juno is enlisted to take a little white boy named Georgie on a train journey by the boy’s father.  During this early fictional account of rail travel, Juno and Georgie make various side trips, as in this case of visiting a wheel barrow factory.  Although there is a “No Admittance” sign above the door (for safety reasons), the African American craftsman greets them at the door, and (probably attracted by Juno’s gracious presence) gives them a tour of his shop.  The gift of AAS member Charles H.B. Arning in honor of the Bicentennial.

Published by

Laura Wasowicz

Curator of Children's Literature, American Antiquarian Society

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