Designing the Creative Child: Playthings and Places in Midcentury America

(University of Minnesota Press) Aiming to counter stereotypes about bland, suburban post-war America, Amy Ogata argues that baby boom parents wanted creative, promising children. Ogata cites small houses, educational toys, and everything in between as contributing to the mid-century childhood creativity movement. Amy Ogata is an associate professor of Decorative Arts, Design History, and Material Culture at Bard Graduate Center in New York City.