"A fine analysis of preschool education from the colonial period to the present. ...All of us will rely on her work as a point of departure and inspiration". -- Maris A. Vinovskis, Journal of American History
"The book (is) absorbing; it provides both fresh insights and a sobering perspective, since many past arguments about early childhood are still being used. Beatty writes smoothly and with authority". -- Choice
"An ambitious, lucid, elegant, much overdue exploration of the origin and development of ... education for three, four, and five year olds". -- Barbara Finkelstein, Paedagogica Historica Subject code: