Ring-a-Ring o’ Roses

The Babysitter? Carefree Children

L. Leslie Brooke's romanticized image shows sweet children in a very well manicured and idyllic natural setting. Could the older girl be a babysitter entertaining the younger children? Notce the three horizontal planes and the use of soft earthtones to help create a carefree and happy mood. This illustration highlights a common theme. The dancing children are usually a mix of boys and girls, with the girls outnumbering the boys. The few boys pictured are often much younger than the girls. This could be translated in two ways. One: the girls are babysitting the younger boys. Two: girls are more likely to continue childish singsong games as they grow older, while only very young boys do.