A study was undertaken to learn if the values of American culture from 1850-1964 were reflected in children's books of that period. Themes in the books were categorized, and the books were related to the historical, political, and social events of their year of publication. Only children's literature, fiction, and "trade" books published in American were surveyed, but some favorite stories, originally produced in other countries and republished in the United States, were included. A comparison of the six theme categories with the specific times in American History when they enjoyed greatest popularity indicated that a relationship existed between social, cultural, and economic influences and the story themes: (1) the "Search for Values," (2) "Problems of Growing Up," (3) "Travel and People of Foreign Lands," (4) "Success and Adventure Stories," (5) "Fun and Fairy Tales," and (6) the "Urge to Know." (Author/MP)