The Guardian interviews senior Rachel Franz for an article exploring the findings of her senior Honors College thesis – “Cultivating Little Consumers: How Picture Books Influence Materialism in Children.” After analyzing 30 picture books and writing a 196-page thesis, Franz finds that some books reinforce consumerism, while others teach more wholesome values. “In our pervasive consumer culture,” she says, “children even at the youngest age need to develop critical thinking skills in all areas of their lives in order to preserve happiness and self-acceptance without the 'stuff'." Read the story...