Rollo was Abbott’s first and most successful character, but in 1842 he created a dominant female figure in his Cousin Lucy series in an attempt to appeal to the interests of “the sisters of the boys who have honored the Rollo Books with their approval.”  Like her cousin Rollo, five-year-old Lucy experiences emotional conflicts and learns from them. Abbott’s empire of child characters later expanded to include not only Lucy and Rollo but also Jonas and Caleb.

Boston Public Library, Rare Books & Manuscripts