Little Eva: The Flower of the South is an Anti-Tom children's book by American writer Philip J. Cozans. Although its publication date is unknown, scholars estimated the release was either in the 1850s or early 1860s. The book follows Little Eva, the daughter of a wealthy Alabama planter. She is characterized through her kindness toward slaves as she reads the Bible to them and teaches the alphabet to slave children. On her ninth birthday, Little Eva nearly drowns, but is rescued by a slave named Sam. Her parents free Sam who decides to remain with the family because he loves them. Like other Anti-Tom literature, the book was published as a response to Harriet Beecher Stowe's criticism of slavery in the United States in her 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Scholars have identified its protagonist as a loose adaptation of the Uncle Tom's Cabin character Little Eva. Little Eva: The Flower of the South was one of the few Anti-Tom books intended for children. A major theme of the book is education during the slave period in the United States, which is explored through Little Eva's portrayal as an educator. This version of the character was introduced in an Uncle Tom's Cabin illustration, and popularized by artists and children's literature writers, such as Cozans. The book has also been the subject of academic analysis for its proslavery message, although scholar Deborah C. De Rosa described it as an "embattled text" with an "abolitionist impetus". Plot Little Eva, the daughter of a wealthy Alabama planter, is known as the "Flower of the South" due to her kindness. She teaches slave children the alphabet, and both Little Eva and the children enjoy the lessons. Little Eva comforts her old nursemaid by giving her chicken broth and keeping her informed of the news. The nursemaid enjoys her company and shares memories of Little Eva's infancy. Every Sabbath morning, Little Eva reads the Bible to the slaves; even though she has taught several slaves to read, they prefer to listen to her. Little Eva frequently wakes up early to take walks and pick flowers for her mother. On her ninth birthday, she tries to pick grass by a body of water but falls into it and nearly drowns. A slave named Sam rescues her. Little Eva gives Sam a Bible, and her parents free him. He chooses to remain with the family because he