These fairies look kind of grumpy and mean. I can't help but think they are whispering awful things to this little kid. I'm not sure if the kid is a boy or a girl, but I guess a girl? Gender divisions on clothes back then were a bit different though. In any case, the kid is trying to enjoy that book while those darn annoying fairy-folk buzz around him, saying negative crap baby book boy Fairies and a Baby
Mr Punch Caravane Frame Source: Punch Magazine 1853 https://archive.org/details/punch24a25lemouoft mr punch punch clown Mr Punch Caravane frame