I've eagerly awaited my turn to post today.
I so want you, our Readers, to know Katherine Rundell's gem of a book.
When this September Knopf released WHY YOU SHOULD READ
CHILDREN'S BOOKS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE SO OLD AND
WYSE, originally published by Bloomsbury in 2019, it wasn't soon
enough for me.
Given the Condition of our World, I very much needed to have my
life's work and myself affirmed. All of me needed an infusion of
Hope.
Where to go to get my needs met?
Katherine Rundell's essay, 80 pages long, in a one-sit-readable
book only 4" by 6", offered the perfect answer: a children's book!
Knopf's book blurb says it all:
"A celebration, in a pocket-sized format, of the joys and vital
importance of children's literature for adult readers, from the #1
New York Times bestselling author of IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES."
How nice to be reminded:
Children's book are not escapism; they are a findism.
They are not a hiding place; they are a finding place.
A children's book helps us remember "what it was to long for
impossible and perhaps-not-impossible things."
Hope. Bravery. Empathy. Wit. Love. All matter.
In just the right amount of words, Rundell addresses: Reading as
a child, how children's fiction came to be, fairy tales, children's
fiction today, imagination and libraries.
She advises us: "Plunge yourself soul-forward into a children's
book..."
Listen here to gather more Hope from the author.
There are sometimes in life, she offers, when reading a children's
book is the only thing that will do.
Harper & Row editor Ursula Nordstrom made sure an ample
supply was available, gifting the world with years of children's
books worth re-reading and re-visiting, no matter our age.
We all can learn just how she did that in Nancy Hudgins' Spring-
released biography for children ages 8 and up, BOOKS GOOD
ENOUGH FOR YOU (Abrams, 2026), which bears the subtitle
"THE STORIED LIFE OF URSULA NORDSTROM, EDITOR
OF EXTRAORDINARY CHILDREN'S BOOKS.
Yet another celebration, this time "of the life and work of
Ursula Nordstrom - the groundbreaking editor of classic
children's books like CHARLOTTE'S WEB and WHERE THE
WILD THINGS ARE - and a powerful defense of a child's
right to read."
In its starred review, School Library Journal wrote: "The
narrative is accessible and often feels insider-y, but in a way
that kids will appreciate...Aspiring writers and editors will
gobble this up..."
Nordstrom believed children's books should be "fresh,"
"original," honest."
She'd remind her creators in the margins of their manuscripts,
NGEFY - shorthand for "Not good enough for you."
And all rose to the criticism, including Margaret Wise Brown,
E.B. White, Ruth Krauss, Crockett Johnson, Gwendolyn
Brooks, Shel Silverstein, Louise Fitzhugh, John Steptoe,
John Donovan, Charlotte Zolotow - just to name a few!
When venerable New York Public Library head Anne
Carroll Moore challenged her editing credentials, Ursula
Nordstrom replied, "I am a former child, and I haven't
forgotten a thing."
The author credits Leonard Marcus' DEAR GENIUS:
THE LETTERS OF URSULA NORDSTROM (Harper
Collins, 1998) for awakening her interest.
Click here to listen to how Hudgins' book and many of
Nordstrom's came to be.
Finally, speaking of listening, consider tuning into the latest
episode of Kelly Yang's and Kate DiCamillo's StoryKind.
Though advertised as "geared for young writers ages 8 and
up," I promise you no one will check your ID when
you listen here.
In its second year, the two award-winning children's book
authors answer questions from young readers, talk about the
magic of storytelling, share writing tips and celebrate
literacy.
Weekly shout-outs celebrate librarians and libraries
nominated by listeners!
Bite-sized episodes release every Monday.
Happy Reading, Writing, Listening and Celebrating to ALL!
Esther Hershenhorn
P.S.
Thanks to Tracey at Tangles & Tails for hosting today's
POETRY FRIDAY.
Posts
