Book Description

Are some of the world's most talented children's book authors essentially children themselves? In this engaging series of essays, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alison Lurie considers this theory, exploring children's classics from many eras and relating them to the authors who wrote them, including Little Women author Louisa May Alcott and Wizard of Oz author Frank Baum, as well as Dr. Seuss and Salman Rushdie. Analyzing these and many others, Lurie shows how these gifted writers have used children's literature to transfigure sorrow, nostalgia, and the struggles of their own experiences. ... Read more

Book Description

As well as being the author of the greatest of all children's plays, Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie also wrote sophisticated social comedy and political satire. The Admirable Crichton and What Every Woman Knows are shrewd and entertaining contributions to the politics of class and gender, while Mary Rose is one of the best ghost stories written for the stage.For this edition, the texts of these plays have been newly edited and are supplemented with an in-depth introduction and detailed annotations. ... Read more

Book Description

It is a universal truth that Winnie-the-Pooh is among the most important beings of the twentieth century. His influence on Western philosophy and on Eastern thought has been well documented. In this witty, scholarly book, John Tyerman Williams sees the dawning of the new millennium as a moment for a major revelation: At the heart of the Ancient Mysteries sits Winnie-the-Pooh.In astrology, alchemy, the interpretation of the tarot—even Arthurian legend—the scope of Pooh's influence far exceeds what even his most ardent admirers have heretofore believed. The arguments are amusing and irrefutable. This entertaining volume makes it clear that the World of Pooh is spiritually and mentally infinite, equal in stature to the great mythical worlds. It is a Very Comforting Thought to have as we meander through the Hundred Acre Wood, right into the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Homeschoolers and Caring Parents: Here are some great ideas
Much more than a list of books. Provides you with an accessible way to use these books to help your child retain that natural curiosity and excitement about learning. Great starting point for using non-fiction, "living books" in your child's education. The author's Non-Book Report is an excellent idea! Read it and see what you think! ... Read more

Book Description

The definitive biography of the beloved children's author re-released in celebration of the new musical "Seussical".

Horton, Thidwick, Yertle, the Lorax, the Grinch, Sneetches, and the Cat in the Hat are just a handful of the bizarre and beloved characters Theodor S. Geisel (1904-1991), alias Dr. Seuss, created in his 47 children's books, from 1937's And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street to 1990's Oh, the Places You'll Go!. During his lifetime Dr. Seuss was honored with numerous degrees, three Academy Awards, and a Pulitzer, but the man himself remained a reclusive enigma. In this first and only biography of the good doctor, the authors, his close friends for almost thirty years, have drawn on their firsthand insights as well as his voluminous papers; the result is an illuminating, intimate portrait of a dreamer who saw the world "through the wrong end of a telescope," and invited us to enjoy the view. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel: A Biography
I found this book to be helpful in learning about Dr. Seuss's life. I order this book for our school library during the week of Dr. Seuss' 100th birthday celebration. I found it to be an excellent way to let the teachers and students know about Dr. Seuss's life. Thanks for offering this book on Amazon.com.

tedious hero-worship
It's often better to know certain people only through their works, and to avoid altogether what passes for a biography written by "long-time friends." This is the overview he was afraid of reading, what had to wait to be written until his passing? There is no semblance of objective distance in this book. Even the most awful, and possibly revealing, aspects of this man's life--chief among them the suicide of his sixty-nine year old wife of more than four decades--are glossed over and swept aside, the authors preferring to concentrate on his happiness in taking up with the wife of one of his friends soon after. And there are countless mentions of his "brilliant color sense"--a subjective talent, at best--to the extent that by the end of the book you might believe that this was on par with the cure for polio. Dr. Seuss was a wonderfully talented author of children's books, and a worthy subject for an honest and well-rounded biography. Unfortunately, this is not it. Go back and read "Green Eggs and Ham" again. Go read "The Cat in the Hat." Leave this alone.

Humility, Humor, and a Trip around the world..
The writers, who were great friends, tapped into the spirit of a man who was clearly ahead of his time and kooky enough to press on despite harsh criticism. It is important to note that in this book, you see Ted Geisel as he was; an artist and human being. What made him superhuman was his compassion for people and his passion to entertain. His ingenious vision and humility surpass the petty details others may find missing. If you're open to the miracle of the work itself, you will find out that the technicalities of writing children's books or networking were not the things that made him Dr. Seuss. If one is interested in knowing what makes a great human being, reading this biography will fulfill a big piece of that quest and touch your heart.

Dr.Seuss & Mr. Geisel: a Biograpy
This is really a great book, if i could rate it from one to five, i'd rate it 5,000,000,000,000,00.. well you get the main idea

Everything you never knew...
Dr. Seuss & Mr Geisel was interesting, to say the least. Don't see the name Seuss and automatically think it's a children's book. Overall, I though it was a mediocre biography about an amazing, stupendous genius. No bio could do Mr. Geisel honor, but this one does suprisingly well. ... Read more

Book Description

As the popularity of William Bennett's Book of Virtues attests, parents are turning more and more to children's literature to help instill values in their kids. Now, in this elegantly written and passionate book, Vigen Guroian provides the perfect complement to books such as Bennett's, offering parents and teachers a much-needed roadmap to some of our finest children's stories.

Guroian illuminates the complex ways in which fairy tales and fantasies educate the moral imagination from earliest childhood. Examining a wide range of stories--from "Pinocchio" and "The Little Mermaid" to "Charlotte's Web," "The Velveteen Rabbit," "The Wind in the Willows," and the "Chronicles of Narnia"--he argues that these tales capture the meaning of morality through vivid depictions of the struggle between good and evil, in which characters must make difficult choices between right and wrong, or heroes and villains contest the very fate of imaginary worlds.Character and the virtues are depicted compellingly in these stories; the virtues glimmer as if in a looking glass, and wickedness and deception are unmasked of their pretensions to goodness and truth. We are made to face the unvarnished truth about ourselves, and what kind of people we want to be.

Throughout, Guroian highlights the classical moral virtues such as courage, goodness, and honesty, especially as they are understood in traditional Christianity.At the same time, he so persuasively evokes the enduring charm of these familiar works that many readers will be inspired to reread their favorites and explore those they may have missed. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Prompted to re-read the classics
I stumbled across this book a few years ago when browsing through the various sections on Amazon's web site (it was in the National Public Radio section). The reviews sounded interesting, so I took a chance. I am so glad I did.

Like most people, I have been bombarded with the "Disney-fied" versions of most of our children's classics, where all the characters are cute and there are several shades of gray when it comes to the moral or point of the story. I had forgotten how dark the original fairy tales were and how clear they were about good and evil. The part of the book about Guroian's college class and a fourth grade class' reading of Pinochio reminded me just how much children really understand and how clearly and, sometimes, simply they view the world.

Reading this book has prompted me to find copies of the original stories. What an interesting discussion it would be to compare adults' and children's understanding of the how the original versions of the stories differ from the more recent or animated versions.

Value of Classic Stories
The themes of classic stories have not been improved upon over the years.As well as awaken a child's moral imagination, they also reinforce character traits with biblical origin and timeless application.I also recommend Storybook Mentors, Grown-up wisdom from children's classics for families, teachers and counselors, and all who love classic literature.

Wisdom in Action
Professor Guroian's latest work provides the reader with a challenging prescription for developing moral excellence. The framework of the Aristotleian notions of intellectual and moral virtue give an ancient andyet ever so modern perspective to his understanding of the practicalscience of ethics illuminated by fairy tales and modern children'sliterature. Those who are responsible for the young will do well to makefrequent reference to this book.

An absolute must read for all parents.
This book is a classic "must read" for all parents who want to instill solid character into their children.Guroian reviews many of the "classic" fairy tales and reveals the unbelievable distortion that has occurred withmodern day translations, abridged versions, and animated movies.Timeafter time, Guroian traces the same awful conversion from the originalChristian virtues and values to the quicksand-like obsessions with physicalbeauty, romantic love, and self.Reading his book gives parent's the truthabout why fairy tales are so important for "tending the heart of virtue" intheir children. For children reading the original fairy tales, they willsee themselves and the deeper reality of things, complete with good andevil components, in a framework of an interesting and powerfully writtenstory.In subsequently reading the original Pinocchio (covered in thebook) to my two boys (8 and 10); we were all absolutely "stunned" byCollodi's brilliance, his language, and the truth that this great classicreveals about ourselves.

Don't miss this one.You and your children willbenefit immensely.

December 28 issue of Breakpoint
When Vigen Guroian [veegun ga-ROY-un] set out to teach a class on children's literature to his undergraduate students at Loyola College in Maryland,he invited his daughter's fourth-grade class in for some of thediscussions.But after a discussion of Pinocchio, the undergrads wereshocked and embarrassed to find that the fourth-graders had understood thebook better than they had.Why was this?

The answer, Guroian says, isthat we have neglected the development of the moral imagination.Thecollege students literally were less capable of understanding the moralthemes in the story of Pinocchio.

As Guroian writes in his new book,Tending the Heart of Virtue, the undergrads noticed that the fourth-graderswere better at grasping "the nature and source of Pinocchio'stemptations and backsliding, and were less ready to excuse him for thebehavior that got him into so much trouble and caused his father suchgrief."

His students even began to suspect that "maybe they hadlost something in growing up -- a sense of wonder that might have beenbetter tended and retained" if they had been brought up reading bookslike Pinocchio."Perhaps," Guroinan concludes, "the fourthgraders they had met were actually nearer than they to the wellsprings ofhuman morality and were better served by reading Pinocchio than they hadbeen by taking a required college course in ethics."

Guroian's newbook is subtitled, How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination,and in it he explains that children are born with a strong moral sense. They always want to know if a character in a story is good or bad. "This need to make moral distinctions," he says, "is a gift,a grace, that human beings are given at the start of their lives." But it is a gift that needs to be cultivated or it will atrophy anddisappear.

And that's exactly what's happening, as Guroian's experiencewith college students has proved."Our society," Guroian warns,"is embracing an antihuman trinity of pragmatism, subjectivism, andcultural relativism that denies the existence of a moral sense or a morallaw."And in this intellectual climate, the moral imagination isbeing starved.

One of the best remedies can be found in classicliterature.Moral education is best accomplished through stories, throughdepictions of courage and the other virtues, showing what they look like inaction.A classic story like Pinocchio or Peter Pan or the VelveteenRabbit communicates vital truths about what it is to be human.It teachesus what bravery is, how to resist temptation, how to practice love andself-sacrifice.A dry course on ethics simply cannot begin to bring thesethemes to life in the same way.

Why not pick up a copy of Guroian'sTending the Heart of Virtue, and reacquaint yourself with classicchildren's literature, and read it to your children.Who knows?If youstart early enough, by the time they're in college--even the most secularone imaginable--they just might graduate with as much moral discernment asthey had when they were in fourth grade.

Charles W. Colson (c) 1998Prison Fellowship Ministries ... Read more

Book Description

Unsettled by the fact that her twelve-year-old son, an ardent reader, hated most of the books assigned to him in school, Barbara Feinberg set out to discover just what kids are reading these days. Much to her dismay, she found that novels about abandonment, kidnapping, abuse, and more have become standard fare in many middle school classrooms.

Pre-adolescents, these novels seem to suggest, ought to be confronted in fiction with "real life problems" straight on, with no magical dimension and limited imaginative scope. In fact, the child characters in these books often must face their stark circumstances nearly alone, without adult shelter. You have only yourself, these novels seem to say. Adults cannot help you; they are often the source of your troubles.

Weaving literary analysis with memoir, told in a playful, elegiacal style, Welcome to Lizard Motel sets its inquiry into books and stories in the context of an unfolding narrative of family life. And as the narrative takes on a novel-like velocity of its own, stories become the lens through which Feinberg reflects on our own notions of childhood—both observed and remembered, our culture"s rendering of childhood, and the surprising disconnect between the two. ... Read more

Book Description

"I'm told there is a lion who wants to meet with me. I am told that he is fierce and unpredictable and very large. I have known about him for most of my life, and at times I've believed I caught a glimpse of his shadow, but I have yet to actually meet him face to face. His name is Aslan, and it's possible that you've heard of him."

C. S. Lewis has created a wonderful place, a place where anything can happen. Even the stones can talk. In Aslan's Call Mark Eddy Smith shows you how--in this fanciful world--you can discover the truest reality. In the children who travel to Narnia you can find yourself. In Aslan you can find Christ. And in the place of Narnia you can find the very adventure for which God made you. ... Read more

Book Description

With wit, candor, and boundless enthusiasm, Valerie V. Lewis and Walter M. Mayes have selected more than 2,000 wonderful books for children from birth to age 12. Here is the most useful, candid, and convenient guide to children's literature ever published, featuring in-depth reviews, concise ratings, tips for finding the perfect book for your child, and mountains of essential hints and sound advice to help you pass along the gift of reading to the next generation. This fully revised and updated edition includes:

• Reviews of the best new books for children
• More of Valerie and Walter's patented back-and-forth dialogue
• Handy cross-references by theme and interest
• And much, much more

From stories that babies can literally chew on, to the very best choices for bridging the gap between listening and reading, to the right books to tempt an adamant nonreader, this truly is the last word on children's reading and the first book a parent should buy.

Reviews (4)

LOADS OF INFORMATION AND ADVICE
Best Books for Children, 2nd Ed is a book to be valued. It's comprehensive and crossed-referenced. A 560-page reference guide featuring best books for children--fiction and nonfiction-though age eleven. Book information includes: title, author, illustrator, format, publisher, themes and sometimes comments from Valerie and Walter. The themes are single word descriptions. Parents will know exactly what is in the book. The book is divided into parts according to a book's listening or interest level. Also, instead of using reading ages, they use general ranges, such as "all, baby, preschoolers, early elementary, middle elementary, and pre-adolescents."

The books listed range from the old familiars to the most recent, such as Harry Potter. This is a reference book written with parents and professionals in mind. Wouldn't it be nice to know that your local school or library used Valerie and Walter's Best Books for Children regularly? Why not recommend it?

Other options for this are better
Compared to other similar books, this book is difficult to navigate and difficult to use.

I don't like the way books are sorted - by both a reading level and a listening/interest level simultaneously. So to find books for a 5th grader, I have to go through several different groupings, within which is fiction, science/fantasy, etc.. all intermingled. Very disjointed and unsatisfying.

In addition, listings don't have basic information such as the year of publication, number of pages, awards received, etc..

The comments themselves were of interest, but no more so than the other books' contents.

Maybe it's improved since this edition - I hope so!

Great Cut to the Chase Guide
If you're looking for clear, fun, expert advice about the books children truly enjoy look no further. Every parent, grandparent and teacher should have this on their shelf. This is THE best book to buy for a baby shower gift.

And Adults, Too!
As a children's librarian I am constantly seeking out adults who like books for kids as much as I do--Valerie and Walter fit the bill. This is filled with books that kids will actually like and want to read--I wish I could give a copy to every school teacher who makes up a summer reading list full of books that were published 50 years ago and then wonders why no one read any of them over the summer. A wonderful resource for parents who care about what their kids read, as well. Bravo. ... Read more

Book Description

The popularity of the Harry Potter books among adults and the critical acclaim these young adult fantasies have received may seem like a novel literary phenomenon. In the nineteenth century, however, readers considered both Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn as works of literature equally for children and adults; only later was the former relegated to the category of "boys' books" while the latter, even as it was canonized, came frequently to be regarded as unsuitable for young readers. Adults—women and men—wept over Little Women. And America's most prestigious literary journals regularly reviewed books written for both children and their parents. This egalitarian approach to children's literature changed with the emergence of literary studies as a scholarly discipline at the turn of the twentieth century. Academics considered children's books an inferior literature and beneath serious consideration.

In Kiddie Lit, Beverly Lyon Clark explores the marginalization of children's literature in America—and its recent possible reintegration—both within the academy and by the mainstream critical establishment. Tracing the reception of works by Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Lewis Carroll, Frances Hodgson Burnett, L. Frank Baum, Walt Disney, and J. K. Rowling, Clark reveals fundamental shifts in the assessment of the literary worth of books beloved by both children and adults, whether written for boys or girls. While uncovering the institutional underpinnings of this transition, Clark also attributes it to changing American attitudes toward childhood itself, a cultural resistance to the intrinsic value of childhood expressed through sentimentality, condescension, and moralizing.

Clark's engaging and enlightening study of the critical disregard for children's books since the end of the nineteenth century—which draws on recent scholarship in gender, cultural, and literary studies— offers provocative new insights into the history of both children's literature and American literature in general, and forcefully argues that the books our children read and love demand greater respect. ... Read more

Book Description

Identifying thousands of historical fiction novels, biographies, history trade books, CD-ROMs, and videotapes help you locate history resources for students. In the first half of each book, titles are listed according to grade levels within specific geographic areas and time periods. The second half of each book presents an annotated bibliography that describes each title and includes publication information and awards. The focus is on books published since 1990, and all have received at least one favorable review. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Western Philosophy is so un-Pooh-ish
If there was a ZERO star rating, I would have given it here. I became interested in this book after reading and thoroughly enjoying the "Tao of Pooh" by Benjamin Hoff. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that this is the wrong book and for good reasons. First of all I found it extremely boring and often difficult to follow. This deficiency however is merely the symptom of a much deeper problem inherent in the attempt to use Pooh out of all creatures to illustrate Western philosophy. Pooh is the epitome of an easygoing fellow, someone who doesn't take himself too seriously, and who lives each day for itself. This is almost the exact opposite of what Western philosophy has been attempting to achieve. In general, Western philosophers have taken themselves far too seriously, emphasizing logic and deduction over everything else, and were never really easygoing. It is no surprise, given this inherent contradiction, that "Pooh & the Philosophers" ended up such a disaster. I really don't know what on earth Williams was thinking in using Pooh to illustrate Western philosophy! Instead I recommend Benjamin Hoff's great duo "The Tao of Pooh" and its sequel "The Te of Piglet". This book, "Pooh and The Philosophers" is not worth anything and a waste of time.

Good concept -- but the joke gets old
This book was the primary text in a university workshop I just took on "Philosophy in Children's Literature." Being a big fan of Benjamin Hoff's "The Tao of Pooh," I approached the book with great hopes. Williams' tongue-in-cheek conceit is that the Bear of Little Brain is, in fact, the greatest philosopher that ever lived. All of western philosophy before Pooh was mere preamble and the twentieth-century existentialists were familiar with an heavily influenced by the "Great Bear."
I felt that Williams was more interested in being clever than in whatever other goal he had in mind. He presents the philosophical concepts too briefly and dismissively to be of much value. Worse, it seems he spends more space extolling the brilliant Pooh that really discussing how the (sometimes stretched past the breaking point) passages from A. A. Milne's stories relate to philosophies. Like any one-joke movie or TV series, it just got repetitive and annoying after awhile.

Clever and fun
This book is funny. The author has a great sense of humour in making his arguement. I found it enjoyable even though there are philosophers that he obviously enjoyed writing about more. As a bonus, it serves as a great indroductory "philosophy for dummies" sort of book for a beginner to the subject like me.

It is shown that western Philosophy is a preamble to Pooh.
"In which it is shown that all of western Philosophy is merely a preamble to Winnie-the-Pooh." This book proves, once and for all, that Pooh bear is in fact a Bear of Enormous Brain. It also shows how Eeyore is obsessed with the Platonic Forms, and how Christopher Robin is indeed stupid compared with the Great Bear. This book will delight all readers, not just Ursinian scholars (students of Pooh) and philosophers.

Simply wonderful - fun, informative and even cute!
Pooh and the Philosphers tells us what we all should have known by ourselves - the the Bear of Little Brain is nothing less than a great philosopher and a very smart bear indeed. People give me strange looks when I laugh oput loud while reading this hilarious and yet serious book on the bus but who cares? Besides, I learned more about philosphy from this book that from any university course.. ... Read more

Book Description

"It is my wish that the voice of the storyteller may never die in Africa, that all the children of the world may experience the wonder of books."—Nelson Mandela, from the Foreword

The vibrant tradition of African folktales—an oral heritage of stories that predates Ovid—is long, varied, and exceptionally rich, but surprisingly has been largely overlooked in the West. Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Laureate for Peace, selected thirty-two African stories for this extraordinary new book, an anthology that will present Africa's oldest folktales to the children of the world. In these stories, we meet a Kenyan lion named Simba and tricksters from Zulu folklore; we hear the voices of the scheming hyena and learn from a Khoi fable how animals acquired their tails and horns. Accompanied by dozens of enchanting, specially commissioned color paintings, these fables—culled from African countries as far-flung as Morocco, Uganda, and Tanzania—present a veritable bible of stories "universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical." Four-color illustrations throughout. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply Lovely
The stories are rich and full of life. Storytelling lives on...thank you! ... Read more

Book Description

Welcome to the Land of Oz and the imagination of L. Frank Baum. Welcome to The Willard Carroll Collection, a world-renowned archive of more than 30,000 Wizard of Oz items.

For the first time ever, editor Linda Sunshine has collected excerpts from Baum’s fourteen Oz novels, poems, short stories, and song lyrics and married them to art from around the world, some dating as far back as 1899. Here are 352 pages of stunning illustrations (some never before published in this country) and profoundly wise text that honors the ideals of home, heart, intellect, and bravery. Be prepared for wizards, witches, winged monkeys, a hungry tiger, a rainbow fairy, the Munchkins, the Fuddles, and the beloved characters who have become cultural icons: Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. “In the Land of Oz, anything is possible,” Baum tells us in Ozma of Oz (1907). “For it is a wonderful fairy country.”

Ever since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published, we’ve been entranced with life in Oz. More than a hundred years later, All Things Oz comes to earth to reignite the imagination and offer safe passage back to the land over the rainbow. Open this book and let the journey begin. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not in Kansas Anymore!
This is a delightful book! As a big Oz fan when I was a child, it was great to see all the characters and stories I grew up with come alive again. There are segments from pretty much all the Baum authored books (not the ones by other authors after his death), and great quotes dealing with all kinds of subjects pertinent to children and adults alike, such as intelligence, courage, etc. As an adult, I really enjoyed reading the "Other Voices" segments, where various people comment on Oz and 'what it means'. My favorite entry is the television summary of the 1939 movie by the Marin Independent Journal (p 72): "Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets, then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again." If that is not the ultimate in revisionism, I don't know what is. Entertaining and well worth reading.

All Things Oz is stunning and sweet!
Willard and Linda,
"All Things Oz" is just a beautiful book that covers the Oz Gambit. I love how you tied the passages from the books with the lovely rare collectibles. Fans will just be in awe when they see the magnitude of the collection.

The companion collectibles will make an elegant gift for the holidays. It is truly museum quality stock, and the recipient will feel like they are writing on stationery from a Four-Star Hotel. It's stunning and sweet!
My hat is off to both of you!
Bravo!
Elaine Willingham ... Read more

Book Description

Visiting England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales? Don't miss Narnia, Wonderland, Hogwarts and Middle-Earth!

If you're planning a trip abroad--or just a flight of fancy into literature's best-loved magical lands--Once Upon a Time in Great Britain is a wonderful chance to read all about the creation of your favorite children's books. This book is both a practical travel guide for your family vacation to the UK, and a terrific source of armchair-travel fascination.

Each chapter covers classics such as Peter Rabbit and Paddington Bear for the youngest tourists, Alice in Wonderland, Kidnapped and The Secret Garden for the older kids, and C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books for everyone.

Read about the real chocolate factory that made such an impression on the young Roald Dahl, or the cozy pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien introduced their friends to Narnia and hobbits. Treat your kids to a visit to the real "100 Aker Wood" that helped A.A. Milne create Winnie the Pooh, or the station where Thomas the Tank Engine lives. And enjoy the many original illustrations that made the books so distinctive on their first publications.

From parents who grew up on Wind in the Willows, Mary Poppins and Peter Pan to kids who thrill to Harry Potter, Once Upon a Time in Great Britain is a must-have addition to the libraries of children-and adults-everywhere.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Armchair Travel Book
The woods where C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien used to walk together, the coffee shop where J. K. Rowling began her work on the Harry Potter series, the house that inspired the Borrowers, the locations of The 101 Dalmatians...

It is apparent from reading this book that the author spent a great deal of time researching the topics covered. The byline indicates that she spent a year with her family exploring England and Scotland.

Fans of the books covered will enjoy the brief (1-2 page) biographies and the descriptions of the locations. This is what some call an "armchair travel" book: you can enjoy it without ever traveling to the locations.

I can't comment on the accuracy, because I have not visited any of the locations described. This is not a slick travel book brimming with pictures; it's a soft-cover printed on relatively inexpensive paper. I enjoyed the biographies and site descriptions and I'm sure there are many others out there who will as well.

A must-have for British kid lit fans
This is a great book for anyone who wants to plan a trip around, or include in their trip, sights related to favorite children's books. She even includes some of the books that are not as well-known in the US such as The Borrowers, Green Knowe and Greyfriars Bobby. Double check the details before you go, however, as some things have changed since publication. For example, the exhibit of children's manuscripts at the British Library is no longer there, sadly.

Brilliant idea ¿ scant execution
Written by a teacher who spent a year in England and Scotland with her family visited the sights mentioned in various kids' books. Not being from that area it is fun to visit the England that you are looking for whether it is the old Roman Empire or Shakespeare. For kids this book carries you through the England and Scotland of fairytales and stories. Each site has a small blurb and a black and white sketch. There are a few monochrome photos but there is nothing consistent. It may be useful for a starting point. ... Read more

Book Description

The literary classics that are traditionally required in grades 7-12 are often too complex and removed from adolescent experience. This highly readable guide, from a classroom teacher and one of the nation's leading authorities on young adult literature, shows teachers and school librarians how to use young adult literature as a bridge to the classics to help students become more critical and enthusiastic readers. Innovative thematic connectors link quality young adult novels, many of them multicultural, to the 12 most frequently taught works of literature. Extensive annotated lists of additional works of young adult literature complement each of these 12 classics. Herz and Gallo also show how young adult books can be incorporated into other subject classes. ... Read more

Book Description

PERFECT FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR, CARE GIVER AND PARENTS ALIKE, Peak With Books shows how to use popular children's literature to build reading, writing, and cognitive skills in an inquiry-based environment.Instead of using a "skill and drill" approach, the authors employ conversations, questions, and, meaning-based activities to stimulate children's curiosity, confidence, and thirst for knowledge.The authors' balanced literacy program teaches strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.To develop those skills, each chapter's central storybook is accompanied by strategies that employ art, music, drama, finger rhymes, poetry, math and science activities.Graphics and children's presentations illustrate how research and discovery through fiction can enliven whole-class and individually directed projects. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent preschool/K curriculum!
Peak with Books provides wonderful guidance for introducing young children to literature. We have especially enjoyed the inclusion of songs, poems, and art. The book selections include timeless classics and new favorites. The step-by-step instructions are a great help to the new teacher or homeschooler. Highly recommended by Ruth Beechick and others, this well-rounded program is a great place to start with your preschool and kindergarten aged children! ... Read more

Book Description

Translating for Children is not a book on translations of children's literature but a book on translating for children. It is concentrating on human action in translation and focuses on the translator, the translation process, and translating for children, in particular. Translators never translate words in isolation but whole situations. They bring to the translation their cultural heritage, their reading experience, and in the case of children's books, their image of childhood and their own child image. In so doing, they enter into a dialogic relationship that ultimately involves readers, the author, the illustrator, the translator, and the publisher.
What makes Translating for Children one of its kind is the special attention it pays to issues like the illustrations of stories, the performance (like reading aloud) of the books in translation, and the problem of adaptation. What is an adaptation? How does it differ from translating really?
The intention of Translating for Children is to demonstrate how the whole situation of translation takes precedence over any efforts to discover and reproduce the original author's intentions as a given. Rather than the authority of the author, the book concentrates on the intentions of the readers of a book in translation, both the translator and the target-language readers.
Riitta Oittinen holds a Ph.D. and docentship in translation studies and she is specializing in literary translation. She teaches translation at the translation department of Tampere University, Finland. She's the author of several books yet, in addition to her dissertation, this is her first in the English language. Riitta Oittinen is also an artist and the creator of animated films, stories, illustrations, and translations for the book
Translating for Children is suitable for teaching purpose and can be used as a course book in literary translation and children's literature. ... Read more