Reviews (2)

A charming idea, well-executed
Leonard Marcus hit upon a great idea and developed it perfectly. As a teacher, it is difficult to teach history or literature to the young and make the readings come to life. "Storied City: A Children's Book Guide to New York City", besides being a charming idea, is also a handy tool for parents and teachers. With this extremely convenient guide, you can walk the kids through the neighborhoods they've read about and enliven their reading experience. And, most importantly, Marcus writes in a way that doesn't talk down to children, and that's a tremendous asset.

a perfect delight
With clarity and affection born of familiarity and delight, Marcus covers over 200 places and spaces in New York that have made an appearance in books for children and teenagers. He tells you how to get there and what you will see when you do. It is a lovely size, easy to carry and to hold, and it will take you on a virtual journey even if you and your children can't do a real one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bibliography    2. Children    3. Children's Literature - General    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Guidebooks    6. In literature    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Literary landmarks    10. Literature (Young Adult)    11. New York    12. New York (N.Y.)    13. New York (N.Y.) in literature    14. New York (State)    15. Travel    16. Travel (Young Adult)    17. Travel - United States    18. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    19. Juvenile Nonfiction / Literary Criticism & Collections   

Reviews (3)

Food for thought
I definitely didn't agree with a lot of what Zipes had to say - he was much too pessimistic and bitter for my tastes.Additionally, the idea of Disney-as-embodiment-of-all-things-evil is a little tired.
Helpful and Intriguing View of Tales and Culture
I really disagree with the previous review of this book.Zipes doesn't distort the tales meaning at all.Instead he avoids the facile, obvioussurface reading, and goes deeper into the many varied meanings of what anyone tale can mean.I especially enjoyed the sections on how tales weretwisted and edited to reinforce our ideas of childhood and what isappropriate for children to read.For instance, the Grimms' tales wereheavily edited over time making them less violent, adding in strict moralmessages, and generally making the female characters more annoying (seeBottigheimer's Grimms Bold Boys and Bad Girls for a great analysis ofthis).I highly reccomend this book.

Weak
The insights here are few and far between.Zipes labors much too hard twisting these tales to fit his own political agenda.In a typical chapter, Zipes tries to explain how fairy tales demonstrate that cats arebetter than people.Many better books have been written on the subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Literature - General    2. Discourse analysis, Narrative    3. Fairy Tales, Folklore & Mythology    4. Fairy tales    5. Fiction    6. Film and video adaptations    7. Folklore and children    8. History and criticism    9. Literary Criticism    10. Literature - Classics / Criticism    11. Children's literature studies: general    12. Cultural studies    13. Folklore    14. Literary Criticism & Collections / General    15. Modern period, c 1500 onwards   

Reviews (21)

Why kids hate those YA novels they're assigned in school
What a remarkable book, one with a fresh perspective toward the young adult novels that are assigned in middle school English classes. Barbara Feinberg's central question is, when and why did books for preteens get so grim? In an extended essay mixed with personal reflection, Feinberg examines the YA "problem novel," the books that more or less began with Paul Zindel's "The Pigman" and which some librarians call "Doom and Gloom" books. The "child" protagonists in these novels face abuse, abandonment, incest, trauma, loss, and lots of death, as if the child needs to suffer and someone needs to die to make the child grow up, accept reality, and be a resilient, self-reliant survivor. In the meantime, most adults in these books are useless for helping the kids to cope, and imagination and play are completely sacrificed, as the kids in these books are expected to grow out of such hindrances.
An absorbing and thoughtful critique of "young adult" books
I loved this book. Last year, I read most of the highly touted books for young adults and was shocked at how vacuous and grim they were. Every teenager, it seems, is angry, lives in a broken home, encounters death and suicide, wants to run away. No flights of fancy, just rage and rebellion and ugly "reality."
The first half of this book is powerful.Buy it for this reason.
Feinberg deserves praise for bringing forth the troubling emphasis that current curriculums intended for the adolescent age, have placed on the "problem novel".Yet she is not dogmatic enough in her important argument. Instead we are led off track in the 2nd half of the book on a self absorbed meandering with no clear cut themes... that ends up focusing on her daughter's need for several surgeries relating to ear infections. How did we get here?! To presume a connection between the 2 parts of this book, one would need to do as the subtitle suggests and truly "make things up".Nonetheless, the assertions in the 1rst half, as well as the footnotes,make those parts of the book quite a compelling read.Its worth the price of the book for the sake of those first arguments.Then save yourself time and confusion by skimming or avoiding entirely, the author's self indulgent off-topic stuff in the 2nd half. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Books And Reading    2. Children    3. Children's Literature - General    4. Home and school    5. Imagination in children    6. Juvenile Literature    7. Literary Criticism    8. Literature - Classics / Criticism    9. United States    10. Family & Relationships / Parenting   

Reviews (1)

Another out of print gem
An excellent resource for those involved in the Read Aloud program in West Virginia and other states.Very informative and thorough.Was hoping it might still be available!Will have to see if any revisions are out there! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bibliographies & Indexes    2. Bibliographies Of Juvenile Literature    3. Bibliography    4. Book lists    5. Books and reading    6. Child Care/Parenting    7. Children    8. Children's Literature - General    9. Children's libraries    10. Children's literature    11. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    12. Parenting - Child Rearing    13. Family & Relationships / Child Care   

Subjects:  1. Books and reading    2. Children    3. Children's Literature - General    4. Children's literature    5. History and criticism    6. Juvenile Literature    7. Literary Criticism    8. Literature - Classics / Criticism    9. Children's literature studies: general    10. Literature: History & Criticism   

Reviews (3)

The Cat: A Tale of Feminine Redemption
Marie Louise von Franz wrote an excellent book based on Jungian psychoanalysis. She uses the archetypal image of the cat to study the development of women's spiritual life. It is valuable not only for a person trying to develop his or her inner life, but for literary critics since the author presents archetypalimages that appear in classical and contemporary writers.

The Cat: A Tale of Feminine Redemption ( Jungian Psychology)
The book arrived very fast, and in excellent condition.

Arduous journey from cat to princess
Those familiar with Marie-Luise Von Franz's other books on fairy-tale psychology will be thrilled with this analysis of a Slavic fairytale. The tale itself is riveting and strange, dreamlike and fierce. Von Franz's analysis is, on the other hand, clear and precise, rational yet inspiring. She interprets the imagery in the tale on two levels: personal and collective. On the personal level, she is exploring the ways in which the feminine in both men and women has to be allowed to develop,so that the human being could become complete. On collective level, she points how history of nations and of mankind as a whole is shaped by unconsciouss impulses and how the femimine has been wronged in the western civilization. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fairy Tales    2. Folklore    3. Folklore & Mythology    4. History and criticism    5. Jungian Psychology    6. Movements - Psychoanalysis    7. Psychology    8. Redemption in literature    9. Romania    10. Social Psychology    11. Women    12. Children's literature studies: general    13. Popular psychology    14. Romanian   

Reviews (1)

A Well Written Reference Work, mostly.
This is a good book for fan's of Children's Literature, and it is definitely worth having, but it is not the absolute best. While reading this book keep in my mind that Carpenter puts in a great deal of his own opinion, and not what is neccesarily the general opinion in literary circles. (On a side note, it is my opinion that Carpenter's biography of Tolkien, a seperate book, is the difinitive Tolkien Bio and a must for all Tolkien fans.)But as I said in the title it is a well written work and worth having. So, if your favorite authors include C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Madeleine L'Engle, Beatrix Potter, E. Nesbit, George MacDonald and many more besides I would advise getting this book. For this same subject I also highly reccomend The Encylopedia of Fantasy and The Encylopedia of Sciene Fiction. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Literature - General    2. Children's literature    3. Dictionaries    4. Dictionaries - General    5. Literary Criticism    6. Literature - Classics / Criticism    7. Reference    8. Children's literature studies: general    9. English    10. Literary Criticism & Collections / Children's Literature    11. Literary studies: general    12. Literature/English    13. Reference works   

Reviews (5)

Delightful!
This collection of artwork is an inspiration to future illustrators. It is helpful for teachers trying to show students that reading is important for many reasons.

**Filledwithdelightsto'WHETTHEAPPETITE' **
Among the delights in this book, "The Art of Reading", are artists respectfully mimicking other artists, sharing memories of favorite books, of authors & illustrators; each one encouraging their audience to read and ENJOY. The cover illustration, by the late influential Fred Marcellino, was chosen for its appropriate subject of cat and mouse cozily reading together!
Celebrate!!!
As an elementary librarian I am always interested to see what books people have loved since childhood.It's fun to see how many can conjure up warm feelings about their mothers, or teachers or even a book's character that they identified with as a child.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Art - General    4. Children's Literature - General    5. Commercial - Illustration    6. General    7. History - General    8. Literature - Classics / Criticism    9. Davis, Paul    10. Juvenile Nonfiction / Art / General   

Reviews (1)

Techniques and life teachings of wilderness survival
Great book for children and adults that Love their kids enough, to give them simple learning skills that could come in handy, when we least expect it. I know of kid's that have already truly been saved by the lessons taught in such a way that, children remember them forever.Everyone should have a copy of this fine work in their home, because we all like the outdoors, but we never know when we might need the guiding know-how in this handbook. As willy says, "make it back safe." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity Books - General    2. Children's 9-12 - Sports / Recreation / Outdoors    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    4. Children's Literature - General    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Juvenile Applied Sciences    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Literary Criticism    10. Outdoor Skills    11. Survival    12. Wilderness survival    13. Active outdoor pursuits    14. Children's literature studies: general    15. Family & Relationships / General   

Reviews (2)

Could have been better.....
Having grown up with Richard Scarry's books, I naturally wanted to find out more about him. The book gives a well detailed background to his beginnings and some interesting vignettes. However, I wished there weremore information on how he had developed his characters, in particularHuckle Cat and Lowly Worm. Did you know that Huckle Cat started out as abear? I had a hard time explaining this to my daughter. Wished the book hadexplained this. But, nonetheless, for those who grew up with him, it iswell worth the buy.

OK
Although the book is chock-full of beautiful Scarry artwork, the text is dry and not very kid-friendly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography - Literary    5. Children's stories    6. Children: Grades 2-3    7. Illustration Of Books    8. Illustrations    9. Illustrators    10. Juvenile Literature    11. Juvenile Nonfiction    12. United States    13. Biography: general    14. Children's literature studies: general    15. Drawing & drawings    16. Illustration    17. Individual artists    18. Scarry, Richard   

Reviews (6)

First-rate satire
If I ever read Winnie the Pooh, it was decades ago and I have long since forgotten it.An ignorance of WtP, however, is no obstacle to reading TPP.As others note, below, TPP is a terrific sendup of literary theories (and theorists) current in the mid-sixties academy.(It is often laugh-out-loud funny.)The critical intention that underlies this slim volume is also very much on the mark.TPP would be a satisfying read for critical thinkers everywhere, and an instructive read for anyone lacking in critical faculties.(Hmm...A mandatory read for rising college freshmen...?)

Brilliant and funny
It was probably the publication of Postmodern Pooh, Frederick Crews's second venture into Pooh studies, that explains the renewed availability of The Pooh Perplex more than 40 years after its first appearance. But whatever the reason, it is an excellent thing that modern readers can get hold of it, both because it is a brilliant and witty book in itself and also because it makes a natural companion for Postmodern Pooh.
The Pooh Perplex
I first read The Pooh Perplex in the summer before my freshman year of college; my father presented it to me as an encapsulation of the reasons why he had abandoned his English major. I had not yet encountered Leavis, Crane, and the other critics so marvelously parodied in Crews's book, but I spent a good few hours shrieking with laughter at Myron Masterson's vision of Kanga as castrating "'Mom' figure" and Simon Lacerous's characterization of the bear himself as a flabby old Tory with a string of knightly titles and an overfondness for condensed milk.
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Subjects:  1. (Alan Alexander),    2. 1882-1956    3. 20th century    4. Books and reading    5. Characters    6. Children    7. Children's Literature - General    8. Children's stories, English    9. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    10. General    11. Great Britain    12. History    13. History and criticism    14. Humor    15. Literary Criticism    16. Literature - Classics / Criticism    17. Milne, A. A    18. Winnie-the-Pooh    19. Winnie-the-Pooh (Fictitious character)    20. Literary Criticism & Collections / Children's Literature    21. Literary theory   

Subjects:  1. Bibliography    2. Books and reading    3. Children    4. Children's literature    5. General    6. Juvenile Literature    7. Language    8. Literary Criticism    9. Reference    10. United States    11. Children's literature studies: general    12. Education / General    13. Reference works   

Reviews (1)

Every teacher and school library should get this resource
I am glad to see that today, 1/31/06, this reference book is in the top ten best selling books about American Indians at Amazon.It is filled with critical reviews of classic and popular books that fall short in their portrayals of American Indians, but it also has many powerful essays written by Native men, women, and children, and their experiences with books and schools that relegate Native people to a monolithic and long-ago existence.
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Subjects:  1. American - Native American    2. American literature    3. Book reviews    4. Books & Reading    5. Children's Literature - General    6. History and criticism    7. Indian authors    8. Indians of North America    9. Juvenile literature    10. Literary Criticism    11. Literary History And Criticism    12. Literature - Classics / Criticism    13. Native American Literature    14. Sociology    15. North & Central American indigenous languages    16. North America    17. Social Science / Native American Studies    18. Teaching of specific groups   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Children's Literature - General    3. General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Literature - Classics / Criticism    6. Women Authors    7. Children's literature studies: general    8. English    9. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

Reviews (2)

All right for a textbook
The book isn't really all that interesting.Some of the good aspects are that the print is big, and it is easy reading.You can knock a chapter or two out of the way in an hour easily.

Good tool for writers, too
This book is should be an essential for anyone writing for children. Horning covers all the genres, offering insight into pacing, character and plot. She better defines what makes a picture book, an early reader, achapter book, a mid-grade and a young adult -- definitions that are oftenmurky in writing books. Although this book may have been intended forlibrarians and others in the book industry, I recommend it highly foranyone contemplating writing for children. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Book reviewing    2. Books & Reading    3. Books and reading    4. Children    5. Children's Literature - General    6. Children's literature    7. Education / Teaching    8. General    9. History and criticism    10. Language    11. Language Arts & Disciplines    12. Library & Information Science    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Reference / Almanacs   

Subjects:  1. Children's Literature - General    2. Juvenile Literature    3. Literary Criticism    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Children's literature studies: general    6. English    7. Literary Criticism & Collections / General   

Subjects:  1. Children's Literature - General    2. Education    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Reference    5. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading   

Reviews (42)

Fascinating Life But Ending seems Farfetched
I suddenly became interested in the life of Dare Wright, for no other reason but because I started a small business on Ebay...I am always intrigued by eccentric individuals, and on my ebay search, I found The Lonely Doll, I also collect Lencis, and thought who would destroy such beautiful dolls for art?...Dare Wright's books, did not impress me as books for children, they seemed to be talking to an older audience. In my zest for learning more and more about this woman, I came to this interesting biography of Dare Wright.
haunting and beautiful
Dare Wright was a beautiful and tragic woman.This book could very easily have given in to pathos, or glossed over some of the more difficult aspects of its subject's life.It neither glosses over nor sensationalizes.One truly gets the sense of Dare, her mother and her brother as people who suffered trauma in life and, having been damaged, coped in the best way that they knew how.
Fascinating, Vividly Written Biography
A paperback edition of this book was passed on to me by a close friend and I completely (admittedly, foolishly!) "judged a book by its cover;" with it's campy cover art and pink gingham trim, I figured it was some essayist's take on "Sex in the City."Not only was I utterly mistaken, I couldn't put this fascinating biography down.While a satisfying read, I am now only more intrigeud than ever by Dare and Edie Wright, as well as their artistic achievements.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Children's Literature - General    5. Crosswords - General    6. Games / Gamebooks / Crosswords    7. General    8. Literary    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Women   

Reviews (2)

Makes leading book discussions a cinch.
I especially liked the way the book was organized.The many suggestions helped stir a whole bunch of different topics and discussions to explore.I would highly recommend!

Wonderful Resource!
This is a necessity for any librarian, reading specialist, or classroom teacher.It contains summaries, related titles, and discussion questions for about 100 books ranging from 3rd - 8th grade.If you lead book club discussions with children, this book is a must! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity programs    2. Book clubs (Discussion groups)    3. Books And Reading    4. Children's libraries    5. Children's literature    6. Education    7. Library & Information Science    8. Reference    9. Stories, plots, etc    10. Teaching Methods & Materials - Reading    11. Children's literature studies: general    12. Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science    13. Library & Information Sciences   

Editorial Review

Writing for children is serious work. Thankfully, there are writers up to the task. In these essays, which originated as Children's Literature New England talks, "notable writers for children consider how literature, memory, and moral passion serve the writer."Gillian Cross (Read more

Reviews (1)

So many authors in one place!
If you are interested in reading many successful authors' thoughts on the power of story and reading, this book is a must.The essays in this collection are inspiring, diverse, and unified in their passion for writing and storytelling.I found myself returning to passages over and over, savoring the passions for children's literature that are similar to my own.A stellar collection of authors are presented including Susan Cooper, Madeleine L'Engle, Maurice Sendak and many more that appear on most required reading lists.(They are listed entirely in the professional reviews above.)This is a great book for librarians, teachers, students, and anyone who loves one or all of the many authors represented. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Authorship    2. Children's Literature - General    3. Children's literature    4. Cooking    5. General    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / General