Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult

ISBN: 1451609965

Author: Handy, Bruce

Condition: New

An irresistible, nostalgic, insightful-and consistently intelligent and funny (The New York Times Book Review)-ramble through classic childrens literature from Vanity Fair contributing editor (and father of two) Bruce Handy.The dour New England Primer, thought to be the first American childrens book, was first published in Boston in 1690. Offering children gems of advice such as Strive to learn and Be not a dunce, it was no fun at all. So how did we get from there to Let the wild rumpus start? And now that were living in a golden age of childrens literature, what can adults get out of reading Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon, or Charlottes Web and Little House on the Prairie?A delightful excursion (The Wall Street Journal), Wild Things revisits the classics of every American childhood, from fairy tales to The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and explores the back stories of their creators, using context and biography to understand how some of the most insightful, creative, and witty authors and illustrators of their times created their often deeply personal masterpieces. Along the way, Handy learns what The Cat in the Hat says about anarchy and absentee parenting, which themes are shared by The Runaway Bunny and Portnoys Complaint, and why Ramona Quimby is as true an American icon as Tom Sawyer or Jay Gatsby.Its a profound, eye-opening experience to re-encounter books that you once treasured decades ago. A clear-eyed love letter to the greatest childrens books and authors from Louisa May Alcott and L. Frank Baum to Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, Mildred D. Taylor, and E.B. White, Wild Things is a spirited, perceptive, and just outright funny account that will surely leave its readers with a new appreciation for childhood favorites (Publishers Weekly).