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What Makes a Kid’s Book Classic?
In light of today’s debut of the “Where the Wild Things Are” movie, the New York Times Artsbeat blog addresses the question of what defines a classic children’s book. Writer Dwight Garner cites Eden Ross Lipson, the late children’s books editor of the New York Times Book Review, who believed that it wasn’t critics’ reviews or adults’ embrace of the book, but whether children choose to read it to their own kids when they grow up.
That’s a nice idea, really. I remember very few of the picture books I read as a kid, but one bigger-kid book has become a favorite in our house that was read to my brother and I: “How Tom Beat Captain Najork and His Hired Sportsmen.” I would hardly call it a classic — few people I know have ever heard of it despite its utter hilariousness. My dad, who read it to us, bought it for both sets of grandkids when they came along and now my daughter and I dissolve into giggles reading it together. Of course, “eat your greasy bloaters” is a family catchphrase and my son was referred to as Bundlejoy Cozysweet in utero.
Another cross-generational favorite is “Free To Be, You and Me” although my daughter has no interest whatsoever in my favorite story (Dudley Pippin and the Principal). She has developed a love for Atalanta recently, although it has everything to do with The Dreaded Princess Phase and little to do, yet, with the message of the story.
Interestingly, I did not like “Where the Wild Things Are” as a kid, but now love reading it to my children. I think it’s the poignancy of it and the beauty of the language that appeals to me now which I just missed as a child.
The ones I can’t wait to pass along to my kids are series, like Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables and the Harry Potter books. Of the picture books that are in heavy rotation, I’d bet “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus,” the “If You Give...” books and all of Sandra Boynton’s picture book ouvre will be keepers.
Do you agree with this definition of a classic? And what books would you guess your children will read to theirs?
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Featherenmama commented on Oct 17 09 at 1:07 amMy vote goes to pretty much anything by Doctor Seuss (or “the Doctor,” as we sometimes refer to him) or Shel Silverstein. Both men knew how to teach a lesson, while remembering that kids are drawn to the silly and irreverant.
outofhand commented on Oct 17 09 at 9:10 amI agree with PP and would add Madeline and Eric Carle’s books for the littlest readers and the Chronicles of Narnia, A Little Princess and The Secret Garden for older readers.
mumus commented on Oct 17 09 at 9:22 amI can’t figure out the attraction of ‘Good Night Moon’ but my 18 month old has been asking for it every night since she learned the word ‘moon.’ The original ‘Curious George’ stories have been a hit with my four year old and recently we’ve started reading a collection of ‘Pippi Longstocking’ stories, which is bound to be a book my daughter passes along to her kids.
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