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Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature
Secret lives, scandalous turns, and some very funny surprises — these essays by leading kids’ lit bloggers take us behind the scenes of many much-loved children’s books.
Did Laura Ingalls cross paths with a band of mass murderers? Why was a Garth Williams bunny tale dubbed "integrationist propaganda"? For adults who are curious about children’s books and their creators, here are the little-known stories behind the stories. A treasure trove of information for a student, librarian, new parent, or anyone wondering about the post–Harry Potter book biz, Wild Things! draws on the combined knowledge and research of three respected and popular librarian-bloggers. Told in affectionate and lively prose, with numerous never-before-collected anecdotes, this book chronicles some of the feuds and fights, errors and secret messages found in children’s books and brings contemporary illumination to the warm-and-fuzzy bunny world we think we know.
Did Laura Ingalls cross paths with a band of mass murderers? Why was a Garth Williams bunny tale dubbed "integrationist propaganda"? For adults who are curious about children’s books and their creators, here are the little-known stories behind the stories. A treasure trove of information for a student, librarian, new parent, or anyone wondering about the post–Harry Potter book biz, Wild Things! draws on the combined knowledge and research of three respected and popular librarian-bloggers. Told in affectionate and lively prose, with numerous never-before-collected anecdotes, this book chronicles some of the feuds and fights, errors and secret messages found in children’s books and brings contemporary illumination to the warm-and-fuzzy bunny world we think we know.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 22, 2014
About the author
Betsy Bird
10 books3,039 followersBorn in Kalamazoo, Michigan, undisputed center of the universe, Betsy Bird (nee Elizabeth Ramsey) grew up and promptly left Michigan the moment her legs could propel her southward. She didn't get far. Obtaining a B.A. at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana (home of recorded jazz and don't let anyone tell you otherwise) she set her sights on Portland, Oregon. When that didn't pan out it was Minneapolis, Minnesota. Then New York, New York. In the midst of all this she somehow managed to get a library degree and a job at New York Public Library, eventually becoming their Youth Media Specialist (a.k.a. the person who bought all the kids' books for Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx). She created the children's literary blog A Fuse #8 Production and schmoozed as no one had ever schmoozed before. The result? A non-fiction text for library students, a picture book called "Giant Dance Party", a picture book illustrated by Caldecott winner Dan Santat called "The Great Santa Stakeout", a behind-the-scenes title for adults co-written with two of her favorite bloggers called "Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature", an anthology of some of the most hilarious women writing for kids today called "Funny Girl: Funniest. Stories. Ever," and her first middle grade novel for kids "Long Road to the Circus", illustrated by Caldecott award winner David Small. Betsy Bird is now the Collection Development Manager of Evanston, IL. Stop by. We'll have lunch. It'll be nice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
October 6, 2014
I enjoyed reading this, but overall I would have liked a meatier read on these topics. It felt more like chit-chat, whereas I like my nonfiction to be written in a tone that justifies my feelings of smugness for reading it ("I'm Improving My Mind", I want to be thinking). This was irreverent, which makes sense given the subject matter, but it was sometimes at the expense of actual information.
I really enjoyed the chapter on well-meaning censorship in children's literature. I'd like to learn more about that.
My least favorite sentence in the book: "Illustrators create computer-generated art." Some illustrators, myself included, use a computer to create art. The computer does not generate it.
In the plus column, the hot goss they presented was quite hot!
I really enjoyed the chapter on well-meaning censorship in children's literature. I'd like to learn more about that.
My least favorite sentence in the book: "Illustrators create computer-generated art." Some illustrators, myself included, use a computer to create art. The computer does not generate it.
In the plus column, the hot goss they presented was quite hot!
October 6, 2014
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
For those who don’t know, I have a degree in librarianship. Sadly, I hated my Master’s program, but you can call me “master” which is pretty cool. One of the only courses I actually enjoyed during my time in library school was on the history of children’s literature. I’ve been a reader all my life and despite the fact that I didn’t read many of the children’s’ classics (or I did and forgot them), the history of children’s’ books is fascinating to me. As such, I found Bird, Danielson, and Sieruta’s Wild Things! a delight, full of fun trivia.
Let’s be real: I don’t read much non-fiction. Why? Because so much of it is dry and dull and there is no plot so I am bored. There’s good non-fiction, but I am very story and narrative-voice driven as a reader, so non-fiction can be really tough for me. Thankfully, Wild Things! is by a trio of librarians/professional reviewers/bloggers and it’s written in a very engaging style. Wild Things! not only had interesting content, but was compelling to actually read. The authors are clearly striving for humor in their telling and they achieve that.
Ultimately, I think the authors had two main points. 1) Children’s books deserve a lot more respect than they get. 2) Children’s book authors are people, and not perfect ones. The overall goal seems mainly to be to dispel the idea that people have about children’s books and they’re creators. The uninformed think of children’s books as “fluffy bunny” books and very simple to throw together, with an extra emphasis on picture books here. The authors thereof are seen as quirky and wholesome, perhaps in a bit of an eternal youth. If there’s a connecting thread through the various essays, it’s that. Children’s books and their authors are more complex than people generally give them credit for.
While everything in here wasn’t new to me, thanks to my course in library school, there was a lot of stuff that was. I am a HUGE fan of trivia, so that was delightful. For example, did you know that author Paula Fox is the grandmother of Courtney Love? To make the story sound even more fictional, Fox only learned that when the daughter she’d given up for adoption found her fifty years later. In other news, Shel Silverstein worked for Playboy before he became a children’s book author. Those are two of my favorite little nuggets of trivia treasure, but there is much more to be enjoyed.
One section of this book almost made me cry, which, as my friends know, is not an easy feat. There’s a lengthy section on LGBT picture books and authors. Basically, I want to punch humanity sometimes. It’s great that strides are being made, but my heart breaks for so many of these people. Even more, I’m upset that I didn’t know a single one of these authors (Maurice Sendak and Louise Fitzhugh, for example) was GLBTQ+, even though I’m really plugged into the bookish community. It makes it feel like it’s being somewhat kept secret even now and that saddens me more. Then there’s the section on the reasons books get banned, which includes homosexuality, and Christina had some angry feels. My point is that non-fiction doesn’t tend to make me emotional, but this actually did. Nice work, authors!
The only real issue I have with Wild Things! is the scope. The subtitle is “Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature,” but that is really misleading. There is some of that, certainly, as I’ve enumerated, but there’s so much more. Being gay and writing children’s books is not an act of mischief, for example. The subtitle’s cute and catchy, but it really doesn’t fit with the content. As I said, it’s not about mischief, but about the stereotypes of children’s literature and how narrow-minded they truly are.
There’s a lot of great information in Wild Things! and I think other adult readers of children’s lit would enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
For those who don’t know, I have a degree in librarianship. Sadly, I hated my Master’s program, but you can call me “master” which is pretty cool. One of the only courses I actually enjoyed during my time in library school was on the history of children’s literature. I’ve been a reader all my life and despite the fact that I didn’t read many of the children’s’ classics (or I did and forgot them), the history of children’s’ books is fascinating to me. As such, I found Bird, Danielson, and Sieruta’s Wild Things! a delight, full of fun trivia.
Let’s be real: I don’t read much non-fiction. Why? Because so much of it is dry and dull and there is no plot so I am bored. There’s good non-fiction, but I am very story and narrative-voice driven as a reader, so non-fiction can be really tough for me. Thankfully, Wild Things! is by a trio of librarians/professional reviewers/bloggers and it’s written in a very engaging style. Wild Things! not only had interesting content, but was compelling to actually read. The authors are clearly striving for humor in their telling and they achieve that.
Ultimately, I think the authors had two main points. 1) Children’s books deserve a lot more respect than they get. 2) Children’s book authors are people, and not perfect ones. The overall goal seems mainly to be to dispel the idea that people have about children’s books and they’re creators. The uninformed think of children’s books as “fluffy bunny” books and very simple to throw together, with an extra emphasis on picture books here. The authors thereof are seen as quirky and wholesome, perhaps in a bit of an eternal youth. If there’s a connecting thread through the various essays, it’s that. Children’s books and their authors are more complex than people generally give them credit for.
While everything in here wasn’t new to me, thanks to my course in library school, there was a lot of stuff that was. I am a HUGE fan of trivia, so that was delightful. For example, did you know that author Paula Fox is the grandmother of Courtney Love? To make the story sound even more fictional, Fox only learned that when the daughter she’d given up for adoption found her fifty years later. In other news, Shel Silverstein worked for Playboy before he became a children’s book author. Those are two of my favorite little nuggets of trivia treasure, but there is much more to be enjoyed.
One section of this book almost made me cry, which, as my friends know, is not an easy feat. There’s a lengthy section on LGBT picture books and authors. Basically, I want to punch humanity sometimes. It’s great that strides are being made, but my heart breaks for so many of these people. Even more, I’m upset that I didn’t know a single one of these authors (Maurice Sendak and Louise Fitzhugh, for example) was GLBTQ+, even though I’m really plugged into the bookish community. It makes it feel like it’s being somewhat kept secret even now and that saddens me more. Then there’s the section on the reasons books get banned, which includes homosexuality, and Christina had some angry feels. My point is that non-fiction doesn’t tend to make me emotional, but this actually did. Nice work, authors!
The only real issue I have with Wild Things! is the scope. The subtitle is “Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature,” but that is really misleading. There is some of that, certainly, as I’ve enumerated, but there’s so much more. Being gay and writing children’s books is not an act of mischief, for example. The subtitle’s cute and catchy, but it really doesn’t fit with the content. As I said, it’s not about mischief, but about the stereotypes of children’s literature and how narrow-minded they truly are.
There’s a lot of great information in Wild Things! and I think other adult readers of children’s lit would enjoy reading this book as much as I did.
September 6, 2018
This has prompt me to look up many books. I already had a banned/challenged bookshelf, but this encouraged me to seek more of those books out. I was already interested in LBGTQ+ picture books (and to a lesser extent YA, I have read Luna and heard of many that were mentioned), and this helped list titles I was unfamiliar with. I will also now be seeking out books by celebrities and books that won awards (good as well as bad awards).
I loved how the idea of censorship was presented. It's a thorny issue, yet not all bad. I was pleased to see some examples of 'positive' censorship, such as a contemporary author changing her ending a little (by a few words) to avoid exoticizing her non-white main character. Or forwards added to long ago published works explaining why and how the original text was (or in some instances weren't) altered. In other instances it was only images that were changed. Fascinating topics, such as why some works, in some contexts should not be censored, eg works by Twain in an academic setting. I agree that history/literary texts should not be edited to make us look better and that it can (in the right setting) lead to powerful lessons and understanding. Perhaps that is somewhat of an anthropological view, but still valid.
So much good and enjoyment from this. I found it because I had enjoyed another Betsy Bird book, and I will now also consider the other two authors.
Only one minor critique, I wish that the authors had acknowledged their western view point, as it seemed that mostly western texts and ideas were discussed. I am also curious as to other view points. For example in China Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was at one time banned due to talking animals; different cultures and eras have different mores and ideology.
I loved how the idea of censorship was presented. It's a thorny issue, yet not all bad. I was pleased to see some examples of 'positive' censorship, such as a contemporary author changing her ending a little (by a few words) to avoid exoticizing her non-white main character. Or forwards added to long ago published works explaining why and how the original text was (or in some instances weren't) altered. In other instances it was only images that were changed. Fascinating topics, such as why some works, in some contexts should not be censored, eg works by Twain in an academic setting. I agree that history/literary texts should not be edited to make us look better and that it can (in the right setting) lead to powerful lessons and understanding. Perhaps that is somewhat of an anthropological view, but still valid.
So much good and enjoyment from this. I found it because I had enjoyed another Betsy Bird book, and I will now also consider the other two authors.
Only one minor critique, I wish that the authors had acknowledged their western view point, as it seemed that mostly western texts and ideas were discussed. I am also curious as to other view points. For example in China Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was at one time banned due to talking animals; different cultures and eras have different mores and ideology.
January 8, 2019
This was loads of fun to read! The number of famous kids lit authors and illustrators who had unacceptable for then sexual inclinations, (I mean LGBT) boggles the mind. Good thing most weren't publicly known about at the heyday of their career. It likely would have ended a number of careers. Speaking of sex, did you know that the reason Ungerer vanished from the scene was because he self published a book of erotica? Can't have a kids' writer who admits an interest in sex after all! Actually, that is an attitude that many kids lit professionals have had to deal with: a general reaction that a) they don't do "real" work (Thanks J K Rowling for breaking that perception!) and b) they are rather like big kids themselves. One Newbery award winner says she often feels that if she admits her field of work that she is about to be patted on the head! So of course, you simply can't have these professionals interested in sex, right?! Trina Schart Hyman was not one to cross in the field. She has always been one of my favorite illustrators. At one point she popped a couple well, coupling, into the artwork on the side of a table (look on p133)! She also got even with a particularly vitriolic review about her work from Kirkus via a tombstone in Jean Fritz's "Will you sign here John Hancock?"! That tombstone will be blank in all but the extremely rare first edition, so don't bother racing to your library and looking it up. But if you read p129-130, you can get the full story (there is no copy of the original tombstone, darn it). OK, not the entire book deals with sex by any means but the entire book is a fascinating read. I suppose it'll never get used in an introduction to Children's Literature class because it is too much fun to qualify as a textbook. Too bad! There is story after fascinating story about the well known authors and illustrators of kids' lit in this book. You won't look at many of these books in the same light again! Their focus was to thoroughly remove the notion that kids' lit is full of sweet little bunnies and whatnot and I would say they completely succeeded in their aim! I highly recommend this to Youth Services Librarians and I hope someone does manage to get this book into an introduction to Children's Literature class in Library School. Anyone who thinks they can manage that act of mischief (see subtitle) will make many future library students much happier while studying!
Much thanks to Ms. Hancock of Candlewick for awarding me this marvelous book! Hey, it worked, I now have a copy on order for my system :)
Much thanks to Ms. Hancock of Candlewick for awarding me this marvelous book! Hey, it worked, I now have a copy on order for my system :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2014
I was hoping this would be more about dishing (Wanda Gag’s diary: “We would quote some more of the passages for you, but the pages of this book might ignite.” Dang, guys! It’s evil to tease like that!) and less about Issues…but there’s still sufficient scandal threaded through the moral and social ruminations to keep things lively. I did see a contradiction in all the mocking of pundits and librarians who object(ed) to language, character types, violence or values in children’s books that seemed immoral or dangerous to them, or at the time (and how many of those protests actually came to anything?)—but then a little later sounding a clarion warning about “celebrity books,” quoting with apparent approval Amanda Craig’s screed and others on their child-damaging potential. It seems inconsistent to dub as silly the idea that impressionable children might be moved to kill someone or become gay in imitation of their fave authors or reading, but then take seriously the threat of getting breast implants or taking up pole dancing for the same reason. Still, there’s lots to cherish in this book: “There is definitely something to be said for children having their own literature—a separate, secret, subversive world of their own. But there may also be some good in having a common ground of reading between children and adults…books that provide a bridge and understanding. Books we can all share.” Right on.
Some further comments:
“…until the late 19th century, children’s books rarely depicted children who were not white, male, and privileged.” [Not too sure they’ve come all that far since…particularly as regards the “white” part. I disagree with a later claim that children’s literature, like fairy tales, “never [takes] the part of the strong against the weak.” By number most children’s books still reflect majority, western European, middle class experiences and values. But then, look who writes, illustrates and publishes them.]
“Edward Gorey, another author who initially set out to write for adults, yet whose tales…were ultimately appropriated by children.” [Not really: search him as an author in the NYPL catalog and you’ll find 15 children’s records and 140 adult.]
“…the greatest stories written for children are those produced by people who have felt outside of the mainstream in some manner.” [Really? Mark Twain, Randolph Caldecott, Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Madeleine L’Engle, Ludwig Bemelmans, St. Exupery, Tolkien, Pratchett, Willems…just a few mainstreamers who come to mind.]
Some further comments:
“…until the late 19th century, children’s books rarely depicted children who were not white, male, and privileged.” [Not too sure they’ve come all that far since…particularly as regards the “white” part. I disagree with a later claim that children’s literature, like fairy tales, “never [takes] the part of the strong against the weak.” By number most children’s books still reflect majority, western European, middle class experiences and values. But then, look who writes, illustrates and publishes them.]
“Edward Gorey, another author who initially set out to write for adults, yet whose tales…were ultimately appropriated by children.” [Not really: search him as an author in the NYPL catalog and you’ll find 15 children’s records and 140 adult.]
“…the greatest stories written for children are those produced by people who have felt outside of the mainstream in some manner.” [Really? Mark Twain, Randolph Caldecott, Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Madeleine L’Engle, Ludwig Bemelmans, St. Exupery, Tolkien, Pratchett, Willems…just a few mainstreamers who come to mind.]
September 12, 2014
Overall quite contradictory, in its condemnation of books that will doubtless be re-evaluated in the near future, and its utilitization of a nebulous definition of "PC," deciding for others what is offensive and why. Many aspects of the book will not hold up as well as, say, Caldecott and Co.: Notes on Books and Pictures, or Touch Magic: Fantasy, Faerie & Folklore in the Literature of Childhood, but I still highly recommend "Wild Things!" for its varied opinions on many books and issues.
"Wild Things!" performed a great service for me by clarifying my thoughts on the fantasy trend in Young Adult literature of books with no real fantastic, wondrous or numinous elements at all; rather, teenage fairies, debutante vampires and boy hunk werewolves behave in typically high school ways, with cliques, exclusive schools, feelings of deserving these privileges for being so special, and much dramatic self-pity for the problems of being a non-human creature, and otherwise appearing to be a run of the mill adolescent. This trend has distressed me by seeming to take away something from my own adolescence, a sort of hidden place for my spirit to soar and to leave behind the popularity contest and at times, snake pit, of teenage life.
A simple phrase dispels a lot of the depression of this trend: they're Deceptions, they're Babysitter's Club Collection (Books 1-4), they're all the Nancy Drew knockoff mystery series that have mostly disappeared over the years. This indicates that the fairy/vampire/magic wizard student fad is going to disappear someday! And I hope that what remains will be well-written variations on the theme and wholly original books for young readers who like to find a great book after a long quest.
Even though I don't rate the book the highest, I'm sure I will go back to it for the irreverent parts, and the gossip, both of which I recommend you at least skim for.
"Wild Things!" performed a great service for me by clarifying my thoughts on the fantasy trend in Young Adult literature of books with no real fantastic, wondrous or numinous elements at all; rather, teenage fairies, debutante vampires and boy hunk werewolves behave in typically high school ways, with cliques, exclusive schools, feelings of deserving these privileges for being so special, and much dramatic self-pity for the problems of being a non-human creature, and otherwise appearing to be a run of the mill adolescent. This trend has distressed me by seeming to take away something from my own adolescence, a sort of hidden place for my spirit to soar and to leave behind the popularity contest and at times, snake pit, of teenage life.
A simple phrase dispels a lot of the depression of this trend: they're Deceptions, they're Babysitter's Club Collection (Books 1-4), they're all the Nancy Drew knockoff mystery series that have mostly disappeared over the years. This indicates that the fairy/vampire/magic wizard student fad is going to disappear someday! And I hope that what remains will be well-written variations on the theme and wholly original books for young readers who like to find a great book after a long quest.
Even though I don't rate the book the highest, I'm sure I will go back to it for the irreverent parts, and the gossip, both of which I recommend you at least skim for.
Read
December 16, 2014I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it contained some dishy, gossipy stories that I never knew and I enjoyed that. It also discussed several issues about children's publishing that I think are important, like the influx of celebrity authors and the impact of the Harry Potter series, and these issues are discussed in an intelligent and balanced manner. On the other hand, I felt throughout my reading experience like I was missing something. Often when that happens, it's a failure of expectation which is entirely my fault, and that's why I haven't given this book a star rating, because I feel it would be unfair to blame the authors for failing to live up to my expectations or to do with their book what I would have done with it. But I think I expected more "wild things," more discussion of the impact of reading on children, especially the psychological impact. For example, there's an entire chapter on the conflict (in the adult world) between "good" fiction for children and "bad" fiction -- the wholesome, quality books that critics and parents love versus the pulpy adventure stories that children devour whole-heartedly (hello, Nancy Drew!). Yet, there was no exploration of WHY this dichotomy might exist, no delving into the psychological needs these books fulfilled for the child. Granted, these authors are not psychologists and clearly this was beyond the scope of the book, but didn't these things occur to them as they did to me? Especially when their title conjured images of Max as King of the Land of Wild Things?
December 2, 2014
The three authors were all US children's book bloggers, so the focus is there. They cover such issues as diversity in authors, book banning, the history of kid's books in the US, adults-reading-children's books, and many other things as well (sex, matricide-with-a-fork, "celebrity" "writers", etc.)
Lots of fun stuff, well-presented, and amusingly. Should appeal to readers of children's books, librarians, teachers, and those of us who just can't ignore a catchy phrase like "matricide-with-a-fork" even if we already follow the blogs. I hope there will be more books to come.
Library copy, natch.
Lots of fun stuff, well-presented, and amusingly. Should appeal to readers of children's books, librarians, teachers, and those of us who just can't ignore a catchy phrase like "matricide-with-a-fork" even if we already follow the blogs. I hope there will be more books to come.
Library copy, natch.
September 28, 2019
I was so excited to read this book which promises to tell the stories behind favorite children’s lit authors and illustrators. Instead, it’s a book whose main message seems to be that the authors and illustrators who are “progressive” thinkers (read: sex, drugs, anti-“the man” -literally said so many times- and anti-traditions) are the good ones. All others are just “fluffy bunnies” and deserve to be burned. The only true art is ones who challenge our way of thinking (read: tell us porn or anti-establishment is good).
I couldn’t even finish. Maybe it gets better, but from glancing through the table of contents and other topics covered, I’m going to say it doesn’t.
I couldn’t even finish. Maybe it gets better, but from glancing through the table of contents and other topics covered, I’m going to say it doesn’t.
January 22, 2016
Wild things is a book for Bibliophiles. It's an ode to children's literature - a romp through the ins and outs and behind-the-scenes adventures of the authors, publishers, editors and yes, readers of literature for the young. In a conversational and familiar tone, this book assumes the reader knows a little about books and wants to know MORE, more about how this book world works and more about how it came to be the way it is.
I found it to be really engaging. I particularly loved the anecdotes and background information about books I'm already familiar with. Did I wish I could UNlearn a few things? Maybe. I'll never think about Shel Silverstein the same way again. But, truth is good and several times I found myself sharing stories I'd read with my reader-sister, I was so intrigued. A good sized portion of this book is dedicated to the sexual orientation of various authors and the emergence of books about homosexuals - since this part didn't interest me as much as the rest, it felt a little long but I know other readers would feel differently, so there you go.
As a girl who grew up reading Where the Sidewalk Ends and Dr. Seuss, Little House on the Prairie and Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, I was always happy to pick this up and learn more about my favorite thing: books.
I found it to be really engaging. I particularly loved the anecdotes and background information about books I'm already familiar with. Did I wish I could UNlearn a few things? Maybe. I'll never think about Shel Silverstein the same way again. But, truth is good and several times I found myself sharing stories I'd read with my reader-sister, I was so intrigued. A good sized portion of this book is dedicated to the sexual orientation of various authors and the emergence of books about homosexuals - since this part didn't interest me as much as the rest, it felt a little long but I know other readers would feel differently, so there you go.
As a girl who grew up reading Where the Sidewalk Ends and Dr. Seuss, Little House on the Prairie and Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret, I was always happy to pick this up and learn more about my favorite thing: books.
August 12, 2014
Even readers like me who have spent many decades reading, writing, writing about, and teaching about children's books will find interesting new bits of gossip and trivia here. Who knew that Wanda Gag had a scandalous sex life? Or that Tolkien turned down Maurice Sendak as an illustrator for a new edition of THE HOBBIT because an editor mistook Sendak's drawing of wood elves for hobbits, thereby convincing Tollkien that Sendak hadn't read the book closely enough? Some of us can't get enough of this kind of thing.
March 31, 2016
Light and charming from beginning to end. This isn't the book for someone wanting an in-depth look at the childrens' book industry but if you want to learn about a beef between J.R.R. Tolkien and Maurice Sendak which robbed us of a Sendak-illustrated Hobbit or hear how Laura Ingalls Wilder implied that her Pa may have rid the world of a few serial killers, this is the book for you.
May 21, 2016
While it may not be the most definitive work on children's literature or on the naughtier bits of author's lives, it still was a fun and informative read. I've already recommended it to a few people but I think anyone interested in children's lit will find something of interest here.
February 25, 2021
2021 Reading Challenge Week 8: A Book About Books
For this week's challenge, I had it narrowed down to this or Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader. This won the day because of my lifelong love of children's literature, and I really admire the author, Betsy Bird. I first encountered Ms. Bird about 18 years ago via her uniquely thorough and thoughtful reviews of children's books on amazon.com. I later discovered her blog. This is a woman who knows and genuinely loves children's literature through and through.
What Ms. Bird has created here with her co-authors is an informative and interesting survey of small and large acts of subversion in the world of children's literature. Their aim is to dispel the myth that children's literature is all unicorns and rainbows (or as they say 'fluffy bunnies'), that children both need and deserve literature that runs the full gamut of the human experience, that children's authors themselves are adults with adult needs and proclivities, and that's really nothing to get in a bunch about.
They cover a host of topics, but those that I found most interesting:
LBGTQ (though they puzzling refer to it as GLBT?) children's literature and authors. Some of our most beloved children's book authors were LGBTQ - Maurice Sendak, Arnold Lobel, Tomie dePaola, James Marshall, Margaret Wise Brown, Louise Fitzhugh, and the list goes on. While many of them were out to friends, most weren't OUT to the public for obvious reasons. A more upbeat story, however, is that of Tove Jansson who lived happily with her life partner, Tooti, and extended family.
The chapter on book banning was, predictably, irritating. Many of the usual suspects pop up, but also some that were new and surprising for me. The Rabbits' Wedding was challenged in the 1950s because of the color of the titular rabbits' fur - black and white. As the authors say, "children truly are the eternal battleground upon which all wars are fought." There were many other preposterous examples - librarians drawing little white undies on Mickey in In the Night Kitchen, people objecting to 'battlefield violence' in a book about...war...(My Brother Sam Is Dead).
I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter titled 'Kids Love 'Em. Critics Hate 'Em' which explores the idea that children are often drawn to books that many adults consider lowbrow. Thus, an eternal struggle emerges wherein adults try to cajole, guilt, or force children to read what is 'good' and end up turning kids off of reading altogether. I've always been so thankful that my childhood reading habits weren't so scrutinized and judged. I was merely encouraged to read what I liked. I was exposed to and given quality literature, but never forced. I believe that so-called 'trashy' series books, comic books, and the like serve an essential function for emerging and even established readers. Thankfully, the authors seem to mostly agree - although they admirably present both sides.
I was skeptical as I started the chapter on celebrity authors that the book would devolve into a bit of snobbery and gate keeping, but no, I think they again did an admirable job of presenting both sides here. I'll be honest, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to celebrity authored children's books simply because, in my experience, most just aren't that great. It's annoying to think that the money spent on producing and marketing some of these lackluster books might have prevented an up and coming author from getting a chance. But, as the authors point out, publishing is a business, and these celebrity books do sell. And some are actually good - Jamie Lee Curtis, John Lithgow, Julie Andrews Edwards.
An aside: I was pretty disgusted by what I learned about Madonna's foray into the picture book realm. The illustrator doesn't get equal billing on The English Roses, and Madonna stated in an interview that she was inspired to write when she started reading picture books to her own children saw how simple and stupid they were...
There's a lot more inside the pages of this book - fun asides and stories about authors and books and scandals, but I'll leave all that fun for readers to discover on their own.
*Note: I don't think the kindle edition of this book is very good, and I would recommend if possible obtaining a print copy. There are some nice images throughout, and the overall formatting is probably nicer in print.
For this week's challenge, I had it narrowed down to this or Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader. This won the day because of my lifelong love of children's literature, and I really admire the author, Betsy Bird. I first encountered Ms. Bird about 18 years ago via her uniquely thorough and thoughtful reviews of children's books on amazon.com. I later discovered her blog. This is a woman who knows and genuinely loves children's literature through and through.
What Ms. Bird has created here with her co-authors is an informative and interesting survey of small and large acts of subversion in the world of children's literature. Their aim is to dispel the myth that children's literature is all unicorns and rainbows (or as they say 'fluffy bunnies'), that children both need and deserve literature that runs the full gamut of the human experience, that children's authors themselves are adults with adult needs and proclivities, and that's really nothing to get in a bunch about.
They cover a host of topics, but those that I found most interesting:
LBGTQ (though they puzzling refer to it as GLBT?) children's literature and authors. Some of our most beloved children's book authors were LGBTQ - Maurice Sendak, Arnold Lobel, Tomie dePaola, James Marshall, Margaret Wise Brown, Louise Fitzhugh, and the list goes on. While many of them were out to friends, most weren't OUT to the public for obvious reasons. A more upbeat story, however, is that of Tove Jansson who lived happily with her life partner, Tooti, and extended family.
The chapter on book banning was, predictably, irritating. Many of the usual suspects pop up, but also some that were new and surprising for me. The Rabbits' Wedding was challenged in the 1950s because of the color of the titular rabbits' fur - black and white. As the authors say, "children truly are the eternal battleground upon which all wars are fought." There were many other preposterous examples - librarians drawing little white undies on Mickey in In the Night Kitchen, people objecting to 'battlefield violence' in a book about...war...(My Brother Sam Is Dead).
I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter titled 'Kids Love 'Em. Critics Hate 'Em' which explores the idea that children are often drawn to books that many adults consider lowbrow. Thus, an eternal struggle emerges wherein adults try to cajole, guilt, or force children to read what is 'good' and end up turning kids off of reading altogether. I've always been so thankful that my childhood reading habits weren't so scrutinized and judged. I was merely encouraged to read what I liked. I was exposed to and given quality literature, but never forced. I believe that so-called 'trashy' series books, comic books, and the like serve an essential function for emerging and even established readers. Thankfully, the authors seem to mostly agree - although they admirably present both sides.
I was skeptical as I started the chapter on celebrity authors that the book would devolve into a bit of snobbery and gate keeping, but no, I think they again did an admirable job of presenting both sides here. I'll be honest, I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to celebrity authored children's books simply because, in my experience, most just aren't that great. It's annoying to think that the money spent on producing and marketing some of these lackluster books might have prevented an up and coming author from getting a chance. But, as the authors point out, publishing is a business, and these celebrity books do sell. And some are actually good - Jamie Lee Curtis, John Lithgow, Julie Andrews Edwards.
An aside: I was pretty disgusted by what I learned about Madonna's foray into the picture book realm. The illustrator doesn't get equal billing on The English Roses, and Madonna stated in an interview that she was inspired to write when she started reading picture books to her own children saw how simple and stupid they were...
There's a lot more inside the pages of this book - fun asides and stories about authors and books and scandals, but I'll leave all that fun for readers to discover on their own.
*Note: I don't think the kindle edition of this book is very good, and I would recommend if possible obtaining a print copy. There are some nice images throughout, and the overall formatting is probably nicer in print.
January 14, 2024
"Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature" - written by Betsy Bird, Julie Danielson and Peter D Sieruta and published in 2014 by Candlewick Press. "Children's literature makes us fall in love with books and we never recover - we are doomed." This was a quote by Tony Kushner from a tribute to Maurice Sendak. This book was so good! Each page seemed to dredge up another memory of children's book authors and books. This is not a cozy run through of names and titles, but an up front discussion of how it all fits into our world, with many pertinent quotes. The "Acts of Mischief" include murder, critics, sex, death, book banning and other interesting topics. "...for every individual with the urge to create, there will always be another person, eager to point out how they're doing it wrong." I learned a lot. A blurb on the back cover from Booklist says it all: "Wild Things!, I think I love you."
November 10, 2014
Lots of fun. I've read a couple of scholarly books about subversive and radical kidlit; this, on the other hand, is a casual, chatty, gossipy spin, way less work to read and way more playful. Folks who are familiar with the history of popular children's books won't find a lot of surprises (PL Travers was pretty dang racist! there are many shitty celebrity-penned kidbooks! noted loonybat Courtney Love is author Paula Fox's granddaughter, and Fox doesn't like her much either!) but I enjoyed the book's breadth, tone and lack of pretension. My fave anecdote (and anecdotes are this book's great strength): George Plimpton was such a mensch to newbie Jerry Spinelli! Great story. With bonus Woody Allen guest appearance.
My caveats: It did bug me a bit that there was a chapter on LGBT authors that didn't necessarily support the notion of their books being any more "mischievous" than those of straight authors. What makes their work "acts of mischief"? Merely the writers' sexuality? If the point of the book is that there's a lot of naughtiness in the widely-and-stupidly-regarded-as-insipid-and-cutesy world of children's books, then what makes "AND ALL THESE PEEPS WERE GAY" worthy of its own chapter? I do get what the authors were going for: These writers were outsiders, and it would shock uptight guardians of culture to know they were not straight. But mmm, I had issues.
Also, do not drop coy hints about certain authors' pervy, porny adult writing -- C'MON, GIVE US THE GOODS! When you tell us we'd be SHOCKED, SHOCKED and you do not deliver, you sound like the stereotype of shushy librarians and I feel DEPRIVED and AGGRIEVED. (I've read a little of Shel Silverstein's '"erotic" stuff, and yeah, EW. But still: THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW.)
That said, this is a quick, tasty, informative read for any adult with a fondness for children's books but not a lot of background in their history.
(Full disclosure: I know Betsy Bird a little -- WHO DOESN'T -- and am utterly addicted to her blog for School Library Journal, but have only met her a couple of times in actual real life.)
My caveats: It did bug me a bit that there was a chapter on LGBT authors that didn't necessarily support the notion of their books being any more "mischievous" than those of straight authors. What makes their work "acts of mischief"? Merely the writers' sexuality? If the point of the book is that there's a lot of naughtiness in the widely-and-stupidly-regarded-as-insipid-and-cutesy world of children's books, then what makes "AND ALL THESE PEEPS WERE GAY" worthy of its own chapter? I do get what the authors were going for: These writers were outsiders, and it would shock uptight guardians of culture to know they were not straight. But mmm, I had issues.
Also, do not drop coy hints about certain authors' pervy, porny adult writing -- C'MON, GIVE US THE GOODS! When you tell us we'd be SHOCKED, SHOCKED and you do not deliver, you sound like the stereotype of shushy librarians and I feel DEPRIVED and AGGRIEVED. (I've read a little of Shel Silverstein's '"erotic" stuff, and yeah, EW. But still: THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW.)
That said, this is a quick, tasty, informative read for any adult with a fondness for children's books but not a lot of background in their history.
(Full disclosure: I know Betsy Bird a little -- WHO DOESN'T -- and am utterly addicted to her blog for School Library Journal, but have only met her a couple of times in actual real life.)
October 11, 2014
If you are at all into children's books, this behind-the-scenes tell-all is sort of like reading a supermarket tabloid about the stars: lots of juicy gossip. Still, some serious issues are addressed (and truthfully, those chapters are not nearly as much fun). The three authors blog about children's books and are apparently friends (although one of the authors has passed away and the book is dedicated to him). This book was just a real lark of a read. I kind of skimmed the preachy bits---I have probably read some of that stuff before---to go straight to the more inconsequential, but more entertaining bits. For example, it was fun to read about how Jon Scieszka was inspired by MAD Magazine. (My brother loved that magazine when we were kids. He was aghast that my mother threw out his collection when he was away at college.) You'll get the real story behind how the Madeleine books came about. You will read about how P.L. Travers changed some chapters in her books to erase some racism, but how she wasn't maybe entirely successful. I learned how the steam shovel came to achieve its final job in "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel". I could go on, but you get the picture. My advice: if you love children's books, read it.
October 19, 2014
If you like children's lit, you'll appreciate this. But...I had trouble with the voice and focus. Right from the start, the authors seem to apologize for children's literature and then, through their "shocking" tales, rescue it from a perceived world of "cute." First, I just don't think a non-believer is going to pick up this book, so the apologizing isn't really necessary, nor is it based in anything accurate. Second, those who do pick up the book (the aforementioned children's lit "believers") are already going to know about 90% of the info and stories that are shared here. Occasionally, the writing is nerdsville, amused with itself. All of that said, I'd still recommend it to anyone who likes kid's books. It's a quick read that at least summarizes things nicely and in a (mostly) entertaining fashion.
September 14, 2014
This is a terrific book for anyone who is passionate about children’s literature. For those who have grown up reading classic children’s books, those who have written and will write children’s books, and anyone who loves to hear the juicy secrets lurking behind a seemingly tame body of works. This is a collection of little known facts about favorite authors, discussions on what makes children’s literature so great, and helps explain why we never seem to completely grow out of it. AND there is an entire section dedicated to the history of banning and censorship of children’s literature. This is an entertaining, informative read discussing and analyzing one of the most rapidly changing genres in literature today.
November 8, 2014
This book hit all the right tones with me. It felt a little gossipy with fascinating snippets about some of my favorite authors, but at the same time meatier issues such as book-banning and diversity are addressed. As a bonus, I knew almost all of the authors discussed which made me feel well-read and high brow. It's always a plus when that happens.
I would have loved to have had more. More stories shared, more gossip given, more speculation, and more topics discussed. Maybe they'll make a second volume? Fingers crossed.
I would have loved to have had more. More stories shared, more gossip given, more speculation, and more topics discussed. Maybe they'll make a second volume? Fingers crossed.
September 20, 2014
This book will be especially entertaining and informative for readers who don't have a lot of knowledge about children's books but who would like a fun and entertaining backstage history of this world that is not all fluffy bunnies, rainbows, and unicorns. I know a lot about children's publishing history but there are some great stories in here I never knew. I would have liked a bit more juicy gossip but anyone who wants to know the stories behind some the most revered children's book creators will find this lively collection of anecdotes revealing and a whole lot of fun.
December 7, 2014
Honestly, the truth is that we don’t need to tell everything. I’d have to say that, for the most part, that is true of this entire book. Do we really need to know all the secret lives of our most beloved authors and illustrators? I’d say no. And, consequently, I’d tell you, if you feel the same way, then don’t bother reading this book.
November 17, 2020
If you have an interest in children's books, this is a delightful deep dive into some of the various aspects of children's books. From picture books to young adult novels, this covers subjects like author sexuality to reasons books are banned to the rise of series. It was well worth the time if only for learning that my own mother unintentionally raised me on mostly gay authors and illustrators.
September 3, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyable, I liked the flippant tone and their choice of topics, especially the discussion of how children and adults read the same books differently. Also, from Jennifer Boylan's mother: "it is impossible to hate anyone whose story you know." I Iook forward to a sequel.
July 12, 2014
Fabulous fun. The three do a great job bringing out the real world behind all those fluffy bunnies. At times hilarious, poignant, and informative. Well done, Betsy, Jules, and the late great Peter.
May 3, 2015
Just the right amount of academia and snark
I'd love it if there was eventually a Volume 2 of Wild Things.
I'd love it if there was eventually a Volume 2 of Wild Things.
September 30, 2014
Loved, loved, loved this book! If you have any interest in the history of children's literature, or the hidden stories behind some of your favorite children's authors, you have to check it out!
June 6, 2018
Entertaining and sassy look at some of the trends in children's literature as well as some of its underbelly. It's not all fluffy bunnies! Most evident here is the 3 contributors' love and respect for the genre. "The one constant truth about children's literature is the immense influence it has on its readers' lives.... Literature writes children's book author Julius Lester, is one way we enter the realm of the imaginative, and it enables us to put ourselves in another's shoes and experience 'other modes of being. Through literature, we recognize who we are what we might become.'" Tony Kushner says "Children's literature makes us fall in love with books and we never recover -- we're doomed." (5) Some of the topics the authors look at are subversiveness in children's literature -- think Dr. Suess and Cat in the Hat. There is more to a good book than a moral lesson and sometimes children learn those lessons best by seeing what not to do. This evolution of children's lit in the 20th century from didactic primer to imaginative expression is probably the biggest impact and improvement on the genre. There are some secrets of authors' lives revealed (sometimes too much! don't really want to know about the sex life of the author of Mary Poppins!) and the celebrity author trend -- awesome quote by Jane Yolen about a potential role-reversal with Madonna! some revelation of pseudonyms -- James Frey writes on after his Oprah-shaming as part of the Pittacus Lore duo. Great chapter on book banning and what people hate to see in the children's books, as well as some revisionist history around racism and cultural sensitivity (Oompa Loompas for one) and a interesting look at the Potter phenomenon and its financial influence on children's lit (whole new NYT bestseller list for one). If you geek out on kids' books, don't miss this one.
January 17, 2018
“Children’s literature makes us fall in love with books and we never recover – we’re doomed.” (p.5)
“Childhood is not a phase to be disregarded; the same should be said of the books children read. They deserve well-crafted tales from the people who have the talent to write and illustrate them and who take their craft seriously.” (p.6)
“Children are the eternal battleground upon which all wars are fought, all desires placed, and all hopes and dreams embodied.” (p.14)
“For a great deal of time, boys did boy things and girls did girl things. There were so ubiquitous in the culture that no one thought twice about it.” (p.69)
“Interestingly, if at any point Lyle the crocodile were to, say, find an interest in another male crocodile, that book would be challenged in conservative districts faster than you can say “gay gator.” But if the character in the book is nebulous, or a child, then it slips right on in. Subversion on a picture-book level.” (p.71)
“So it was and so it shall always be: for every individual with the urge to create, there will always be another person, eager to point out how they’re doing it wrong.” (p.142)
“And it’s fascinating that the complaints about children reading unsavory books and comics are always couched in terms of “fear.” One wonders if these authority figures were actually afraid for their children….or becoming afraid of them.” (p.159)
“Masters of realism, children see things as they really are- honest and unsentimental.” (p.180)
“There’s a feeling that if you are not “good” as a children’s author in the strict moral sense of the word, then you cannot possible be creatively “good” as a children’s author.” (p.195)
“Childhood is not a phase to be disregarded; the same should be said of the books children read. They deserve well-crafted tales from the people who have the talent to write and illustrate them and who take their craft seriously.” (p.6)
“Children are the eternal battleground upon which all wars are fought, all desires placed, and all hopes and dreams embodied.” (p.14)
“For a great deal of time, boys did boy things and girls did girl things. There were so ubiquitous in the culture that no one thought twice about it.” (p.69)
“Interestingly, if at any point Lyle the crocodile were to, say, find an interest in another male crocodile, that book would be challenged in conservative districts faster than you can say “gay gator.” But if the character in the book is nebulous, or a child, then it slips right on in. Subversion on a picture-book level.” (p.71)
“So it was and so it shall always be: for every individual with the urge to create, there will always be another person, eager to point out how they’re doing it wrong.” (p.142)
“And it’s fascinating that the complaints about children reading unsavory books and comics are always couched in terms of “fear.” One wonders if these authority figures were actually afraid for their children….or becoming afraid of them.” (p.159)
“Masters of realism, children see things as they really are- honest and unsentimental.” (p.180)
“There’s a feeling that if you are not “good” as a children’s author in the strict moral sense of the word, then you cannot possible be creatively “good” as a children’s author.” (p.195)
April 27, 2015
I expected to enjoy this romp through children’s literature based on reviews I had read before Christmas, and I was not disappointed. Reading it is like sitting down with a group of smart, funny friends who know the dirt on everyone in the business. Not only do they know fascinating trivia and scandalous stories, but they also have immense respect for the people–writers, illustrators and editors (maybe not all the celebrities)–who have contributed to children’s literature through the ages.
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