"An irresistible, nostalgic, and insightful--and totally original--ramble through classic children's literature from Vanity Fair contributing editor (and father) Bruce Handy. In 1690, the dour New England Primer, thought to be the first American children's book, was published in Boston. 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"?...

"The best children?s and young adult novels take readers on wonderful outward adventures and stirring inward journeys. In The Magic Words, editor Cheryl B. Klein guides writers on an enjoyable and practical-minded voyage of their own, from developing a saleable premise for a novel to finding a dream agent. She delves deep into the major elements of fiction?intention, character, plot, and voice?while addressing important topics like diversity, world-building,...

"In Pictured Worlds, renowned historian Leonard S. Marcus shares his incomparable knowledge of this global cultural phenomenon in the definitive reference work on children’s book illustration. The author of more than 25 award-winning books, Marcus here highlights an international roster of 101 artists of the last 250 years whose touchstone achievements collectively chart the major trends and turning points in the history of children’s book illustration....

Join award-winning author Mitali Perkins as she explores the promise of seven timeless children's novels for adults living in uncertain times. Through works by Louisa May Alcott, C. S. Lewis, L. M. Montgomery, Frances Hodgson Burnett, and other literary uncles and aunts, Perkins unpacks wisdom to help us thrive. "The stories we read as children shape us for the rest of our lives-- but it's never too late to discover that transformative spark of hope...

In this collection of essays and speeches written over the course of four decades, beloved storyteller Natalie Babbitt explores what it was like to be a "little dog" in the literary world, continually being forced to justify her choice to write books for children-instead of doing something more serious. Babbitt offers incisive commentary on classic children's books as well as contemporary works, and reveals colorful insights into her own personal...

"Islamophobia is a long standing, deeply entrenched global issue. Targeting the Muslim community was a key part of the Republican agenda in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections and since the Donald Trump's election, this fear of Islam and Muslims is translating into policy as well. Islamophobia disrupts civil society at many levels, from anti Muslim policies such as the travel ban, to heightened tensions and hate crimes across the country, including...

"The extraordinary life of the woman behind the beloved childrens classics Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny comes alive in this fascinating biography of Margaret Wise Brown. Margarets books have sold millions of copies all over the world, but few people know that she was at the center of a childrens book publishing revolution. Her whimsy and imagination fueled a steady stream of stories, book ideas, songs, and poems and she was renowned for her...

A holiday-themed companion to the best-selling Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book, written by the editorial director at Golden Books, collects iconic, retro-style holiday artwork by such luminaries as Eloise Wilkin, Richard Scarry, and Garth Williams.