Thursday, May 25, 2006

Giving kids credit

As some have heard me say before, it's frustrating to write, say, a picture book manuscript and be told "kids wouldn't get that" when you know, in fact, that kids WOULD get that. Admittedly, not EVERY kid, but still a large percentage "get" quite a bit. I was struck by this again while reading the Newbery Honor-winning Dr. DeSoto by William Steig. Like most of his work, it doesn't stint on vocabulary, ideas, complex thoughts, and wonderful illustrations that others might shy away from (like the blood-dripping tooth extracted by the titular Dr.). And, of course, it's a hit as a read-aloud. Ah well... I guess the goal is to become as well-known as William Steig so you can wield a little clout and prove your point!


Some more of the recent library read-alouds...

Duck For President - Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Giggle, Giggle, Quack - Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Things that are MOST in the World - Judi Barrett. Illus. by John Nickle
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - Judi Barrett. Illus. by Ron Barrett

2 comments:

fusenumber8 said...

You've covered your Lewins and your Steigs, as one should, but let us not forget the Feiffers of the world. Which is to say the best darned readaloud ever written by the pen of man. "Bark George", by Jules Feiffer has my forever and undying love. Just a small mention.

Greg Pincus said...

Thanks, Fuse. I've done Feiffer's Daddy Mountain as a read-aloud, but sadly that's the only one we have at the library. I'll get us Bark George, however. It's unusual for us to have done multiples by the same author, but both of those came from the success of the first book rolling quickly and unexpectedly into the next. What can ya do when they want more books? Give 'em more, I say.