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"? And now that we're living in a golden age of children's literature, what can adults get out of reading
Where the Wild Things Are and
Goodnight Moon, or
Charlotte's Web and
Little House on the Prairie?
In
Wild Things, Vanity Fair contributing editor Bruce Handy 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
Portnoy's Complaint, and why Ramona Quimby is as true an American icon as Tom Sawyer or Jay Gatsby.
It's a profound, eye-opening experience to reencounter books that you once treasured after decades apart. A clear-eyed love letter to the greatest children's 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 will bring back fond memories for readers of all ages, along with a few surprises.
