tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post8181974879572700419..comments2024-03-10T16:42:34.106-04:00Comments on Collecting Children's Books: Sunday Brunch with Birds, Bees, Blyton, and BeatrixPeter D. Sierutahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09301507180150710089noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-75957387863335011072010-09-06T10:27:40.313-04:002010-09-06T10:27:40.313-04:00I loved Enid Blyton's Five books as a child gr...I loved Enid Blyton's Five books as a child growing up in Southern California many years ago, although I now realize, seeing your list, that my library only carried a handful.<br /><br />I wonder if they're less available in the U.S. now because they're considered old-fashioned and (based on something else I saw on a blog mentioning them recently) not entirely PC?Kate Coombshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10138566291199003171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-24857737995944106012010-09-03T14:14:28.195-04:002010-09-03T14:14:28.195-04:00"It seems to me that Harper Lee’s novel is a ..."It seems to me that Harper Lee’s novel is a perfect example of an “honorary children’s book” -- a title originally published for adults that has been embraced by young readers, assigned for school, and is pretty much considered a book for all ages these days."<br /><br />Good God, I hope not. There's far too much context they won't get (in a book for adults lots of stuff didn't need to be spelled out), and most kids, especially white kids, will get entirely the wrong message. Just because it's ostensibly from a child's point of view doesn't make it children's literature, or even young adult literature. It's actually very much an adult point of view conveyed INDIRECTLY through a supposedly ignorant child narrator.<br /><br />Moreover, this is a book about racism, but it's not about black people to any great extent. It's mostly about white people, and seems to expect white readers. While there are certainly some black readers who've loved the book, I get a definite impression from the discussions I've seen that most do not. <br /><br />Helen Schinskehschinskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10316478950862562594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-48055892236297985662010-08-30T09:51:34.383-04:002010-08-30T09:51:34.383-04:00I love Enid Blyton, but have always preferred the ...I love Enid Blyton, but have always preferred the "Adventure" series rather than the "Five" series. I think it was a case of the perfect book at the perfect time, but "Valley of Adventure" held me in thrall for years. Still enjoy it on rereading too but can see its flaws as an adult. Actually it has the same "kids on their own coping with life" plot that "Crunch" does, and similar to another favorite, "The Boxcar Children". This was always a key theme for my favorite books and I guess I haven't changed. Glad you are enjoying "Crunch" though.ChrisinNYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16876571838417116075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-41125564033584923852010-08-29T18:57:25.832-04:002010-08-29T18:57:25.832-04:00Enid Blyton's Adventure series which begins wi...Enid Blyton's Adventure series which begins with Mystery Island/aka The Island of Adventure was published in the US, but as you observe her other series were wildly popular primarily in British Commonwealth countries and were translated into dozens of languages. Many Americans became fans while visiting a country where her books were sold. Although I inherited a couple of the Adventure books from my mother (published by Macmillan in the 50s), it was the Malory Towers, St. Clare's, and the Naughtiest Girl in the School books I loved. Relatives going to London or Toronto were bullied into bringing them back for me. Despite snide comments about the French and Americans my sister and I loved these, and her daughters do too.<br /><br />I still like the Adventure series the best of her mysteries.CLMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595294217111602231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-58861301962252405852010-08-27T00:06:27.545-04:002010-08-27T00:06:27.545-04:00Whew! Saved by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle from being a re...Whew! Saved by Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle from being a reading pariah.<br />We have some of the Famous Five books in our library, but a British mom was deeply disappointed that we didn't have any Noddy books.linnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-60911413277277731822010-08-24T10:57:18.893-04:002010-08-24T10:57:18.893-04:00I was introduced to Enid Blyton when I was 8 when ...I was introduced to Enid Blyton when I was 8 when we visited England in 1965. I loved her books. Don't forget that she is extremely popular in Australia, Canada, and other British "territories". That probably accounts for the numbers.<br />I managed to collect around 20 of her books at library sales. There are other series besides the Famous Five, of course, and there are all the Noddy books for beginning readers.<br />One of hers, The Faraway Tree (I think) was repeatedly mentioned in the comments on the Guardian's list of favorite children's books, so I'm going to try to track that one down. <br />Oddly enough, they are being re-vamped to omit the dated British slang for the modern reader, which is a shame. I think it's part of their charm.<br /> Jeanne K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-521184763358177502010-08-24T10:13:17.230-04:002010-08-24T10:13:17.230-04:00The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is read in Eng...The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is read in English classes (Grade 11 and 12) in Canada. It wasn't a Young Adult book originally.Bybeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10061186489010154661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-26547679020690644852010-08-23T21:08:39.275-04:002010-08-23T21:08:39.275-04:00GULLIVER'S TRAVELS immediately popped into my ...GULLIVER'S TRAVELS immediately popped into my mind--a prime example of what Tolkien called works that have "been relegated to the 'nursery.'"Brerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14429065718316352989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-3178404141087062302010-08-23T13:54:27.830-04:002010-08-23T13:54:27.830-04:00There are also honorary teen books. One Flew Over ...There are also honorary teen books. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (very big when I was growing up probably because of the movie). Herman Hesse's novels. I know I'll think of more after I post this.<br />I think crossover teen/adult books have vanished or narrowed because of the growth of YA.<br />The hummingbirds in my yard don't fight but I'm pretty sure they have some kind of menage-a-trois thing going on. Perhaps that's normal for hummingbirds.Laura Canonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16574566234310522696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-42382318603635949552010-08-23T10:47:45.761-04:002010-08-23T10:47:45.761-04:00I'm also a skipper. Either if I'm really l...I'm also a skipper. Either if I'm really loving it or really not - the first, I get to slow down and enjoy it knowing what happens, and the latter I can decide if the middle is worth reading.<br /><br />We have all the Famous Five books at my IL library, by patron request. But mostly, kids around here love Malory Towers (boarding school) and Noddy (especially since it's a PBS show). I think she's mainly huge in Britain/Canada/Australia, though.Shelleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-28563801634419231922010-08-22T23:46:29.134-04:002010-08-22T23:46:29.134-04:00I am a skipper. Not all the time mind you, but if ...I am a skipper. Not all the time mind you, but if I think I have figured out the end or I am becoming frustrated or I know I won't be able to sleep without knowing then I too skip to the end. It's the same as knowing the ending of a movie and watching anyway because you still want to see it. <br /><br />I am in the middle of Scumble and I think the cover would draw in young readers. I did read and review Crunch and loved it. Great story. Can't wait to see your review of it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02066282166494052315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7046320545497573335.post-56324829346104775662010-08-22T22:18:40.175-04:002010-08-22T22:18:40.175-04:00Actually, many of what we think of as children'...Actually, many of what we think of as children's books are actually "honorary." BLACK BEAUTY wasn't written as a children's book; neither was CALL OF THE WILD, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, BEAUTIFUL JOE, and REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM, yet you will see them prominently in the children's (or young adult) department. SMOKY by Will James is another "honorary."Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00684124498981972463noreply@blogger.com