Allison recently graduated from Newcastle University with a Masters in Children’s Literature. An avid reader, Allison is my partner in crime when it comes to our love of YA Lit. Enjoy her guest post on the current state of children’s literature! -Kim

“The Song Remains the Same: Despite Skyrocketing Popularity and Award-Winning Authors, Children’s Fiction Still Struggles for Credibility”

As Children’s Book Week comes to a close, it seems only right to consider how far children’s literature (everything from picture books through young adult) has come and how far it has yet to go. The unprecedented popularity of children’s books in recent years has piqued the interest of literary critics and the media at large. Attention that, seemingly, has added to the credibility of children’s literature as quality fiction. This attention however, still often serves as a double-edged sword, acknowledging the importance of children’s books in today’s society while at the same time deriding the quality and caliber of children’s fiction as obviously inferior to books written for adults.

A recent article in the LA Times, entitled “Young Adult Lit Comes of Age,” is a perfect example of the common perception of children’s fiction—dismissive even as the writer attempts to highlight its increasing importance. Please consider the following excerpt as case and point:

I think part of the reason we’re seeing adults reading YA is that often there’s no bones made about the fact that a YA book is explicitly intended to entertain,” said Lizzie Skurnick, 36, author of “Shelf Discovery,” a collection of essays about young adult literature from the 1960s and 1970s.

“YA authors are able to take themselves less seriously. They’re able to have a little more fun, and they’re less confined by this idea of themselves as Very Important Artists. That paradoxically leads them to create far better work than people who are trying to win awards.

Skurnick’s reasoning is simplistic at best and offensive at worst. Her thesis is that adults like YA books because they are entertaining. More than that, YA novels are unabashedly open about the entertaining nature of their content (I can already see a parade forming in my head—We’re here!  We’re entertaining! So get used to it!). This rather ridiculous statement presupposes that adult literature—or at least adult literature from “Very Important Artists…who are trying to win awards”—is not entertaining, or must mask any entertainment value (no doubt with obscure references and dense, ‘literary’ language). I am reminded of a scathing article in the Atlantic by B.R. Myers in 2001, in which Myers picks apart the qualities deemed “literary” by today’s high-brow literati, pointing out that the unifying quality of highly-acclaimed novels is their boring content. If you’ll humor me, I’d like to share with you part of Myers’s article, which aptly describes the underlying beliefs about literature held by Skurnick and the literary elite:

Today any accessible, fast-moving story written in unaffected prose is deemed to be “genre fiction”—at best an excellent “read” or a “page turner,” but never literature with a capital L. An author with a track record of blockbusters may find the publication of a new work treated like a pop-culture event, but most “genre” novels are lucky to get an inch in the back pages of The New York Times Book Review.

“Everything written in self-conscious, writerly prose, on the other hand, is now considered to be “literary fiction”—not necessarily good literary fiction, mind you, but always worthier of respectful attention than even the best-written thriller or romance. It is these works that receive full-page critiques… It is these works, and these works only, that make the annual short lists of award committees. The “literary” writer need not be an intellectual one. Jeering at status-conscious consumers, bandying about words like “ontological” and “nominalism,” chanting Red River hokum as if it were from a lost book of the Old Testament: this is what passes for profundity in novels these days. Even the most obvious triteness is acceptable, provided it comes with a postmodern wink. What is not tolerated is a strong element of action—unless, of course, the idiom is obtrusive enough to keep suspense to a minimum. Conversely, a natural prose style can be pardoned if a novel’s pace is slow enough, as was the case with Ha Jin’s aptly titled Waiting, which won the National Book Award (1999) and the PEN/Faulkner Award (2000).

Under the burden of these demands, fiction for children has no chance of being considered worthwhile “literary fiction.” The prose style, written for a young audience, will never be pretentiously ‘writerly’ enough. The plots and pacing, designed to engage (and, yes, entertain), will never be muted and stilted enough. No, authors for young readers will have to be satisfied with their extreme popularity and impressive sales, never to be recognized as literary geniuses because let’s face it, they are basically entertaining monkeys, clanging cymbals.

Oh wait, I remember now. Didn’t Phillip Pullman win the Whitbread Award for Best Novel of the Year in 2001 for his YA book The Amber Spyglass? Yes, he did, and please note, it was the best novel of the year, not just best children’s novel. For Skurnick to assert that children’s book authors are not “serious,” are not “artists,” and aren’t the kind of authors that “are trying to win awards” is ludicrous. Children’s authors have numerous awards, not least of which is the Newbery Medal. Some children’s literature authors, like Pullman and Sherman Alexie, also win awards traditionally awarded to authors of books for adults.

Despite staggering popularity and the critical acclaim for superb storytelling and writing, ultimately, children’s books as a group are still considered the work of authors “who take themselves less seriously,” or who couldn’t write a novel for adults. In the same LA Times article, author Cecil Castellucci is quoted, lamenting the constant question “when are you going to write a real novel?”

Yet, there is hope. The increased popularity of quality children’s books is raising the bar, leading to more high-quality books for children and young adults. The thoughtful, well-researched, and beautifully written Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn is just one inspiring example of excellence in YA fiction, but there are now numerous options in the YA section of great storytelling.

Bottom line, there has always been excellent children’s literature, as well as a fair few awful books, as is the case with books for adults. The increasing interest in YA fiction among adults is not the sole test of a books quality, but rather points to a desire among readers of all ages for engaging and exciting reads, regardless of the intended audience of the book.

Jumping on the nostalgia bandwagon from Children’s Book Week, I’d thought I’d share a few thoughts on how my reading habits as a kid have influenced my life.

It’s not just that my reading tastes today are an extension of what I appreciated as a kid (for example, I’ve moved on steadily from Agatha Christie short stories to P.D. James and Reginald Hill novels), but that my reading patterns are also the same. I usually find myself torn between what I actually want to read, and what that sneaky creeping voice in my head that tells me what I should be reading. That’s why one of my current projects is the Well-Stocked Bookcase.

Looking back, I can pinpoint the exact moment this argument began – my 4th grade summer reading list. We were supposed to read books that had won Newbery Medals, and the minute I held the list in my hands I knew my mission. I was going to defeat every other kid in class. I was going to read every. single. book. Even the awful ones, like The Giver and Walk Two Moons. So I know that despite not particularly wanting to read The Maltese Falcon (saw the movie, good enough for me!), I’m going to, because the competitive little 9 year old in me wants to dominate this newest list and won’t shut up until I do.

I can’t help but credit my parents for cultivating my love of reading as a kid. Sure, I loved playing Super Mario Bros. and Command & Conquer, but I also loved that there were bookshelves in every room of our house and I could try reading whatever I wanted. You have no idea how cool I felt knowing I was reading a book meant for grown-ups. (Although upon further reflection, The Joy Luck Club was about as boring to a 10 year old as it was to a high school senior.)

I also remember the almost weekly visits to Children’s Book World down on Pico & Prosser to read the next book in the Nancy Drew or Encyclopedia Brown series. And a few times I remember my brother and I being babysat by the Borders in Westwood – we’d mosey around the store and read for a few hours until we were wanted again. It was a pretty sweet trick – my parents knew that any time my brother and I spent reading was time we weren’t trying to drive each other crazy.

My parents view reading as a fun, relaxing activity, and I’ve inherited that attitude from them. Don’t get me wrong, ask me to come play Mario Kart and I’ll happily hurl some tortoise shells, but leave me alone with no work to do and I’ll inevitably start reading something. The format may be different – I may be turning physical pages, or flicking digital ones, or even having my computer’s text-to-speech read aloud to me while I crochet (imagine a robot reading a romance novel – it’s hilarious. And possibly the best mood booster this side of prescription pharmaceuticals.) But the passion remains the same. I know that my love of stories comes straight from my childhood, when my parents encouraged me to read and never told me I couldn’t try the “grown-up” books on their shelves.

I thought now would be a good time to share with all of you the top ten authors from my childhood who have had the most influence on not only my literary tastes, but my life (as corny as that sounds). So, in brief:

10. Shel Silverstein (I think I still have “Homework, Oh Homework” still memorized…)
9. The Brothers Grimm (Fairy tales? Yes please!)
8. C. S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia was the first series I remember completing, and I wanted more!)
7. Roald Daul (Who hasn’t read a Daul book? Seriously.)
6. Meg Cabot (Anything *but* the Princess Diaries series!)
5. Sharon Creech (She took up my entire 6th grade reading life)
4. Sarah Dessen (And she was the rest of middle school!)
3. Robin McKinley (With her amazing narrative and ability to retell classic fairy tales without making me want to go to sleep, McKinley pretty much rocks my world to this day.)
2. Patricia C. Wrede (She introduced me to the idea of the unconventional princess who can take care of herself just fine. I loved it!)
1. Tamora Pierce (Words can’t describe the massive impact this author has had on me. Her characters are wonderful, her stories engaging, and her characters amazing role models. I absolutely love her stuff!)

Who influenced you? Leave a comment and let us know!

See larger image The Song of the Lioness Quartet: Alanna: The First Adventure / In the Hand of the Goddess / The Woman Who Rides Like a Man / Lioness Rampant (Paperback) By (author) Tamora Pierce List Price: $22.00 USD New From: $85.00 In Stock Used from: $27.99 In Stock Release date May 27, 2003.

Hey everyone! How’s your Thursday going? (It is Thursday, right? This week has seriously been dragging!) We’re right in the middle of Children’s Book Week 2010, which is great timing for Borders’ new summer reading challenge for kids! Kids under 12 who read ten books by August 26, 2010 can pick up a free book at Borders. For the deets, visit the Borders “Double Dog Dare” info page. For more info on CBW events, check out their website!

That’s all for now. Expect some more CBW-related goodness in the next few days! Happy reading

The Children’s Choice Book Awards were held last night in New York City as part of Children’s Book Week. For more info on CBW, check out Kim’s post from yesterday. Congrats to authors and illustrators Paulette Bogan, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Rachel Renee Russell, Suzanne Collins, James Patterson, and Peter Brown! For the full results, visit the Children’s Book Week official site.

Hey guys! Welcome to Children’s Book Week 2010!

It’s that wonderful time of year again where the literary world takes a moment to appreciate the magical affect children’s literature brings to readers of all ages. Beginning in 1919, educators, librarians, and booksellers have celebrated with various events like parties, storytelling, author signings, and other celebratory events! Here’s a list of some great events going on this week, links with more information about Children’s Book Week, and ways to get involved in the amazing experience that is children’s literature:

• The official Children’s Book Week site can be found here.
• All about Children’s Book Week.
• Children’s Book Week events.
• Children’s Book Week awards finalists reading their books aloud.
• Kids can create their own books online here.
• We Give Books, a wonderful charity for kids’ books.
• Kids Need to Read is another great kids charity.
• Books for kids to read online.
• Do ebooks ruin children reading?
• For what others are saying about Children’s Book Week, check out Twitter’s #childrensbookweek

Watch for some children’s lit-themed posts all week as we celebrate the books and authors who helped shape us into the readers we are today! And be sure to check out our Shelfari bookshelf below for all of our favorites!

Have a favorite children’s book? Want to share it? Leave a comment and we’ll add it to the bookshelf!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly book meme hosted by Should Be Reading, where we share a “teaser” from a book we’re currently reading. This week, in honor of Children’s Book Week, we’ve decided to share teasers from books we loved as kids. (And expect a post later with more info on CBW!)Want to join in? Here’s what you do:

1. Find a book you’re currently reading (or your favorite children’s book)
2. Share two sentences from a random page
3. Comment on this post to share them with us! Don’t forget to include the title & author as well.

Kim’s pick: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

The fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift. When I cried inconsolably through my first hour of life, my tears were her inspiration. Shaking her head sympathetically at Mother, the fairy touched my nose. “My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying, child.” I stopped.

Ranjana’s pick: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A delinquent, that’s what I am, she thought grimly. That’s what they’ll be saying next.

(P.S. There’s a great review of A Wrinkle in Time over at The Crowded Leaf.)

Hi guys! I hope everyone had a great weekend, because I know I did! This year marked the 14th annual LA Times Festival of Books and my first time experiencing it. Started in 1996, the festival is held on the UCLA campus during the last weekend in April and features publishers, authors, and vendors from all over the country. It was unbelievable! The crowds were huge, the weather was perfect, and there were panels for everyone! It was a great opportunity for thousands of people to come together and celebrate their love of everything literature. To get a basic idea as to what this looked like, check out this photo I took at the event:

And this is just one section of the festival!

For the rest of the photos, check out our photo gallery! And now, for the video!

Here’s a video with my basic summary and reaction to the different panels I was lucky enough to see! If Vimeo doesn’t work, hit the jump to watch the Youtube version and for some more information on the event. Also, HUGE thanks to Ranjana for making the video happen!

Here are some links for more information on the panelists, authors, and topics I discussed in the video:

• The festival’s program schedule
• David Shannon
• Richelle Mead
• The Reduced Shakespeare Company
• Wil Wheaton
• An article on the “New Media Meets Publishing” panel

Questions? Comments? Were you there too? Leave a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to get back to you!

Hey guys! Did you know that this week is National Library week? True story. Head over to the American Library Association’s page for resources and events that celebrate the opportunities libraries afford us every day. And don’t forget to check out the slideshow over at the Huffington Post where you can vote on the most beautiful libraries in America! My pick is definitely the George Peabody Library in Baltimore. Love those balconies!

The George Peabody Library. (Image from The Huffington Post)

Happy Monday everyone!

Update: Kim just sent me these amazing links to a photo gallery of Neil Gaiman’s personal library. Gaiman is the chairman for National Library Week 2010, and man am I ever jealous of his collection!

Hey guys! Hope you’re enjoying the start of the weekend! Just wanted to post a quick update on our campaign for Room to Read. Their Financial Times dollar-matching continued through today, so to maximize the donation value we have donated the money we’ve received so far. However, we are still raising money for Room to Read through Feb 9 and are able to dollar-match up to $50 more in donations. To donate, please see our previous post about Room to Read.

We were able to donate $204.40 ($210 minus Paypal fees) to Room to Read today. Thank you so much for your support! Here’s an ecard about the donation (you can also view it here):