Comments for KidLit History

Comment on A New Year’s Wish by Linda

Linda — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:00:09 +0000

I so agree! I have a treasured shelf just like you of classic children’s books. They are as dear to me as any of my other classics. I am working on a project about Louisa May Alcott and music–You can check it out on my website if you wish. Nice to come across your blog as I was doing some research.–Linda

Comment on More than a malt shop by Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:49:02 +0000

Julie,
I’ve read two Beany books (the first one and Happy Birthday, Dear Beany), but I must confess that I don’t really like them. I have friends who adore them, but I just can’t get into them.

Comment on An abundance of dandelions by Melissa

Melissa — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:46:44 +0000

Carolynne, I don’t love the Indian reference either, but I loved the rest of the scene so much that I had to share.
And Susan, I hadn’t even thought about the four types of girls–I know I certainly kept switching on who I liked best.

Comment on More than a malt shop by Julie

Julie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:34:57 +0000

Sorry, also meant to say that Weber’s books are a bit deeper than the malt shop books, but good for evoking their era.

Comment on More than a malt shop by Julie

Julie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:32:50 +0000

Just came across this blog entry. Has anyone suggested Lenora Mattingly Weber’s Beany Malone books? Her Katie Rose books are good, too, but they’re more sixties and Beany is more fifties.

Comment on An abundance of dandelions by Carolynne

Carolynne — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:47:44 +0000

It is a charming book. I am dismayed at the “dandelions are skulking Indians,” though. Have you read “Two Are Better Than One”?

Comment on An abundance of dandelions by Susan Chapek

Susan Chapek — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:29:51 +0000

Thank you for blogging about the book that was one of my girlhood favorites–and my mother’s before me. It follows the time-tested tradition of giving readers four very different *types* as main characters (I think back to Little Women, and ahead to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants). Add the *magic* of playing house in a real instead of a toy house!–for certain readers, this is as great a gift as a wand and a scholarship to Hogwarts.

Comment on For better or worse, these are my people by jenn

jenn — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:17:11 +0000

love this!! I will have to read it.

Comment on Anticipation. . . by Idzar

Idzar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:05:19 +0000

My stesir and I visited Mansfield this past weekend for Wilder Days. Wow – what a wonderful weekend! While we were drawn to Mansfield this particular weekend so that we could actually hear Pa’s fiddle being played and so that we could go upstairs in the Wilder’s farm house, we knew that we also wanted to attend the pageant. This summer we toured all the Laura Ingalls homesites and attended the pageants in Walnut Grove and De Smet. So, naturally, when we learned of the Mansfield pageant, we knew we had to attend. This was, by far, the best pageant of the three. Although it had to be moved inside the school gym due to the weather, the gym backdrop quickly faded away as the pageant came to life. The music was incredible. The scenes chosen for the pageant completely captured the spirit of the books. I was not prepared for the emotional ending. When Laura departs for Mansfield and Pa sings to his half pint, I literally had to wipe away a tear that slipped down my cheek. That was so powerful. Despite the damp, dreary weather, we had an incredible time and are already planning to attend next year so that we can see it at the amphitheater. Thank you for the perfect end to an already wonderful day!

Comment on A new kind of historical fiction? by Teresa

Teresa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:35:44 +0000

Marketing doesn’t drive sales, reeadrs do. in that, publishers feed the beast what it wants. if it’s historicals with men in kilts on the cover and the story to reflect that, then so be it. why would they take a chance on something else when the beast demands more men in kilts? it’s all a numbers game.and right now it’s more crucial than ever that publishers give the beast what it wants.unfortunately that doesn’t leave much room in the budget for buying and publishing a remarkable story that will only appeal to a niche reeadrship.can the argument be made that there have been break out books no one wanted? not really, because those are exceptions, and as a rule, business does not prosper on exceptions. though exceptions can certainly add to a business’s bottom line, but again, if publishers took chances on every story they love that didn’t fit the beast menu, they would be out of business.Amy and Edie, you just gave me an idea for my blog tomorrow! thank you!