Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult

Reading his book in a friendly and welcoming voice, Handy revisits classic children’s literature from his youth and considers the staying power of each as he reads them to his own children. He discusses classic picture books such as [em]Good- night Moon[/em] and Where the Wild Things Are and series such as the Oz, Narnia, and Ramona Quimby books. In each chapter, he explores a specific book, its background, related titles, and what he considers the most poignant elements of the story. In narrating, Handy clearly communicates his enthusiasm for rereading the books; listeners can easily imagine him sitting next to his children’s bed reading to them. He has a consistent cadence like that of a professional narrator that keeps the prose moving along but is tinged with youthful exuberance, which proves essential as he narrates passages from the stories or discusses his children’s or his own initial reactions. It’s a convivial performance sure to please anyone with a fondness for classic children’s books. A Norton hardcover. (Aug.)