 |
 |
|
From
the July/August 2006 issue of The Horn Book Magazine Letters to the Editor May/June 2006 Horn Book Regretfully, I must ask you to inform your correspondent, Sarah Ellis (“Cadenza”), that the title Harry Potter and the Golden Compass by Margaret Atwood is the name of my forthcoming free verse tell-all memoir about agrarian reform in Sussex, 1834–1849. Gregory Maguire
March/April 2006 Horn Book I am an avid reader of The Horn Book Magazine who enjoys Terri Schmitz’s reviews of upcoming reprints. I usually skim “Recommended Reissues,” noting those titles I loved as a child as well as those that are new to me, to add to my library’s collection. I must disagree with Ms. Schmitz’s assessment of the Thomas the Tank Engine Story Collection. The “very British, railway-jargon-filled language and plot lines” are not beyond the comprehension of the Thomas fans I know. My four-year-old son and the other Thomas-obsessed children I meet at the library are quite capable of understanding signals, the changing of points, and the shunting of trucks. The “arcane” railroad terms and old-fashioned vocabulary can be quite enjoyable. I am personally pleased to know that my son has added snigger and cheeky to his vocabulary. Many of the mothers and grandmothers I serve are relieved to discover that the original Thomas stories are much better written than the cheap paperback plot summaries that are so readily available. Most of us would rather read Awdry’s detailed, railway-rich stories than the paperbacks that rely on sketchy dialogue to move the plot forward. I do agree that the 500-page format is daunting and not conducive to snuggly bedtime reading. Neither is it effective for group sharing, which we confirmed when my son insisted on my reading a story from his own copy to his preschool class. Fortunately, reprints of the original small books are also available. I have added them to my library collection and am happy to report that they are rarely on the shelves. As a consumer, it was more cost effective for me to purchase the oversize collection rather than the smaller books, which is why we are the proud owners of a much-loved and slightly dilapidated copy of the Thomas the Tank Engine Story Collection. Would you assume that Beatrix Potter is beyond the comprehension of the preschool audience? Please give your youngest readers a little more credit. Rita Hunt Smith
November/December 2005 Horn Book Janet McDonald’s article, “Up the Down Staircase: Where Snoop and Shakespeare Meet,” was a delightful and informative introduction to Ms. McDonald and her writing. This former “project girl” turned writer and academician brings an authenticity to her writing about at-risk kids. I love her concept of bringing together the worlds of academia and at-risk kids to entertain and educate them without preaching morals. Thank you, Horn Book, for introducing me to Ms. McDonald. Hers are exactly the type of books I enjoy buying for my young adult readers. Denise Sciandra |
 |
  
 
  |
||||||||
