Comments on: Lower Standards for Children’s Literature? I Don’t Think So!

By: Bernice Franklin

Bernice Franklin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 06:15:55 +0000

This article was helpful in a paper I am writing for my thesis.

Thanks

Bernice Franklin

By: Katie Hine

Katie Hine — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:02:01 +0000

Outrageous! As a children’s writer, I am offended.

By: Tony Burton

Tony Burton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:05:19 +0000

Chris, Irene, Elysabeth–thanks for the supportive comments! I, too, hope the publisher in question takes a step back and looks at this situation. It is so sad to think that anyone has the idea that kids’ literature should have lower standards than the books written for adults.

By: Chris Speakman

Chris Speakman — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:57:16 +0000

For my daughter, 8 years-old, I want the best. When it is something, anything, coming from me I try each and every time to give her my best.

I do hope this publisher hears you and the other editors. Thank you for giving voice to this.

By: Irene Black

Irene Black — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:37:13 +0000

Every time I see one of those required list for children I gag. I can’t think of a better way to kill a love of reading. Always-always give children the very best books to read, with all the factors you mentioned plus a few others.
A well crafted story, one that challenges the imagination of the reader, let them wrap their chops around fantastic mental images that expand the possible. If we do this we will have them for life and maybe they will forgive us as adults when our egos let us serve up sub-standard fair. No child ever will, their honesty hasn’t been polluted.
If a new publisher wants to survive in this business they’d better rethink their goals and put out only the very best possible. The public won’t buy substandard fair for long–maybe once at a deep–deep discount.

By: Elysabeth

Elysabeth — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:04:21 +0000

Great article. I write children’s stories and my publisher said, so far, that my fourth in the series is my best. Now to live up to that with future books is blocking me. Guess we should all have publishers like this. If the grandmother just wants to publish for her grandchildren, she could have gone to any number of places online that would publish her stories without all the editing and stuff – http://www.lulu.com and createspace.com – both allow the author to purchase their books at cost and it never has to go public.

But hopefully, like you said, the publisher will come to her senses and realize that three editors saying the same thing can’t be wrong. And you have a strong background in editing and writing, so that should tell her something right there.

Thanks for sharing with us. E

Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad (JGDS), 50-state, mystery, trivia series
STATE OF WILDERNESS, book 1, now available.
STATE OF QUARRIES, book 2, now available
STATE OF RESERVATIONS, book 3, available February/March 2010
STATE OF ALTITUDE, book 4, available April/May 2010

By: Tony Burton

Tony Burton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:19:12 +0000

Thanks, Steve!

By: Stephen Pohl

Stephen Pohl — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:13:25 +0000

Great article Tony!

By: Tony Burton

Tony Burton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:14:20 +0000

Thanks, Jan. The publisher has been around the book biz for years, but only recently started a publishing company. I hope she matures in her attitudes.

By: Jan

Jan — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:10:11 +0000

Good points, all, Tony. I totally agree with you. What the publisher said was dreadful.