Wild Things

April 17, 2017
In an article about why he chose to write for children rather than adults, Theodore Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, acknowledged the “low pay, low status” accorded his profession. As if to redress this state of affairs, Handy, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, does his part here to give the iconic authors of children’s literature their due in his spirited, perceptive, and just outright funny account of reading childhood favorites through adult eyes. He takes readers from the first books of childhood—such as Margaret Wise Brown’s classic Goodnight Moon, Maurice Sendak’s surreal Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen, and the dizzy, euphoric invention of Dr. Seuss’s works—to the chapter books of Beverly Cleary, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and E.B. White. He asserts that these works represent a shift from the dull realm of the Dick and Jane storybooks to more complex and idiosyncratic material. Biographical sketches of the authors complement thematic analyses of their works. Interestingly, most of the authors profiled here had no children of their own, but nonetheless had a great understanding of children’s feelings and viewpoints. Handy’s breezy, friendly style lends the book a bright feeling, as of old friends discussing old friends, and this book will surely leave its readers with a new appreciation for childhood favorites. Agent: Jennifer Joel, ICM Talent.

Starred review from May 15, 2017
A Vanity Fair contributing editor encourages adult readers to tumble back down the rabbit hole of childhood and rediscover their favorite books.In his first book, veteran cultural critic Handy, a former writer and editor at both Time and Spy magazines, astutely discusses the central truth about rereading children's books, which is that the experience is equal parts nostalgia and revelation. Focusing on books for pre-young adult ages, he observes that adult rereaders of beloved childhood texts cannot engage with the work without acknowledging the mature perspective that adulthood confers; thus, they will rediscover the works from a new vantage point. A book like this is difficult to write and can be even more difficult to find an audience for. To succeed, the tone must be informative but not pedantic, and Handy nails it, displaying a highly engaging prose style that showcases an impressive ebb and flow of sentence structure and delicate mix of information and entertainment. The author expertly employs his experience as an editor and writer, mingling personal anecdotes with literary history and social commentary while discussing the enduring popularity of Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon or pondering what message Shel Silverstein's somewhat masochistic The Giving Tree is supposed to teach its young audience. Handy's candor is one of the book's most refreshing features, and he invites readers to puzzle through their own complicated thoughts about favorite novels right alongside him. Writing about everything from The Chronicles of Narnia to Where the Wild Things Are to The Tale of Peter Rabbit, the author demonstrates a deep love of children's literature and a keen understanding of the ways in which reapproaching beloved texts can highlight the connections and differences between a child's perception and adult reality. As well-researched as it is seamlessly composed, this book entertains as it educates.

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June 15, 2017

Handy (contributing editor, Vanity Fair) writes in an adult voice that is sophisticated and charming and occasionally profane, yet he accesses his own childhood authentically and reacts to the stories through this youthful gaze. The listening pose of a child hearing a story is rapt and present and expecting to be delighted, and Handy drops naturally into this posture, expressing a joy and wonder that is authentically his and often not shared by the children at his side. When this happens he shrugs off their no-funness in precisely the way they might shrug off their nonplussed neighbor at the library's story time. This invites the adult reader to sit at his other side, in the same posture, and makes this book delightful to read--especially for parents who may be encountering critical theories of children's literature for the first time. Once the reader is so "seated," the criticism served up on books such as Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat is rollicking and razor sharp, consistently engaging, always on point, and packed with history, theory, and humor. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone who reads--or has read--children's literature.--Jenny Brewer, Helen Hall Lib., League City, TX

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 30, 2017
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 Good-
night Moon 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.