{"product_id":"wild-things-the-joy-of-reading-childrens-literature-as-an-adult-paperback","title":"Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eBruce Handy\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn irresistible, nostalgic, insightful--and \"consistently intelligent and funny\" (\u003ci\u003eThe New York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e)--ramble through classic children's literature from \u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e contributing editor (and father of two) Bruce Handy.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe dour \u003ci\u003eNew England Primer\u003c\/i\u003e, thought to be the first American children's book, was first published in Boston in 1690. Offering children gems of advice such as \"Strive to learn\" and \"Be not a dunce,\" it was no fun at all. So how did we get from there to \"Let the wild rumpus start\"? And now that we're living in a golden age of children's literature, what can adults get out of reading \u003ci\u003eWhere the Wild Things Are\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eGoodnight Moon\u003c\/i\u003e, or \u003ci\u003eCharlotte's Web\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eLittle House on the Prairie\u003c\/i\u003e? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA \"delightful excursion\" (\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e), \u003ci\u003eWild Things \u003c\/i\u003erevisits the classics of every American childhood, from fairy tales to \u003ci\u003eThe Very Hungry Caterpillar\u003c\/i\u003e, and explores the back stories of their creators, using context and biography to understand how some of the most insightful, creative, and witty authors and illustrators of their times created their often deeply personal masterpieces. Along the way, Handy learns what \u003ci\u003eThe Cat in the Hat \u003c\/i\u003esays about anarchy and absentee parenting, which themes are shared by \u003ci\u003eThe Runaway Bunny\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ePortnoy's Complaint\u003c\/i\u003e, and why Ramona Quimby is as true an American icon as Tom Sawyer or Jay Gatsby. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt's a profound, eye-opening experience to re-encounter books that you once treasured decades ago. A clear-eyed love letter to the greatest children's books and authors from Louisa May Alcott and L. Frank Baum to Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, Mildred D. Taylor, and E.B. White, \u003ci\u003eWild Things\u003c\/i\u003e is \"a spirited, perceptive, and just outright funny account that will surely leave its readers with a new appreciation for childhood favorites\" (\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eBruce Handy is a journalist, critic, humorist, and children's book author. His work has appeared in \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eVanity Fair\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe New York Times\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, among other publications. His book \u003ci\u003eWild Things: The Joys of Reading Children's Literature as an Adult\u003c\/i\u003e was published in 2017. He is also the author of five picture books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Happiness of a Dog with a Ball in Its Mouth\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhat If One Day...\u003c\/i\u003e, both of which were named \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e Best Children's Books. He began his career as a writer and editor at \u003ci\u003eSpy\u003c\/i\u003e magazine, and also spent a season (1992-1993) writing for \u003ci\u003eSaturday Night Live\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 336\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.88 x 8.38 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 07, 2018\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52909646381280,"sku":"9781451609967","price":21.27,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/5909\/4496\/files\/lBGRH91O2V9781451609967.webp?v=1781554984","url":"https:\/\/improvedinc.myshopify.com\/products\/wild-things-the-joy-of-reading-childrens-literature-as-an-adult-paperback","provider":"Improved Improper Input Inc.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}