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.

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.