Penderwicks Again

Kelly of the excellent children's literature site Big A little a clued me into this Boston Globe interview with Penderwicks author Jeanne Birdsall. Here's a quote:

"I started with characters," [Birdsall] said. ''I wanted to write about four sisters—obviously a 'Little Women' thing. What I loved about books when I was a child were characters' reactions to interesting situations, rather than highly plotted books. That's what I always saw, even in 'The Secret Garden' and 'Little Women' and E. Nesbit's and Edward Eager's magical books."

Loads of other riches at Big A little a today, including word of a new Dick King-Smith novel (hoorah!), an interesting quote about the particular challenge of finding a picture book that can stand up to the rigors of a hundred read-alouds in a row, and links to dozens of children's book reviews. Great site.

Comments

[Kelly]

Okay, now I'm blushing...
Thanks for your kind words.

[Melissa Wiley]

The praise is well deserved...I am hooked on your site. Except--one bone to pick--you are doing frightful things to my "books I want to read" list. It is swelling to monstrous proportions!