School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-This volume focuses primarily on the work of seven innovators in the field of children's literature. It begins with a broad overview of the subject at hand, tracing publishing aimed at children from its pedantic, moralistic roots through fairy tales and syndicate novels to today's realistic fiction. Successive chapters deal with the lives and work of A. A. Milne, E. B. White, C. S. Lewis, Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Maurice Sendak, and Judy Blume. Unfortunately, these profiles are merely time lines padded with quotes and copious praise. Students may come away knowing a bit more about how these writers felt about their work, but readers and the writers themselves are done a disservice by the total lack of humanizing details. There is also the egregious absence of L. Frank Baum and Beverly Cleary, not only from the list of authors profiled, but also in the overview. Despite these shortcomings, the writing is clear and to the point. There are ample quotes from the writers and the people who knew them (all duly footnoted), a selection of black-and-white photographs, and an excellent further reading list. Libraries that own Something about the Author (Gale) may want to skip this one, though it is an adequate choice for larger collections.-Timothy Capehart, Leominster Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Each volume begins with an overbroad historical survey, followed by six to eight individual profiles. Illustrated with mediocre black-and-white photos, reproductions, and maps, the books contain limited personal information, focusing mostly on what made each individual famous (or infamous). Limited by their brevity, these profiles may serve as a starting point for report writers seeking basic biographical information. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
