Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book (Hardcover)

~ Anita Silvey (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Silvey’s book includes mini-essays and interviews with more than 100 accomplished Americans, from businessmen and politicians to artists, athletes, and actors. Writers like Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume are also included, showing how a love of reading is handed down from one generation to the next.” —Parade magazine

“This handsome compendium is dense and delightful. And the longish title is a perfect catalyst for more conversation, in classrooms and at the dinner table. What children's book taught you something valuable? Discuss.” —San Francisco Chronicle

“This collection of essays provides the titles of books which functions as a must-read list for all.” —Kiwi magazine’s BookClub

“This volume—perfect for any gift-giving occasion—will inspire adults to enhance their family lives and contribute to the future of our society through the good books they choose to share with their children.” —BookPage

“Place a book in a child’s hands and you never know what will happen. In Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children’s Book, Anita Silvey gathers the reminiscences of adults about the works that influenced them as children and the lessons that still resonate.” —School Library Journal’s Curriculum Connections

Product Description

"What children's book changed the way you see the world?"

 

Anita Silvey asked this question to more than one hundred of our most respected and admired leaders in society, and she learned about the books that shaped financiers, actors, singers, athletes, activists, artists, comic book creators, novelists, illustrators, teachers...

 

The lessons they recall are inspiring, instructive, and illuminating. And the books they remember resonate as influential reading choices for families. EVERYTHING I NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED FROM A CHILDREN'S BOOK--with its full color excerpts of beloved children's books, is a treasury and a guide: a collection of fascinating essays and THE gift book of the year for families.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; 1 edition (October 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596433957
• ISBN-13: 978-1596433953
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,344 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Children's Books > Literature > Literary Criticism & Collections
  #10 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Essays

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book, November 2, 2009

By	Shelley Sommer "sommerreading.com" (Boston) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I found a new book to "dip into" when I have a few minutes or need something inspirational to read - Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book by Anita Silvey. I guess on some level, this could be said for the majority of people in the world. Most of us learned to read from children's books, and that was the starting point for everything else we have learned. But...that is not the point of Silvey's terrific book. It's a 230 page collection of small essays by people from across the professional spectrum about how they were inspired by a favorite children's book. The emphasis is on how the book continues to resonate in their lives today. It's interesting to see what people chose to write about. So far, my two favorite essays are Gregory Maguire's on The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton and Sherman Alexie's comments on The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.

My only complaint is that I wish there was one line at the bottom of each essay identifying the writer. I knew most of them, and of course, they are all identified in the back, but just flipping through and stopping to see that Stan Lee was inspired by the Poppy Ott books was tricky. With all respect to Mr. Lee, I did not know who he was. I do now. He is associated with Marvel Comics. But I had to flip to the back of the book to find that out. I wish there had been a quick identification under his name so I didn't have to keep flipping back and forth. No problem though. It doesn't take away from this wonderful book.

I was especially excited to see that I share a favorite book with two distinguished people. Before looking at Silvey's book, I thought about what book I would choose. That took 2 seconds: Charlotte's Web. And it turns out that both Louis Sachar and Eric Rohmann felt the same way!