What makes a really good kid's book?

I bought a novel today-- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. And yes, I bought it for me. It came very highly recommended by my eight-year-old grand-daughter. And she's a pretty good judge of what makes a good story. Her opinion is backed-up by the Newberry folks who made it an honour book. It's also won many other awards. And it's been made into a film a few times already.

But I'll wait until I finish the book before seeing the film. As my grand-daughter recommends.

That raises the question of what makes a really good child's book. Or what makes a kids'
book great?

Speaking at an  inaugural children’s publishing conference last May 31, in New York City, Richard Robinson, President and CEO of Scholastic Inc, the kids' book empire, said that a great book is…

• One that contains a simple and original idea presented with clarity and great power.


• One that connects with the reader, asserting its world directly into the reader’s mind.


• One that makes the world seem larger and more interesting.


• One written with humor and a light touch.


• One that is a realization of a complete but very different world.

That could apply to books for all ages, not just kids. Kids interviewed in an un-named survey thought fun and funny were important, as well as a resemblance to their lives. That would explain the shelves full of Judy Blooms and similar authors. My grand-daughter did think the Junie B. books were funny when we read them together a couple of years back, but not great. She lost interest quite quickly, to the relief of her father who worried she may take lessons from the irrepressible Junie.

 

Certainly kids' lit is a booming business-- the Frankfurt book fair is testament to that. And one that has not yet shifted to digital in any big way. Can it be that the bulk of buyers are grand-parents who can't quite fathom snuggling down for a bedtime story on screen?