Down the Rabbit Hole; Adventures and Misadventures in the Realm of Children's Literature

by Selma G. Lanes

Discusses the sources, literary merits, and developmental value of good juvenile literature and offers guidelines for selecting high quality children's reading materials

Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selma G. Lanes, who seems to have been something of an eminence in children's book reviewing fifty years ago, writes with a verve that I found entertaining, even though I'm not particularly interested in such topics, as say, comparing and contrasting Kate Greenaway and Joan Walsh Anglund (in a chapter amusingly entitled "Greenaway Went Thataway"). She's also a lot more interested in Maurice Sendak than I am, and I guess in picture books in general, but I like that she's also a fan of Richard Scarry. I found the chapter on children's books as "merchandise" rather than literature an interesting window into publishing back in the day, and it's clear that commercially driven tie-in books aren't a new phenomenon. The one part of the book that really hasn't aged well is the chapter in which she declares that black people are wrong to find The Story of Little Black Sambo offensive, and rather, that Bannerman's work should be celebrated for desegregating picture books. Yoiks.

[Bonnie]

A bit of a slog, and rather dated, but an interesting insight into children's literature from the 70s. At least an interesting insight into her personal opinions on children's literature...

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a refreshing attitude - unafraid to criticize.