What would a "Best Children's Book Ever" list be without Judy Blume?
Today’s news attempts to answer the question, “What are the best children’s books ever?” (no, we will never stop looking for an answer to that question) and ventures into dangerous water by assessing the relevance of poetry. Also, Pushcart Prize winners for 2011 have been announced, though apparently we’re not allowed to know who they are. Enjoy!
- We may have recommended children’s books before, but the Guardian claims to know best in its feature “The Best Children’s Books Ever.” Noting that more and more children are starting kindergarten without having been read to consistently, the article suggests best books by age group, starting with 0 to 2 and progressing through 12 and up. The lists include a nice mix of classics and modern books, so there’s something for everyone (even you, if you’re feeling nostalgic).
- This week, PaperCuts asks the question stubborn high schoolers have been asking for years–”Does poetry matter?” Blogger Gregory Cowles discusses a trend he’s noticed lately in the literary conversation, questioning the relevance of poetry. He admits, “Even among poets there seems to be a nervous consensus that it’s not [relevant].” Cowles ties this idea to a recent piece in Poetry magazine, which suggests poetry needs to become more political and relate to the everyday man. What do you think? Do you still read poetry, or is it a luxury you don’t have time for?
- The Pushcart Prize winners for 2011 have been announced, only nobody knows who they are. Unlike other literary prizes, the Pushcart–which celebrates poetry and short stories originally published in literary magazines–doesn’t announce its winners online, so the only way to get a full list of recipients is to wait for the anthology to come out next year. Luckily, Jacket Copy has rounded up a few of the winners (based on blog posts etc), and hopefully will inspire more winning writers to toss modesty aside and come forward. After all, this internet culture means we want to know now!!
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