Harold Bloom (originator of Bloom's Taxonomy, a hierarchy of learning) has selected the stories and poems in this anthology. Bloom does not accept the category of "Children's Literature" as he feels it implies stories have been dumbed down. He blends Kipling, Carroll, and Lear with Hawthorne, Gogol and Turgenev, all chosen to illuminate and entertain. He feels children often stop reading because they are not challenged by what they read. This anthology includes 41 stories (many quite short) and 83 poems, including 8 selections by Lewis Carroll. The writings are organized into four themed sections, one for each season. Most works are from the 19th century or earlier. Fantasy is represented in animal fables and fairy tales. Comedy is throughout. I loved reading Bloom's intro to the book. He is truly in love with the writing he has chosen for this collection. Some titles includes: the Wind and the Rain (Shakespeare,) A Crazy Tale (Chesterton,) the Remarkable Rocket (Wilde,) the Goose Girl (Bros Grimm,) the Stag Looking Into the Water (Aesop,) the Recessional (Saki,) the Red Shoes (Anderson,) the Eagle (Tennyson.) pb, 572pp. ~Sara
"If readers are to come to Shakespeare and to Chekhov, to Henry James and to Jane Austen, then they are best prepared if they have read Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling," writes Harold Bloom in his introduction to this enchanting and much-needed anthology of exceptional stories and poems selected to inspire a lifelong love of reading. As television, video games, and the Internet threaten to distract young people from the solitary pleasures of reading, Bloom presents a volume that will amuse, challenge, and beguile readers with its myriad voices and subjects.Here are old favorites by beloved writers of children's literature, as well as exciting rediscoveries and wonderful works penned by writers better known for their adult classics, such as Herman Melville, Leo Tolstoy, Edith Wharton, and Walt Whitman. Encompassing the natural world and the supernatural; childhood, romance, and death; pets, wild animals, and goblins; mystery, adventure, and humor; the selections reflect the passion and erudition of our most revered literary critic. Arranged by season, Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages is a must-have anthology, sure to delight readers young and old for years to come.
| Product Format: | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Scribner |
| Grades: | 7-AD |
| ISBN: | 9780684868745 |
| Length in Inches: | 9.375 |
| Width in Inches: | 6.25 |
| Height in Inches: | 1.375 |
| Weight in Pounds: | 1.3 |
