h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Favourite Children's Books - A87762513
Author: Bluebottle - U43530

An article based on a Talking Point on children's books.
Much of the behind-the-scenes hard work on creating this article was done by VIP, but the community contributed to creating this entry.

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The original conversation was: F19585?thread=8290917

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I'll go through this more thoroughly later, but this jumped straight out at me:

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affect = effect

corrected!

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Very comprehensive, and covers most that I recall. Although indeed, there are some missing frmo my personal expereience, however, you could keep writing the list.

One thing, the title states Favourite Children's Books, yet you list the works by author...

Also, I have a problem with some items being listed as children while many of the titles are in the more 'young adult' category. And I object to 'Lorna Doone''s inclusion in the list as a voracious reader this yank couldn't manage the dialect, it was definately an unfavourite of mine.

You seem to divide the books into just two categories: under 5 and 5+. This is odd, as a book that is suitable for a 6-year-old might seem childish for a 12-year-old. Perhaps you should start with an explanation of why you've done this.

I suppose under 5 is "read by adult to child" while 5+ is "read it yourself", as most children learn to read at about 5.

Of course it is difficult to add an age category; I read the Narnia books at age 8 and the Hobbit at 10. I found the Lord of the Rings too difficult at age 10, but lapped it up at age 11.

I'd say "narrated by Ringo Starr" rather than "starring Ringo Starr".

"push me - pull me" should be "pushmi-pullyu".

Tolkein should be Tolkien

If we're allowed requests, could you add "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton? It was my favourite book when I was in Junior school

*note to self* I'd personally like the suggested recommended ages altered. eg under fives, young readers, older readers.

Deciding which age group a book should fall into depends not so much on the difficulty of reading the text, but also the subject matter. Children vary not only by reading ability but by emotional development. The final decision on what is suitable rests with the parent and the child themselves, for example, Tolkien can be read aloud to quite young children who'd not be able to cope with such a lengthy text.

I think the JK Rowling section needs some editing. Admittedly, people have said the same about her books, so this may be intentional.

The Mick Inkpen section is very short too. I could try to work something up if you'd like?


Geggs

What Matt said. Plus, I haven't read many books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, but I can't imagine the Barsoom series was written for children. It probably depends on how you define children, though.

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The title states Favourite Children's Books, yet you list the works by author.
Good point. I kept the title Books as that is what the Talking Point was. Arranging the list by book order would be a bit complicated, so perhaps this should be renamed 'Favourite Children's Authors'? I'll wait what people think but if no-one objects to a name change in the next day or so, I'll rename it.
I object to 'Lorna Doone''s inclusion in the list as a voracious reader this yank couldn't manage the dialect
Not one of my favourites either, but it was someone's favourite and so included. Not everyone will enjoy everything
I have a problem with some items being listed as children while many of the titles are in the more 'young adult' category.

I'd say "narrated by Ringo Starr" rather than "starring Ringo Starr".
Corrected
You seem to divide the books into just two categories: under 5 and 5+. This is odd, as a book that is suitable for a 6-year-old might seem childish for a 12-year-old. Perhaps you should start with an explanation of why you've done this.
Well, to be honest, we've got lots of books at home on what books are good for the under 7s, but nothing above that age group.
I'd personally like the suggested recommended ages altered. eg under fives, young readers, older readers.
Sounds a good idea to me, although again everyone will have slightly different ideas of what is for young readers or older readers etc.

If we're allowed requests, could you add "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton? It was my favourite book when I was in Junior school
Requests are still allowed GB! Can you pop along to F19585?thread=8290917 and write a short paragraph, and I'm sure it can be included.
I think the JK Rowling section needs some editing.
I've not written too much about her and although mentioned, she wasn't discussed in depth. I have included links to articles on her and on Harry Potter. As these exist, I don't think this article needs to go into too much depth.
The Mick Inkpen section is very short too. I could try to work something up if you'd like?
Please do! Although I was reading a Mick Inkpen book to my son from the library yesterday, one about a stuffed bear that climbs a chimney to get to the North Pole so that Father Christmas can help him squeak. I've read a few Kippers, but he's not one of my personal favourites.

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I agree, Bel. I've read the entire Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian series (and the Venusian series), as an adult. I think the way it's worded it's promoting "Tarzan", and although I've not read that book, I don't imagine it was a children's book, unless it was a Disneyfied version.

I think I was about 12 when I read the Mars books (but I wasn't the one who suggested Edgar Rice Burroughs should be included). With 37 different points of view it is inevitable that what some people think are suitable for children are entirely unsuitable in others' views. When I was a child I'd gloss over sections of books I didn't relate to, especially kissy bits.

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I think I read the Barsoom books at about 12 too, and thought they were hilariously childish.

You don't appear to mention the annual awards for children's books which selects contemporary writers' work. For example the http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/home/index.php

My God. It's full of stars.

Nice, easy to read through and think it's a great way of introducing people to authors and books they may not know of

Perhaps a title change regarding this might be the way to go, such as 'Recommended Children's Authors" or the like. That way it would get good search engine hits?

I'm sorry you felt I didn't mention the Carnegie medal enough – I had mentioned that CS Lewis, Terry Pratchett, the author of Tom's Midnight Garden whose name escapes me at the moment, Phillip Pullman and Arthur Ransome had all won the award, and named many artists who had won the Kate Greenaway medal. It is true that I've not got a section dedicated to that or other awards. I have taken the view that this is an article on favourite children's books and authors, not an article on the Children's Laureates or Carnegie Medal winners. When authors have been awarded medals or titles in recognition of their literary work I have mentioned this, as it is well-earned independent confirmation of their talent, but as this article has evolved from a Talking Point, the focus has to be what h2g2 researchers have enjoyed rather than who has been given awards.

I have added a further explanation about the Carnegie medal and mentioned Andrew Carnegie too. (We have a Carnegie library in my home town of Sandown). You're right that it does need some background explanation.

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The writers I mentioned also won various awards, just not English ones. I agree with BB that it's out of the topic of this Entry to mention awards in a separate section.

If you know about awards they have won related to their talent then feel free to mention them, Tav. If they have official recognition from any national or international recognised body, I'm happy to include that fact, but naturally I don't want awards to dominate the article.

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