Maurice Sendak writes most of his own books., but not all - Ben recently got
one out of the library written by Tony Kushner, based on an opera. And he
illustrated I Saw Esau, that wonderful collection of children's schoolyard
rhymes by the Opies. I'd say that most picture books have different
illustrators and writers; the writer/illustrator rolled into one is an
exception. Funny how having to read out terrible books scars you.
I used to write spells (rhymes) to put under their pillows when my children
went through stages of having nightmares. It was effective, but was also
the reason why Zoe told everyone at school that I was a witch.
My experience of taking my children to poetry readings when young was fairly
positive, and they like going to readings now. But I do remember, when
Josh was around five, walking out of a reading and him telling me: "I
clapped everybody except you. I thought your poems were _stupid_." Well,
out of the mouths of babes...
Best
A
Alison Croggon
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Editor, Masthead: http://masthead.net.au
Home page: http://alisoncroggon.com
|