The William books didn't appeal to me but I wouldn't prevent my children
from reading them or encourage. Therein lies the crux. The Mr Men and
Little Misses (whoever thought of that name?) imho inhabit a predictable,
one dimensional world outlined in black and have to be read aloud in a
jolly old codger's voice, I find. I hate them. My kids love them. It is
after all such a very reassuring world.
Children's writing doesn't seem to me to be as challenging and exciting
as adult writing. OK there are weird worlds and interesting wizardry but
how about being imaginatively stretched without difficult words/old
fashioned voice eg The Puppy Sister by S.E.Hinton written in first person
from puppy's viewpoint; it is an incredible read - the puppy gradually
changes into a girl. Instead of reading about magic places, the magic
spell is on you as you become the puppy and gradually change back to
girl. It has reached cult status with my 9 yr old daughter and friends.
But of course they would all prefer to be puppies anyway and steer clear
of Williams at all costs.
Amanda

David Francis wrote:

> Re Mr Nugent's contribution:
> I discovered the William books when I was about 11. In those days, I
> mostly enjoyed the stories where he was simply being a naughty boy. I
> rediscovered him about ten years ago, and now have nearly all the
> books. I now prefer the "middle period" - (sounds very academic,
> doesn't it), where the stories were wrtten for adult magazines, and
> many feature various eccentric adults, and gentle satire on the
> stereotype characters of village life. I learned a lot of vocab.
> through these books, and have had no hesitation in introducing them
> to my three children. Richmal Crompton's English seems to me to be
> exemplary, (except for her now dated attempts to render school-boy
> language) - which is more than can often be said for that of more
> modern children's authors. Does anyone have any views on the Mr Men
> series in this respect, for example?
>
> Incidentally - if there are any William fans out there - I have a
> memory of a story where one of the several childhood paragons whom
> William deflates is described as a "Crichton", which I now can't
> trace. Can anyone help?
> David Francis, Humanities Librarian,
> University of Portsmouth Library,
> Cambridge Road,
> PORTSMOUTH
> PO1 2ST
> Tel: 01705 843243
> Fax: 01705 843233





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