Poppins, Potter and Piglet are in play too
Last July I had the extreme pleasure of stopping into the New York Public Library’s (NYPL) main branch to see the exhibit, The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter.
This exhibit has been extended through 7 september, and I went back to revisit it. Since my last review, I’m thrilled to report that it’s so full of wonderful books and exhibits that additional viewings are a must. Whether you visit out of nostalgia, or to see children’s books in the context of history, it’s a wonderful experience, and much-deserved recognition of the importance of children’s literature in shaping our adult world.
Children (and adults) can enjoy going down the rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland or walking through a Wild Thing cutout from Where the Wild Things Are, among many other environments. Rare books – classics, best-selling and pop-up books, along with lesser-known foreign titles, combine for overall fantastic design.
Don’t be surprised to find that the books you loved as a child are still as thrilling to you today as they were then. I agree with W. H. Auden, who wisely noted:
“There are no good books which are only for children.”
The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter is open through 7 september 2014 at NYPL’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue @ 42 Street. Did I mention it’s free?
June 12th, 2014 at 9:37 am
So true. I can still remember so many of the books I read or had read to me when I was a child. I also remember the first two books that I took out of the library when I first got my library. These early “reads” impact in a way others seldom do. They also set the tone for a love of reading. What a great exhibit you got to see.