Abby McGanney Nolan
Leonard S. Marcus conveys a sense of 13 writers…and their influences, their books and even their writing habits…Philosophies and backgrounds vary wildly, but these writers share a respect for kids, their varied senses of humor…and the insights children have that adults don't necessarily appreciate.
—The Washington Post
Publishers Weekly
In 12 entertaining interviews (and one equally entertaining e-mail from Daniel Pinkwater declining to participate), Marcus's compilation explores the childhoods, writing processes and senses of humor of well-known writers for children, including Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Daniel Handler, Norton Juster and Jon Scieszka. Marcus's evident knowledge of his subjects' writing makes for some intriguing questions and answers (“I used to crack jokes a lot, but they would always land kind of flat,” says Louis Sachar. “One of the nice things about being a writer is that you get to rewrite—and take back all the stupid things you said”). Photographs, manuscript pages and even e-mail chains between the writers and their editors add fascinating tidbits. Ages 10–up. (Oct.)
VOYA
Although comedy is certainly subjective, most people can agree that there are certain writers who really know how to tickle a reader's funny bone. Marcus presents thirteen children's authors who excel at humorous writing, holding conversations presented in question-and-answer format with Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Sharon Creech, Christopher Paul Curtis, Anne Fine, Daniel Handler, Carl Hiaasen, Norton Juster, Dick King-Smith, Hilary McKay, Daniel Pinkwater, Louis Sacher, and Jon Scieszka. Each conversation begins by asking what kind of a child the author was and flows organically from there. Most of the discussions touch on schedules and routines, how the author began writing, and what the author likes best about being a writer. Photos, both current and from childhood, are included, as are manuscript pages with editorial notations and e-mail exchanges between authors and editors or agents. The format allows each author's voice to come through as they recall interesting, funny stories about their childhoods and the process of writing a book, making the discussions both entertaining and informative. Aspiring writers and readers looking to know more about their favorite authors will enjoy taking a peek at what shaped each author's early years and led them to writing comedic books for children. Marcus's anthology is a great, accessible resource for both teachers and students. Lists of select titles are provided for each author. Reviewer: Amanda MacGregor
Children's Literature
Thirteen children and young adult authors from the United States and Great Britain provide the conversations about how to write with humor for kids. Daniel Handler (alias Lemony Snicket), Sharon Creech, Christopher Paul Curtis, Jon Scieszka, and Judy Blume are just some of the names readers will recognize as they begin reading through this book. Each chapter is set up in an interview style, with Marcus asking consistent questions like: "What kind of a child were you?" and "What do you like best about being a writer," that then lead to author-specific questions. The interviews are a nice mix of humor and genuineness about growing up in the author's particular situation and about writing for young people. I learned something about each author and many of their books from the individual interviews, and younger readers will undoubtedly by inspired by some of the suggestions for writing and reading from the various authors. Another nice touch in each chapter is an example of how the revision process works for each author. This is an interesting book for teachers or for students who want to know more about the authors they love to read. Reviewer: Jean Boreen, Ph.D.
School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up—Marcus invites readers to listen as writers use their own words to tell "how they found their funny bones, their voices, and themselves." These are revealed in a series of interviews with 13 well-known and much-loved writers. Purists will only count 12 actual interviews. (A correspondence from Daniel Pinkwater is included; in it, he is typically offbeat and downright funny.) The selections provide insight into the authors' personalities, how they came to write funny books especially for young readers, experiences that stand out, and more. Each interview begins with a brief prologue by Marcus, a photograph of the writer, and the same question, "What kind of child were you?" Various correspondences, excerpts from their books, and early photographs appear in each one. The inserts suggest the interplay between writer and editor, show a page of a manuscript, or depict the author in an earlier time. Though always illuminating, these intriguing bits sometime impede the flow of the interview. Each one concludes with a list of books. The writers range from raucous (think Jon Scieszka and Daniel Handler) to gentle, thoughtful, or simply softer (e.g., Hilary McKay and Beverly Cleary). Also interviewed are Judy Blume, Sharon Creech, Christopher Paul Curtis, Anne Fine, Carl Hiassen, Norton Juster, Dick King-Smith, and Louis Sachar. As he did with fantasy writers in Wand in the Word (Candlewick, 2006), Marcus provides a glimpse of a group of extraordinary individuals whose books appeal to young readers. This title should find its way onto shelves for readers of all ages.—Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at Washington DC Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
Marcus once again unobtrusively gives both rising and established stars in the field a bully pulpit. As usual, readers will learn less about the outer lives of his 13 interviewees-which include the likes of Beverly Cleary, Christopher Paul Curtis, Louis Sachar, Sharon Creech and (with a particularly memorable and hilarious set of comments) Hilary McKay-than their inner ones: how they now would characterize themselves as children; what events or revelations turned them on to writing; what issues or themes are important to them; how certain of their tales, series or characters developed over time. Some entries, such as Carl Hiaasen's earnest rant (" . . . though my books are supposed to make people laugh, they're serious books. Serious books generally don't come from a happy place") and Daniel Pinkwater's brief refusal to be interviewed, are duds, but most are delights, and readers of all ages will come away with significant insights into the minds and hearts that have created some of children's literature's finest and funniest high spots. The Q&As end with selected reading lists. (Nonfiction. 10 & up)
