Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Anyone can write for kids--it's easy. Wrong! The first thing author Louise Jordan does in her book How to Write for Children and Get Published is to dispel this notion. As Jordan says, "...writing a children's book is not easier than writing an adult book, merely different ... What is needed is a clarity of vision, and this is harder than you might think."

Jordan runs The Writers Advice Centre for Children's Books in London and is also a reader for Penguin Children's Books. She gives information from the point of view of both writer and editor, which results in a sympathetic but pragmatic perspective on the world of children's publishing.

Knowing the market is a crucial element of writing that is often overlooked. Jordan explores different kinds of books for children of different ages, and provides examples of each category. This section is specifically geared towards the UK market, but the basic information is universal. Jordan then discusses different subject areas and analyses the components of a good story, including plotting, characterisation, point of view and style. The final section tells how to submit work to publishers, and outlines the author's relationship with a publisher once a book is accepted. She is optimistic but realistic, and advises writers to learn from rejection.

Jordan doesn't just tell the prospective children's writer what to do--she provides insightful exercises after each chapter so that her readers can learn for themselves. This is a practical, accessible guide to writing children's books. --Caryn Jenner

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Dinsey fans beware..., 01 Mar 2005
You thought the Brothers Grimm were a bit bloodthirsty?

This superb book not only retells the classic fairytales but also gives any number of variants on each theme. Even seasoned mythologists are likely to find something new and surprising, and in many cases the alternative endings are better (I always thought that Goldilocks was a rude little housebreaking so-and-so... in at least one of the versions she gets eaten by the bears. Go bears!)

the real thing and more magical than Disney, 31 Jan 2003
What a delight to have a quality book for my children. I love the paper, the print, the illustrations, not to mention the stories that, for once, appear in real English--not the stitled, unreadable versions that I've bought by mistake several times now. I'm having great fun learning about the stories as I read them to my 6 and 9 year old, who can't get enough of this stuff. I just ordered the Annotated Alice, and I hope it's as good as this volume.

For those who truly love fairytales, 11 Dec 2002
The fairy tales that many of us heard as children are but the most recent versions of far older and less gentle stories. Designed, often, to make a pointed moral comment, their themes encompass all of human life: romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge and even death. For those who began their interest as children and would now value a book that they could use both as a basis for for storytelling and a source for more in-depth study, this is essential reading.

These stories are written in the style of "foundational text" which means that you can take each as a basis, retelling the tale, in your own words, to suit the particular listener. Every one has an introduction which explores sources, details of some of the other versions of the story and offers a modern interpretation. The annotations also provide some very interesting insights, if you are keen to go deeper; however, these are more suitable for adult study than as a basis of discussion with children.

The only real disappointment are the pictures, which are rather old-fashioned and very small.

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Dinsey fans beware..., 01 Mar 2005
You thought the Brothers Grimm were a bit bloodthirsty?

This superb book not only retells the classic fairytales but also gives any number of variants on each theme. Even seasoned mythologists are likely to find something new and surprising, and in many cases the alternative endings are better (I always thought that Goldilocks was a rude little housebreaking so-and-so... in at least one of the versions she gets eaten by the bears. Go bears!)

the real thing and more magical than Disney, 31 Jan 2003
What a delight to have a quality book for my children. I love the paper, the print, the illustrations, not to mention the stories that, for once, appear in real English--not the stitled, unreadable versions that I've bought by mistake several times now. I'm having great fun learning about the stories as I read them to my 6 and 9 year old, who can't get enough of this stuff. I just ordered the Annotated Alice, and I hope it's as good as this volume.

For those who truly love fairytales, 11 Dec 2002
The fairy tales that many of us heard as children are but the most recent versions of far older and less gentle stories. Designed, often, to make a pointed moral comment, their themes encompass all of human life: romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge and even death. For those who began their interest as children and would now value a book that they could use both as a basis for for storytelling and a source for more in-depth study, this is essential reading.

These stories are written in the style of "foundational text" which means that you can take each as a basis, retelling the tale, in your own words, to suit the particular listener. Every one has an introduction which explores sources, details of some of the other versions of the story and offers a modern interpretation. The annotations also provide some very interesting insights, if you are keen to go deeper; however, these are more suitable for adult study than as a basis of discussion with children.

The only real disappointment are the pictures, which are rather old-fashioned and very small.

Interesting but too little information, 16 Aug 2004
This book is inspiring for people interested in illustration and children's books. It includes coloured pictures on almost all pages and has an excellently informative introduction.

But the text on each illustrator is too vague and chatty, leaving the reader yearning for more information. And what annoys me is that each illustrator seems to mention the ones they admire most, often referring to the same people and to Quentin Blake, who edited this book.... ugh

I wasn't too keen on the cover or book lay-out either - it looks like a kid's text book.

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Dinsey fans beware..., 01 Mar 2005
You thought the Brothers Grimm were a bit bloodthirsty?

This superb book not only retells the classic fairytales but also gives any number of variants on each theme. Even seasoned mythologists are likely to find something new and surprising, and in many cases the alternative endings are better (I always thought that Goldilocks was a rude little housebreaking so-and-so... in at least one of the versions she gets eaten by the bears. Go bears!)

the real thing and more magical than Disney, 31 Jan 2003
What a delight to have a quality book for my children. I love the paper, the print, the illustrations, not to mention the stories that, for once, appear in real English--not the stitled, unreadable versions that I've bought by mistake several times now. I'm having great fun learning about the stories as I read them to my 6 and 9 year old, who can't get enough of this stuff. I just ordered the Annotated Alice, and I hope it's as good as this volume.

For those who truly love fairytales, 11 Dec 2002
The fairy tales that many of us heard as children are but the most recent versions of far older and less gentle stories. Designed, often, to make a pointed moral comment, their themes encompass all of human life: romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge and even death. For those who began their interest as children and would now value a book that they could use both as a basis for for storytelling and a source for more in-depth study, this is essential reading.

These stories are written in the style of "foundational text" which means that you can take each as a basis, retelling the tale, in your own words, to suit the particular listener. Every one has an introduction which explores sources, details of some of the other versions of the story and offers a modern interpretation. The annotations also provide some very interesting insights, if you are keen to go deeper; however, these are more suitable for adult study than as a basis of discussion with children.

The only real disappointment are the pictures, which are rather old-fashioned and very small.

Interesting but too little information, 16 Aug 2004
This book is inspiring for people interested in illustration and children's books. It includes coloured pictures on almost all pages and has an excellently informative introduction.

But the text on each illustrator is too vague and chatty, leaving the reader yearning for more information. And what annoys me is that each illustrator seems to mention the ones they admire most, often referring to the same people and to Quentin Blake, who edited this book.... ugh

I wasn't too keen on the cover or book lay-out either - it looks like a kid's text book.

A 'must-read' for anyone serious about C.S. Lewis, 09 Mar 2008
I continue to be astonished by the sheer depth and breadth of research, investigation and knowledge exhibited by those who are passionate about the writings of C.S. Lewis; even those who are not professional academics or theologians go to tremendous lengths to understand and relate small details of Lewis's life and the background to his writings. Michael Ward's book goes far beyond this; he moves easily across the whole breadth of Lewis's own writings, the literature with which Lewis was familiar (which is to say, most of the literature of Western civilisation), and the subsequent critical and biographical writings about Lewis and his works. I'm not qualified to judge the correctness of his central thesis - that the Chronicles of Narnia are themed on the seven planets of the medieval cosmology. But whether Ward is right about this or not, he has certainly produced a work that achieves something else of great importance; he illustrates again, and powerfully, in detail, the fundamental unity of the whole of Lewis's works, arising from the consistency of Lewis's thought and understanding of the nature of things. He answers some of the more well-known criticisms of recent biographers and commentators (specifically, A.N. Wilson and Philip Pullman). Although (and rightly) a scholarly book, which will best be appreciated by those who have some exposure to the same literature as Lewis or are prepared to go and look up references which they don't recognise, nevertheless this book can be read simply as an enlightening and enjoyable sketch of Lewis's major imaginative works - Narnia, the Cosmic Trilogy, some of his poetry. Highly recommended.

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Dinsey fans beware..., 01 Mar 2005
You thought the Brothers Grimm were a bit bloodthirsty?

This superb book not only retells the classic fairytales but also gives any number of variants on each theme. Even seasoned mythologists are likely to find something new and surprising, and in many cases the alternative endings are better (I always thought that Goldilocks was a rude little housebreaking so-and-so... in at least one of the versions she gets eaten by the bears. Go bears!)

the real thing and more magical than Disney, 31 Jan 2003
What a delight to have a quality book for my children. I love the paper, the print, the illustrations, not to mention the stories that, for once, appear in real English--not the stitled, unreadable versions that I've bought by mistake several times now. I'm having great fun learning about the stories as I read them to my 6 and 9 year old, who can't get enough of this stuff. I just ordered the Annotated Alice, and I hope it's as good as this volume.

For those who truly love fairytales, 11 Dec 2002
The fairy tales that many of us heard as children are but the most recent versions of far older and less gentle stories. Designed, often, to make a pointed moral comment, their themes encompass all of human life: romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge and even death. For those who began their interest as children and would now value a book that they could use both as a basis for for storytelling and a source for more in-depth study, this is essential reading.

These stories are written in the style of "foundational text" which means that you can take each as a basis, retelling the tale, in your own words, to suit the particular listener. Every one has an introduction which explores sources, details of some of the other versions of the story and offers a modern interpretation. The annotations also provide some very interesting insights, if you are keen to go deeper; however, these are more suitable for adult study than as a basis of discussion with children.

The only real disappointment are the pictures, which are rather old-fashioned and very small.

Interesting but too little information, 16 Aug 2004
This book is inspiring for people interested in illustration and children's books. It includes coloured pictures on almost all pages and has an excellently informative introduction.

But the text on each illustrator is too vague and chatty, leaving the reader yearning for more information. And what annoys me is that each illustrator seems to mention the ones they admire most, often referring to the same people and to Quentin Blake, who edited this book.... ugh

I wasn't too keen on the cover or book lay-out either - it looks like a kid's text book.

A 'must-read' for anyone serious about C.S. Lewis, 09 Mar 2008
I continue to be astonished by the sheer depth and breadth of research, investigation and knowledge exhibited by those who are passionate about the writings of C.S. Lewis; even those who are not professional academics or theologians go to tremendous lengths to understand and relate small details of Lewis's life and the background to his writings. Michael Ward's book goes far beyond this; he moves easily across the whole breadth of Lewis's own writings, the literature with which Lewis was familiar (which is to say, most of the literature of Western civilisation), and the subsequent critical and biographical writings about Lewis and his works. I'm not qualified to judge the correctness of his central thesis - that the Chronicles of Narnia are themed on the seven planets of the medieval cosmology. But whether Ward is right about this or not, he has certainly produced a work that achieves something else of great importance; he illustrates again, and powerfully, in detail, the fundamental unity of the whole of Lewis's works, arising from the consistency of Lewis's thought and understanding of the nature of things. He answers some of the more well-known criticisms of recent biographers and commentators (specifically, A.N. Wilson and Philip Pullman). Although (and rightly) a scholarly book, which will best be appreciated by those who have some exposure to the same literature as Lewis or are prepared to go and look up references which they don't recognise, nevertheless this book can be read simply as an enlightening and enjoyable sketch of Lewis's major imaginative works - Narnia, the Cosmic Trilogy, some of his poetry. Highly recommended.

More a thesis than a memoir, 14 Jun 2008
Though I like the idea of an adult bookworm going back over the books he enjoyed as a child, the reality of this book is that it reads more like some kind of idiosyncratic analysis of children's literature than the memoir it's advertised as. When it's about the author's life it's interesting; when he describes his reactions to the various books it can be engrossing. But much of the book is cerebral philosophising, sometimes on the nature of literature, sometimes on the nature of language itself. This wouldn't be so bad if it were in a more accessible style, but unfortunately the prose is often as dry and imprenetrable as the early 'Forest' chapter, which was a real struggle to get through.

If you have a fascination for language and the psychology of children's literature you might enjoy all this, but if you're looking for a memoir of a boy who retreated into books, I would look elsewhere, for this isn't it!

superb study, highly recommended, 22 Oct 2003
I am surprised to learn that anyone who enjoys reading has failed to enjoy this book. Both as a memoir and as a study of how children's literature affects us it is strikingly original.The author's passion for reading began as an escape from a childhood skewed by his sister's illness, but once he read The Hobbit he embarked on the life of a bookworm. His descriptions of what it feels like to read are spot-on, and his studies of particular children's authors illuminating. Highly recommended.

Huge disappointment, 04 Sep 2003
I had read glowing reviews of this book, and noted that the author had read many of the same books as me. So I bought it hoping that I could identify with the author's own experiences and maybe some new light could be shed on old classics. Unfortunately, rather than revisiting books in any great depth, the pages are filled with pretentious waffle and very spurious pseudo-science. The second chapter on The Forest for example is virtually unreadable, and is only made half-bearable by the unintentional hilarity caused by Spufford's scientific naivity when he chooses to describe what's obviously a crackpot scientific theory with unflinching belief. Pretty dire I'm afraid.

Fascinating, nostalgic and thought-provoking, 20 Apr 2003
Ignore all the mediocre reviews of this book which other people have posted. If you love books and recall with fondness your childhood reading, then you will enjoy Spufford's elegant and wide-ranging exploration of the ways reading helps a child to create his or her sense of self.

Spufford was a voracious reader as a child, finding an escape from his family's heartrending and guilt-inducing medical problems behind the printed lines on a page. While writing this memoir of childhood reading, he reread all the books he had loved--from Where The Wild Things Are to Narnia and Little House on the Prairie, and attempted to find out just why he had read so catatonically, and how it had shaped him.

There's a great deal of pleasure to be found in reminiscing along with Spufford about your own first reading of The Hobbit, but he offers far more than a simple nostalgia-fest. He also discusses the theories of child psychologists on the importance of reading and the ways in which it can teach a child about language and the patterns in the world. Some people seem to have found this too dry and academic--and it isn't as interesting as the sections dealing with his own life--but stick with it! Spufford is discussing something very important: WHY is it better for your child to spend 3 hours reading than 3 hours on the Playstation?--and believe me, this proves that it is!

The rest of the book discusses Spufford's adolescence; the years when Narnia had lost its magic, but the world of adult books hadn't yet opened its doors. There are some great insights into sci-fi--The Left Hand of Darkness gets special mention and praise. Also interesting is his consideration of the root which many teenagers follow, walking out of childhood via the classics; Austen or the Brontes bridge that gap which he calls 'The Hole'.

I've always loved books about books and reading, and I recommend this to anyone who feels the same. Not quite as enjoyable or loveable as Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris (highly recommended) but this is a great, entertaining and educating read. One of the most unusual and moving books of the year.

!!IGNORE THE 3 STARS!!, 18 Mar 2003
This book is worthy of infinite stars - I have never read a book that is so cerebral yet so passionate. And what a topic - a writer re-assessing his own reading as a child. Could not recommend it more highly!

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Dinsey fans beware..., 01 Mar 2005
You thought the Brothers Grimm were a bit bloodthirsty?

This superb book not only retells the classic fairytales but also gives any number of variants on each theme. Even seasoned mythologists are likely to find something new and surprising, and in many cases the alternative endings are better (I always thought that Goldilocks was a rude little housebreaking so-and-so... in at least one of the versions she gets eaten by the bears. Go bears!)

the real thing and more magical than Disney, 31 Jan 2003
What a delight to have a quality book for my children. I love the paper, the print, the illustrations, not to mention the stories that, for once, appear in real English--not the stitled, unreadable versions that I've bought by mistake several times now. I'm having great fun learning about the stories as I read them to my 6 and 9 year old, who can't get enough of this stuff. I just ordered the Annotated Alice, and I hope it's as good as this volume.

For those who truly love fairytales, 11 Dec 2002
The fairy tales that many of us heard as children are but the most recent versions of far older and less gentle stories. Designed, often, to make a pointed moral comment, their themes encompass all of human life: romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge and even death. For those who began their interest as children and would now value a book that they could use both as a basis for for storytelling and a source for more in-depth study, this is essential reading.

These stories are written in the style of "foundational text" which means that you can take each as a basis, retelling the tale, in your own words, to suit the particular listener. Every one has an introduction which explores sources, details of some of the other versions of the story and offers a modern interpretation. The annotations also provide some very interesting insights, if you are keen to go deeper; however, these are more suitable for adult study than as a basis of discussion with children.

The only real disappointment are the pictures, which are rather old-fashioned and very small.

Interesting but too little information, 16 Aug 2004
This book is inspiring for people interested in illustration and children's books. It includes coloured pictures on almost all pages and has an excellently informative introduction.

But the text on each illustrator is too vague and chatty, leaving the reader yearning for more information. And what annoys me is that each illustrator seems to mention the ones they admire most, often referring to the same people and to Quentin Blake, who edited this book.... ugh

I wasn't too keen on the cover or book lay-out either - it looks like a kid's text book.

A 'must-read' for anyone serious about C.S. Lewis, 09 Mar 2008
I continue to be astonished by the sheer depth and breadth of research, investigation and knowledge exhibited by those who are passionate about the writings of C.S. Lewis; even those who are not professional academics or theologians go to tremendous lengths to understand and relate small details of Lewis's life and the background to his writings. Michael Ward's book goes far beyond this; he moves easily across the whole breadth of Lewis's own writings, the literature with which Lewis was familiar (which is to say, most of the literature of Western civilisation), and the subsequent critical and biographical writings about Lewis and his works. I'm not qualified to judge the correctness of his central thesis - that the Chronicles of Narnia are themed on the seven planets of the medieval cosmology. But whether Ward is right about this or not, he has certainly produced a work that achieves something else of great importance; he illustrates again, and powerfully, in detail, the fundamental unity of the whole of Lewis's works, arising from the consistency of Lewis's thought and understanding of the nature of things. He answers some of the more well-known criticisms of recent biographers and commentators (specifically, A.N. Wilson and Philip Pullman). Although (and rightly) a scholarly book, which will best be appreciated by those who have some exposure to the same literature as Lewis or are prepared to go and look up references which they don't recognise, nevertheless this book can be read simply as an enlightening and enjoyable sketch of Lewis's major imaginative works - Narnia, the Cosmic Trilogy, some of his poetry. Highly recommended.

More a thesis than a memoir, 14 Jun 2008
Though I like the idea of an adult bookworm going back over the books he enjoyed as a child, the reality of this book is that it reads more like some kind of idiosyncratic analysis of children's literature than the memoir it's advertised as. When it's about the author's life it's interesting; when he describes his reactions to the various books it can be engrossing. But much of the book is cerebral philosophising, sometimes on the nature of literature, sometimes on the nature of language itself. This wouldn't be so bad if it were in a more accessible style, but unfortunately the prose is often as dry and imprenetrable as the early 'Forest' chapter, which was a real struggle to get through.

If you have a fascination for language and the psychology of children's literature you might enjoy all this, but if you're looking for a memoir of a boy who retreated into books, I would look elsewhere, for this isn't it!

superb study, highly recommended, 22 Oct 2003
I am surprised to learn that anyone who enjoys reading has failed to enjoy this book. Both as a memoir and as a study of how children's literature affects us it is strikingly original.The author's passion for reading began as an escape from a childhood skewed by his sister's illness, but once he read The Hobbit he embarked on the life of a bookworm. His descriptions of what it feels like to read are spot-on, and his studies of particular children's authors illuminating. Highly recommended.

Huge disappointment, 04 Sep 2003
I had read glowing reviews of this book, and noted that the author had read many of the same books as me. So I bought it hoping that I could identify with the author's own experiences and maybe some new light could be shed on old classics. Unfortunately, rather than revisiting books in any great depth, the pages are filled with pretentious waffle and very spurious pseudo-science. The second chapter on The Forest for example is virtually unreadable, and is only made half-bearable by the unintentional hilarity caused by Spufford's scientific naivity when he chooses to describe what's obviously a crackpot scientific theory with unflinching belief. Pretty dire I'm afraid.

Fascinating, nostalgic and thought-provoking, 20 Apr 2003
Ignore all the mediocre reviews of this book which other people have posted. If you love books and recall with fondness your childhood reading, then you will enjoy Spufford's elegant and wide-ranging exploration of the ways reading helps a child to create his or her sense of self.

Spufford was a voracious reader as a child, finding an escape from his family's heartrending and guilt-inducing medical problems behind the printed lines on a page. While writing this memoir of childhood reading, he reread all the books he had loved--from Where The Wild Things Are to Narnia and Little House on the Prairie, and attempted to find out just why he had read so catatonically, and how it had shaped him.

There's a great deal of pleasure to be found in reminiscing along with Spufford about your own first reading of The Hobbit, but he offers far more than a simple nostalgia-fest. He also discusses the theories of child psychologists on the importance of reading and the ways in which it can teach a child about language and the patterns in the world. Some people seem to have found this too dry and academic--and it isn't as interesting as the sections dealing with his own life--but stick with it! Spufford is discussing something very important: WHY is it better for your child to spend 3 hours reading than 3 hours on the Playstation?--and believe me, this proves that it is!

The rest of the book discusses Spufford's adolescence; the years when Narnia had lost its magic, but the world of adult books hadn't yet opened its doors. There are some great insights into sci-fi--The Left Hand of Darkness gets special mention and praise. Also interesting is his consideration of the root which many teenagers follow, walking out of childhood via the classics; Austen or the Brontes bridge that gap which he calls 'The Hole'.

I've always loved books about books and reading, and I recommend this to anyone who feels the same. Not quite as enjoyable or loveable as Anne Fadiman's Ex Libris (highly recommended) but this is a great, entertaining and educating read. One of the most unusual and moving books of the year.

!!IGNORE THE 3 STARS!!, 18 Mar 2003
This book is worthy of infinite stars - I have never read a book that is so cerebral yet so passionate. And what a topic - a writer re-assessing his own reading as a child. Could not recommend it more highly!

Approachable but not "dumbed down", 31 Oct 2006
A very well written, approachable discussion of the history of the Grimms fairy tales, and analysis of the meaning of those tales. This seems to me to be a very well balanced interpretation ofthe fairy tales, without the author stressing their own interpretations at the expense of others for their own agenda as seems to be so common in this type of book.

Well worth the money

Maybe I lack imagination..., 22 Jun 2008
A student chose this for our book club, and although I had some misgivings I said yes, because after all it's a classic.I tried to forget the fact that I didn't like it the first time I read it. I enthusiastically bought myself this annotated edition and started reading it again...
And surprise, surprise I still don't like it. My four stars go to the editor , though. The notes are wonderful,even though sometimes I get a bit fed up with them and concentrate on just the text for a while.
I suppose the reason I don't like "Alice" is I'm not into nonsense. My student told me I should try and believe what is happening is true. I've tried but I can't,maybe it's because I'm getting old...

Drink me !, 26 Jan 2005
It's not so much a looking glass that is required here but a magnifying glass as it would help to read the tiny annotated text which accompanies the original story.
Either that or a small bottle marked "Drink Me" which when taken reduces the reader to a size in keeping with the small print.
Although the subject has been thoroughly and well researched explanations of "comfit" and "ferret" leave no doubt that this examination of an English treasure is probably aimed at the American market.

Can't be too definitive, 18 Jan 2005
Not knowing what you do not know it tells you everything. This book appears to be stand alone logic and fun on the surface. Some may even think it is a children's book. If so why all the courses and scholarly writings on the story?
Some things are self evident as being so short that you can touch your toes. Others may take some time as the reason hatters are mad is the process includes mercury so even if it was directed at a particular person or not hatters are mad. Still when was the last time you used a bathing machine? Knowing some of information can enhance the enjoyment of reading the story.
You get the original illustrations to boot. So when you are finished perusing this book it can be used as a coffee table conversation book.

A lovely twist to a great book, 01 Apr 2003
Everyone thinks they know about Alice in Wonderland - my own 'knowledge' comes from years of obsessive viewing of the superlative Disney feature as a child - but this terrific little book will prove you wrong. There are enough notes in here to keep even the most apathetic reader pacified; and the book is designed in such a way that the notes aid the reader, rather than becoming a constant pain. Presented alongside the text (reproduced with original Tenniel drawings of the characters) the notes are immediate and gripping, and whether you are studying this book or merely reading it for pleasure, i can thoroughly reccommend this edition. Well worth your money and your time.

Recommended, 28 Dec 2001
This is good stuff. The notes (printed alongside the main text) make Lewis Carroll's weirdy stories a whole lot more approachable for curious grown-up modern readers.

Fantastic resource on folk and fairy tales., 29 Mar 2004
I found this book immensely useful- the first half starts by giving breif critical reviews of several of the most common fary tale types (cinderella/catskin, snow white, bluebeard, hansel and gretel, and so on) and examples of that story type from various sources.

The second half has a number of core readings from the most influential critics on fairy tales- and these are fantastic- Zipes, Bettelheim, Warner, Propp, and a basic description of the Aarne-Thompson classification system.

Overall this book gives a good basis in the critical aspects of fairy tales, and of all the books I have read in this area, this book is probably the most approachable.

The book does not go into great depth on any one particular area of this genre, but it provides a solid foundation overall.

Brilliant, 28 Oct 2008
A great book, contains everything you need to know if you want to write for children. Follow this, and you can't go far wrong.

A must have book for all budding children's writers, 07 Oct 2007
I recently purchased this book after deciding I wanted to have a go at writing for children (I have dabbled in writing in writing informally before)

After buying this book I was pleasantly surprised, as it is compelling and easy to read.
It is crammed full of vital information for budding children's writers (whether for leisure or for money), but is not over detailed.

It has really inspired me to have a go, so I am off to start developing an idea now!

I would highly recommend purchasing this as a readable reference book for your bookshelf.

Brilliantly informative for the prospective author., 21 Jan 2001
Having recently purchased this book, before using amazon for the first time, from my local bookstore I was very interested in using it to learn more about writing and publishing books for children.

The book contains invaluable advice on the many stages which prospective authors must pass through to find their works in print or on bookshelves. The book answered many of my questions regarding the different age ranges which you can write for, as well as issues regarding illustrations, plotting, characterisation, subject matter and marketing.

I found the book to be an invaluable reference tool and one to which I constantly referred.

I hope to begin using the knowledge gained from this book in the near future and would recommend that anone wanting to write, either for pleasure in their spare time, or as something more than a hobby, to buy the book.

Dinsey fans beware..., 01 Mar 2005
You thought the Brothers Grimm were a bit bloodthirsty?

This superb book not only retells the classic fairytales but also gives any number of variants on each theme. Even seasoned mythologists are likely to find something new and surprising, and in many cases the alternative endings are better (I always thought that Goldilocks was a rude little housebreaking so-and-so... in at least one of the versions she gets eaten by the bears. Go bears!)

the real thing and more magical than Disney, 31 Jan 2003
What a delight to have a quality book for my children. I love the paper, the print, the illustrations, not to mention the stories that, for once, appear in real English--not the stitled, unreadable versions that I've bought by mistake several times now. I'm having great fun learning about the stories as I read them to my 6 and 9 year old, who can't get enough of this stuff. I just ordered the Annotated Alice, and I hope it's as good as this volume.

For those who truly love fairytales, 11 Dec 2002
The fairy tales that many of us heard as children are but the most recent versions of far older and less gentle stories. Designed, often, to make a pointed moral comment, their themes encompass all of human life: romance, betrayal, jealousy, revenge and even death. For those who began their interest as children and would now value a book that they could use both as a basis for for storytelling and a source for more in-depth study, this is essential reading.

These stories are written in the style of "foundational text" which means that you can take each as a basis, retelling the tale, in your own words, to suit the particular listener. Every one has an introduction which explores sources, details of some of the other versions of the story and offers a modern interpretation. The annotations also provide some very interesting insights, if you are keen to go deeper; however, these are more suitable for adult study than as a basis of discussion with children.

The only real disappointment are the pictures, which are rather old-fashioned and very small.

Interesting but too little information, 16 Aug 2004
This book is inspiring for people interested in illustration and children's books. It includes coloured pictures on almost all pages and has an excellently informative introduction.

But the text on each illustrator is too vague and chatty, leaving the reader yearning for more information. And what annoys me is that each illustrator seems to mention the ones they admire most, often referring to the same people and to Quentin Blake, who edited this book.... ugh

I wasn't too keen on the cover or book lay-out either - it looks like a kid's text book.

A 'must-read' for anyone serious about C.S. Lewis, 09 Mar 2008
I continue to be astonished by the sheer depth and breadth of research, investigation and knowledge exhibited by those who are passionate about the writings of C.S. Lewis; even those who are not professional academics or theologians go to tremendous lengths to understand and relate small details of Lewis's life and the background to his writings. Michael Ward's book goes far beyond this; he moves easily across the whole breadth of Lewis's own writings, the literature with which Lewis was familiar (which is to say, most of the literature of Western civilisation), and the subsequent critical and biographical writings about Lewis and his works. I'm not qualified to judge the correctness of his central thesis - that the Chronicles of Narnia are themed on the seven planets of the medieval cosmology. But whether Ward is right about this or not, he has certainly produced a work that achieves something else of great importance; he illustrates again, and powerfully, in detail, the fundamental unity of the whole of Lewis's works, arising from the consistency of Lewis's thought and understanding of the nature of things. He answers some of the more well-known criticisms of recent biographers and commentators (specifically, A.N. Wilson and Philip Pullman). Although (and rightly) a scholarly book, which will best be appreciated by those who have some exposure to the same literature as Lewis or are prepared to go and look up references which they don't recognise, nevertheless this book can be read simply as an enlightening and enjoyable sketch of Lewis's major imaginative works - Narnia, the Cosmic Trilogy, some of his poetry. Highly recommended.

More a thesis than a memoir, 14 Jun 2008
Though I like the idea of an adult bookworm going back over the books he enjoyed as a child, the reality of this book is that it reads more like some kind of idiosyncratic analysis of children's literature than the memoir it's advertised as. When it's about the author's life it's interesting; when he describes his reactions to the various books it can be engrossing. But much of the book is cerebral philosophising, sometimes on the nature of literature, sometimes on the nature of language itself. This wouldn't be so bad if it were in a more accessible style, but unfortunately the prose is often as dry and imprenetrable as the early 'Forest' chapter, which was a real struggle to get through.

If you have a fascination for language and the psychology of children's literature you might enjoy all this, but if you're looking for a memoir of a boy who retreated into books, I would look elsewhere, for this isn't it!

superb study, highly recommended, 22 Oct 2003
I am surprised to learn that anyone who enjoys reading has failed to enjoy this book. Both as a memoir and as a study of how children's literature affects us it is strikingly original.The author's passion for reading began as an escape from