READ FROM PICTURE BOOKS AND THINK
Moonbow is a newsletter about children’s literature.
Children’s Literature Essays, Author/Illustrator Interviews, Book Reviews, and Events
Moonbow is dedicated to the art of children’s literature and discusses why adults should take the form seriously (because they often don’t). It aims to open and broaden these texts to encourage adults to think deeply about children’s books and see new things in them. Children’s books—especially picture books—are a versatile form, collecting and remixing genres and ideas from other art forms like poetry, music, theater, dance, cinema, and other books. Still, they should have one main goal: to be enjoyed by children.
Of course adults can enjoy them, too (I’m one of those adults), but the priority should be making, recommending, and reading books to children that they actually want to read, not books with adult agendas or a sentimental, wistful affection for childhood.
Finding good books isn’t easy. There is a lot of bad art made for children (the same as for adults), and that’s okay, but the more we—the adults—discover, learn, and engage with the form, the better we will be at getting good (and sometimes great!) books into the hands of children.
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Testimonials
"As I've told you before, it's just wonderful and so important to have Moonbow there, sharing and responding to picture books in such an intelligent and complex way. I've been waiting for a voice like yours to come along for a long time!"
— Claudia Zoe Bedrick, publisher, editor, & art director of Enchanted Lion Books
“A thoughtful, beautiful personal essay…Taylor gets at something profound about the power of picture books to help us see through fresh eyes.”
— Bruce Handy, literary critic & children’s book author
“I’ve been working on a William Steig study. Reading all his books. Immersing myself in his world. And I find myself overwhelmed by how to capture everything I feel in a way that will make sense to other people. I hope whatever plops out will be half as amazing as Taylor Sterling’s post on Tomi Ungerer. Engaging and thought-provoking and organized in a way that honors the creator’s world--highly recommend!”
— Rachel Wilson, children’s book author & illustrator