Children's Books

Where the wild things aren't Where the wild things aren't

Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers turn Maurice Sendak's woolly kids' book into a shoe-gazing exercise
By Stephanie Zacharek Oct 16, 2009

  • L'Engle's last wrinkle

    Madeleine L'Engle wrote children's books that were too complicated for grown-ups. I'll miss her.
    By Laurel Snyder September 10, 2007

  • An unfortunate demise

    As his wildly popular series reaches its end, Daniel Handler -- aka Lemony Snicket -- talks to Salon about returning to himself.
    By Amy Benfer October 28, 2006

  • The funniest children's book ever

    The author of the "Dark Materials" fantasy series introduces a surreal Australian children's classic that's nearly unknown in America, Norman Lindsay's "Magic Pudding."
    By Philip Pullman July 28, 2004

  • Abridged too far

    I went to the library to get my daughter "The Wind in the Willows." What I found was a happy-face, Disney-esque conspiracy to rob the classics of children's lit of their drama, their passion and their soul.
    By Hilary Flower March 29, 2004

  • A delicious voice speaks of abominable things

    Tim Curry's hambone audio recordings of the Lemony Snicket books make these classics of mock-serious children's literature even more delightful.
    By Laura Miller November 14, 2003

  • "Holes"

    Aided by Sigourney Weaver and Jon Voight as evil grown-ups, this adaptation of the beloved children's book crackles with un-Harry-like life.
    By Laura Miller April 18, 2003

  • R is for rabid

    Liberals are poopie-heads! and other lessons for the children of far-right-thinking adults in Ann Coulter's new kids book, "I Know You Are but What Am I."
    By Sheri Zollinger December 9, 2002

  • Kids lit grows up

    Inspired by Harry Potter, bestselling authors Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Carl Hiaasen and Isabel Allende are spearheading a renaissance in books that enchant readers of all ages.
    By Charles Taylor September 21, 2002

  • The politically incorrect house on the prairie

    The New York Times' children's book editor talks about the ideological pressures on kids' books and whether Harry Potter is a classic yet.
    By Laura Miller July 20, 2001

  • The road to Dictionopolis

    Norton Juster, author of "The Phantom Tollbooth," talks about infinity, romantic triangles and just where that mysterious package came from.
    By Laura Miller March 12, 2001

  • A gold star for tedium

    Do the Newbery Medal-winning children's books really have to be so dreary?
    By E.J. Graff January 25, 2001

  • The New York Times Book Review: A list of their own

    By Kera Bolonik
    By August 22, 2000

  • The mysterious Mr. Snicket

    He's been compared to Edward Gorey and Roald Dahl, but to know the true identity of the author behind the bestselling children's series, you must read this story.
    By Amy Benfer August 17, 2000

  • A list of their own

    Has Harry Potter changed the course of the New York Times Book Review -- and the children's book market -- for good or for evil? It depends on whom you ask.
    By Kera Bolonik August 16, 2000

  • Harry Potter's girl trouble

    The world of everyone's favorite kid wizard is a place where boys come first.
    By Christine Schoefer January 13, 2000

  • Letters to the Editor

    How could your "music of 1999" list bypass Ricky Martin? Plus: Children's lit needs the likes of David Mamet; is Croatia ready for a rebirth?
    Letters to the Editor December 22, 1999

  • A swine in Harvard Yard

    David Mamet's children's book puts Ivy League angst in the heads of babes.
    By Alexandra Jacobs December 15, 1999

  • Books for bad children

    Bring on the ghosts, the ghouls and the unhappy endings.
    By Polly Shulman October 27, 1999

  • How do I know I'm really me?

    Children ask the big questions, and these dreamy books venture to answer.
    By Polly Shulman September 28, 1999

  • Is hell satisfied?

    In keeping with their authors' dark histories, "The Iron Giant" and other children's tales by Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath tell ominous fables about ambition, despair and people's disregard for nature and one another.
    By Polly Shulman August 25, 1999
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