Between the Covers: What's Inside a Children's Book?

by Deborah DeGroff

The subject of Children’s Literature affects everyone. It includes the issue of literacy. Once one is truly literate, what one reads makes a huge difference. We are told that reading books about being kind or about not being a bully will help us to be kind and not be a bully. However, the numerous books condoning every vice known to man are supposed to leave the children unscathed.
No one would argue that the ideals that made this country great have been eroded. Individualism and patriotism have become the unpardonable sins.
If God is mentioned at all in these books, He has become a she who is inside everyone and everything, connecting the divinity in us all.
These ideas came from somewhere. Perhaps we need to start looking BETWEEN THE COVERS.

Here are some of the questions that are answered in this

-What were children reading in 1900?
-What’s a “controlled” vocabulary?
-What do reading levels really mean?
-Is profanity used in young adult books?
-What are books for “reluctant readers?”
-What are adult books for teens?
-How are books used to create youth activists?
-What is censorship and who are the censors?
-How is Christianity portrayed in children’s books?
-Are book descriptions and reviews reliable?

Genres: Parenting, Books About Books

526 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2019

Reviews

[Joseph Raborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most important book to read for any parent who wishes for their children to be voracious readers. Many Young Adult and Children's books seem to be filled with profanity, smut, anti-Christian, and unpatriotic messages. This book offers a great shortcut so that parents can learn the worst offenders, though reading what the children want to read before they do is the only way to be safe. That and limiting their reading to the classics.

This author deserves great praise for meticulously researching so much literature aimed at young people. One-fifth of the book consists of the endnotes! Some people have found this book challenging to read, but it strikes me as a page turner.

[Jonathan Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a much needed book even though it is difficult to read. Most parents would be shocked to see what the publishers are really putting in kids' books and what they are intentionally marketing to them.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad for this info. Some of these titles didn't suprise me so much . I was trying to remember the books rhey assigned us in school and I looked them up almost all were a tad controversial because it was sad or had a bit of swearing. But the books my kids were reading stunned me Evwrything from Homer the Odyssey to New Stephen King . Us mothers met up about the Stephen King Book.