What do the children’s classics “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, “Harriet the Spy” by Louise Fitzhugh and “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats have in common?
At one time, they all were considered revolutionary — “Little Women” because it presented a (for the time) realistic slice of family life, “Harriet the Spy” and “Where the Wild Things Are” because they portray children in conflict with their parents, and “The Snowy Day” because an African-American child is the main character.
Welcome to the big bold universe of children’s literature, which is still and forever evolving. The Tribune recently caught up with experts in the field to comment on current trends.
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