Maddening Game

Lisa Von Drasek, Children's Librarian at the Bank Street College of Education, is recognized as an authority in the world of children's books. She is outspoken, lucid, and has a passion for her work.

She wrote an article on children's books in the December 14, 2007, Barnes & Noble Review in which she stated:

"There is a maddening game one finds played out in bookstores every holiday season. It is called 'stump the book giver.'The giving of a book is one of the most intimate of offerings. The best of these unassuming, neatly wrapped rectangles displays evidence of the giver having some knowledge of the recipient...It is insulting to the core to present a book to a ten-year-old that is developmentally appropriate for an eight-year-old. The rewards for getting it right, however, are rich."

We don't want to be disrespectful. We are writing children's books about the world of dogs.

We want to be accepted as insiders and not regarded as outsiders. On the other hand, we don't want to discourage potential readers. And we have passionate endorsements from readers 6 to 12 years of age. Several of these are posted on our website: www.planetofhtedogs.net.

We don't want to be part of the maddening game...should we continue to recommend our books to children 6 to 12 and dog lovers of all ages? Where should we draw the line?

Perhaps we should write to Ms Von Drasek..?

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."      Roger Caras, By Definition