Still going strong

The appointment of Katherine Patterson as the ambassador for Children's Literature in the United States is a recognition of the continuing importance of the literary tradition of children's books. In a time when publishers are scrambling to find the next trendy series to catch children's attention, it's nice to know that an author who writes serious books for thoughtful children is being honored. Librarians used to believe that "only the best is good enough for children" but a more common sentiment these days is that anything that gets a child to pick up a book is worth publishing and choosing for a library. Certainly light-hearted books have their place in a child's reading diet, but while generations of babysitters' pranks and vampire scares may fade from mind, many adults will remember the plot and characters of Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins for years. These books are truly an introduction not just to the skill of reading but to the rich rewards that come to some of us from a true literary experience of immersion and growth.