Losing a great generation

The generation of children's writers who started publishing books in the years after World War II brought a produced a great outflowing of children's stories that have lasted for the past half century. Now, slowly, those pioneers are passing away. Today brings news of the death of Karla Kuskin whose poetry and stories were loved by children and parents from the 1950s onward. She had a gift for quiet, unassuming poetry that spoke directly to children and her straightforward approach appealed to adults as well. She was not a author who sought out fairylands or reworked familiar motifs. Believing that too much time is spent writing about moons, she wrote a poem about radishes. That is true, fresh, imagination. We will miss her, but fortunately generations of children will continue to be able to read her books.