{"id":33201,"date":"2018-10-05T22:44:22","date_gmt":"2018-10-06T02:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=33201"},"modified":"2018-10-05T22:44:22","modified_gmt":"2018-10-06T02:44:22","slug":"review-of-balderdash-by-michelle-markel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=33201","title":{"rendered":"Review of Balderdash! by Michelle Markel"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Balderdash!<\/p>\n

John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children\u2019s Books<\/em><\/p>\n

by Michelle Markel
\nillustrated by Nancy Carpenter<\/p>\n

Chronicle Books, 2017. 44 pages.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a picture book biography of John Newbery (yes, that\u2019s with ONE R), the publisher who began publishing books for children.<\/p>\n

The book is written with simple text and entertaining illustrations, in the style of the books John Newbery published.<\/p>\n

It talks about books for children before Newbery:<\/p>\n

Children had to read
\npreachy poems and fables,
\nreligious tests that made them fear that death was near,
\nand manuals that told them where to stand,
\nhow to sit,
\nnot to laugh,
\nand scores of other rules.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When John Newbery started publishing books for children, he began with A Little Pretty Pocket-Book<\/em> and was the first bookseller to sell a book with an accompanying toy.<\/p>\n

He went on to publish more books, a magazine, and even a novel for children \u2013 the first one being The History of Goody Two-Shoes<\/em>. Now, readers today will notice a strong moral. \u201cGoody went from rags to riches without a fairy godmother. She did it through study, hard work, and kindness.\u201d But the whole idea that children could learn from a story, rather than a sermon \u2013 that was revolutionary. The idea that reading might be fun? Thank John Newbery!<\/p>\n

Of course, John One-R Newbery is who the Newbery Medal was named after when the American Library Association decided to give an award \u201cfor the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.\u201d It\u2019s because of John Newbery that the world got the idea there could be literature for children. This is mentioned in the note at the back. The main text is kept light and fun and geared for children.<\/p>\n

michellemarkel.com<\/a>
\nchroniclekids.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Nonfiction\/balderdash.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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