Through The Looking Glass: How Children's Books Have Grown Up
Literature for kids hasn't always been focused on the magical and whimsical. We take a three-century tour through the history of children's books in the classroom.
Books
When Storytime Blows Kids' Minds: The Power Of The Plot Twist
One of the profound pleasures of reading to children, says Barrie Hardymon, is the thrill of sharing a story's secrets for the first time.
'The Noise Of Time' Can't Drown Out Shostakovich
Julian Barnes' slim but powerful new novel chronicles the difficulties composer Dmitri Shostakovich suffered under repressive Soviet regimes, and mourns what is lost when tyrants try to control art.
Richard Russo Returns To North Bath, NY, In 'Everybody's Fool'
The Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Empire Falls says his characters are inspired by his parents' working-class World War II generation. Russo's new novel is set in a small town in upstate New York.
Robert Worth's 'A Rage For Order' Takes On Troubled Middle East
Robert Worth was in Cairo in February 2011 when news spread that president Hosni Mubarak had resigned. He tells Melissa Block about that moment and shares other personal stories about the Arab Spring.
'Eleven Hours' Follows Two Soon-To-Be Moms In The Course Of One Labor
Pamela Erens' new book tells the story of a woman in labor and the nurse who helps her through it.
Barnes & Noble Founder Retires, Leaving His Imprint On Bookstore's History
As Founder and Chairman of Barnes & Noble, Leonard Riggio steered it through the proliferation of free information in the Internet age. As he retires, he tells NPR's Lynn Neary about his long career.
'Little Mosque' Creator Zarqa Nawaz On Mixing Comedy And Religion
The writer/filmmaker uses humor to help people understand Islam, but it took years for some mosque members to come around to her jokes. Nawaz's new memoir is called Laughing All The Way to the Mosque.
Chris Cleve's WWII Novel Draws From Family's Bravery
NPR's Lynn Neary asks Chris Cleve about his new novel "Everyone Brave if Forgiven." He wanted to write about Randolph Churchill's World War II experiences but discovered surprising inspiration.
Grief Haunts 'Ghosts Of Bergen County'
Dana Cann's novel is packed with ghosts, literal and figurative. It centers on a married couple grieving the loss of their infant daughter — and the way that grief can make strange things happen.