Lewis Carroll: The Complete Illustrated Works

Monday, December 3, 2007

Lewis Carroll: The Complete Illustrated Works

Author: Lewis Carroll

First line: After lunch on July 4, 1862, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a thirty-year-old Oxford mathematics don and clergyman (later to become universally known as Lewis Carroll) met the three daughters of the dean of his college, Christ Church, for a boating excursion up the river Isis.

Why you should read this book: Collected here we have the sum of Carroll's fantastic works for children: not only the Alice stories with their accompanying Tenniel drawings, but the tales of the little fairies Sylvie and Bruno, "The Hunting of the Snark," other whimsical poems, and all sorts of mathematical puzzles. One special feature is a reproduction of the original handwritten manuscript, illustrated by Carroll himself, and presented to the Liddell sisters as a Christmas gift some time after that magical, golden afternoon of Alice's birth. An excellent edition for the scholar or fan.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You think Walt Disney invented Alice.

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Studies show that children who regularly hear books read and see adults reading books have an easier time learning to read. If your children do not realize that books are fun and contain interesting ideas, they will be less motivated to learn how to read and write. Children who do not learn to read and write have difficulty succeeding in school and at life.

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You can learn more about children's books at the American Library Association website. Your public library is a great place to introduce your children to books. They will have special programs and incentives for kids of all ages to love reading. In most systems children are entitled to their own library cards from the time they are old enough to write their own names. It's a great way to teach responsibility as well as foster a lifelong love of learning and books.

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Dragon's Library

Monday, December 3, 2007