Children's Literature

Book critic Maureen Corrigan tells us her picks of children's books that adults love.

We remember Jeff Moss, one of the original creators and writers of "Sesame Street." He died Thursday, at the age of 56, from colon cancer. Moss created Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, and wrote such songs as "Rubber Ducky" and "People in Your Neighborhood." He won 14 Emmy's, four Grammy's, and an Acacdemy Award nomination for his work on "Sesame Street" and with the Muppets. Moss was also the author of books for children, including "Hieronymus White: A Bird Who Believed That He Always Was Right" (REBROADCAST from 11/30/94)

Book Critic Maureen Corrigan provides us with a special holiday list of her favorite books. Great books from the past.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan recommends her favorite children's books of the year: "The Christmas Tree," "Sam and the Tigers," "Little Black Sambo" (revised edition) "The Complete Adventures of Curious George" "The Golden Compass."

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Fragments," the new memoir by Binjamin Wilkomirski about being a child of the Holocaust.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his daughter Amy Carter. The two have collaborated on a new children's book, The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer (Times Books). The story is one that Cater made up, and told his children when they were young. Amy Carter illustrated the book.

Children's book author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg. His book The Polar Express a fable about a little boy who meets Santa Claus was/is a bestseller. It was written ten years ago, and each year at Christmas it's a big favorite. His new book is Bad Day At Riverbend (Houghton Mifflin). His book Jumanji (published in 1981) has been made into a new movie starring Robin Williams. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Jeff Moss was one of the original creators and writers of "Sesame Street." He created Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, and wrote such songs as "Rubber Ducky" and "People in Your Neighborhood." He has won 13 Emmy's, four Grammy's, and an Oscar nomination for his work on "Sesame Street" and with the Muppets. Moss is also the author of four books for children, the newest of which is "Hieronymus White: A Bird Who Believed That He Always Was Right."

Former Drug Czar William Bennett. He is currently co-director of the conservative organization "Empower America." In 1981, he was appointed by Ronald Reagan to be Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1985, he became President Reagan's Secretary of Education, and from March of 1989 to November of 1990, he served as President Bush's director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Bennett has written extensively on social and domestic issues and is the author of five books.

Children's book writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak. He's been at it for over 40 years. His books are classics: "Where the Wild Things Are," "In the Night Kitchen," and others. They are "unsentimental fantasizes" (LA Times Magazine), challenging the belief that children should be protected from their fears and anxieties. In all, Sendak has illustrated 80 children's books (19 of which he wrote).

Terry talks with two authors of children books which were once part of the reading list for the Rainbow curriculum in the New York Public schools. The two books were controversial, and removed from the list, because they dealt with children of gay parents. Leslea (Les-LEE-ah) Newman is the author of "Heather has Two Mommies," and Michael Willhoite wrote "Daddy's Roommate." (Both books are published by Alyson Publishers, Boston, Mass).

Critic Maureen Corrigan recommends two books that you might want to give as holiday presents. First, a children's book called Emily, by Michael Bedard, about a young girl who meets Emily Dickinson. Second: The Open Door, a new paperback collection of writers writing about what made them love to read books when they were young.

Barker is known for his violent, macabre stories, novels, and films -- including his well-known "Hellraiser" trilogy. His newest book "The Thief of Always: A Fable," is aimed at children.

Children's book author John Scieszka's first book was "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs," a retelling of the classic tale told from the perspective of the big bad wolf. He and illustrator Lane Smith have created several books under their Time Warp Trio editions. The latest is "The Good, The Bad, and the Goofy," a cowboys-and-Indians story written for boys, and "The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales," written for "hardcore silly kids."

Maureen Corrigan looks at a series of books and a movie with canine heroes: the "Taxi Dog" books and "Beethoven."

Macabre cartoonist and illustrator Edward Gorey talks to Terry from his house in Cape Cod (he's not fond of leaving home). His longtime favorite children's books include "The Curious Nosebleed," (Dodd, Mead) "The Loathesome Couple," (Dodd, Mead) and "Amphigorey," (G.P. Putnam's Sons) which was recently made into a musical that's currently playing in Philadelphia. You might have also seen his illustrations on the opening credits of the PBS show "Mystery."

Children's author Maira (pronounced "my-rah") Kalman. Her latest kid's book is called "Ooh-La-La, Max In Love." (It's published by Viking).

Author and illustrator Laurent de Brunhoff (with a silent "h"). He's followed his father's footsteps, and for the past 40 years has written and drawn the continuing adventures of Babar the Elephant. There are now 36 Babar kids books, in 17 languages, as well as a movie and TV shows. (by the way, it's bah-BAHR, or BAA-bahr, but NEVER BAY-bahr!!!).

Commentator Maureen Corrigan looks at the Nancy Drew mystery series. The venerable series of girls' books have been updated for the 90s.