Reviews
There are so many incredible books available at the moment that it is impossible to read them all, no matter how hard I try! Here are my thoughts about some of the books I have read and how I think they could be used in school as well as Q and A sessions with authors and illustrators.
Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children
Containing six enduring tales, this new edition of ‘Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children’ is an absolute delight.
The collection contains two of his best loved and best known stories, ‘The Happy Prince’ and ‘The Selfish Giant’, both tales which I loved as a child. There is always some debate with Wilde’s fairy tales as to whether they are truly meant for children as they are sometimes dark and emotionally charged. I cried for ages on first reading ‘The Happy Prince’- yet borrowed it from the library again and again. However, any adult considering sharing these stories with the children in their lives, whether at home or at school, would be well advised to pre-read them to be able to discuss and enjoy sharing them with younger readers as they feel appropriate.
However, these stories are full of memorable characters and offer so much to discuss and reflect on and this edition is so beautifully illustrated, making it the perfect choice. Pages are edged with papercuts which frame the text and adorn the endpapers whilst gorgeous paintings accompany each story. The style of these give the book a charming, timeless feeling, making this a wonderful collection to introduce children to Wilde’s stories.
Essential for readers young and old!
Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children
Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara
Little Island ISBN: 978-1915071897