Last week the NYTs ran an article Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children. Be sure to read Joanne’s take on the state of picture books in our culture.  As the author of more than 50 books for children and a former first and second grade teacher, her take is really informative.

Mine–is more a gut response.  Most of the children’s books we are sent for review are terrible.  There’s no other way to say it.  There seems to be a growing disconnect between the intended reader (young children) and a new crop of children’s writers.  It’s not just one or two books that seem off, but dozens and dozens of books that look like children’s books but seem much more appropriate for adult readers.