Guest review by Janelle Bailey, avid reader and always learning; sometimes substitute teaching, sometimes grandbabysitting, sometimes selling books

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julie Morstad

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julie Morstad

Recently, I came across this Philip Pullman quote: “There are some themes, some subjects, too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children’s book.”

I think that this is sometimes true. I also think that sometimes children’s books take on far more mature messages or make deeper or more complex points than their young audience can grasp, let alone easily do; sometimes there’s a deeper layer of mature message for adults with a simpler layer easily understood by the kids.

And my concern is really a little different, that if the books that make the best points are children’s books, how do we get adults to read them? Some of the best authors of early reader books–Kevin Henkes, Kate DiCamillo, Beverly Cleary, and so many more–are mainstays in early elementary classrooms and teacher recommendations, and/or authors whose books teachers read aloud to their students as well.

Maybe you haven’t heard of or read Kate DiCamillo since reading to your kids or reading her AS a kid (Because of Winn Dixie, The Tale of Desperaux, Flora & Ulysses, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, or any of the many, many others). Or maybe you haven’t ever heard of her at all!

But you’re hearing about her now, and you simply must know that you need to find her newest book, The Puppets of Spelhorst, either for yourself or as a gift for another adult–or child–and once you’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, you may as well read a bunch more of DiCamillo’s others as well.

Yes, they are children’s books. I suppose. Meaning that a child could certainly read them once they are getting the hang of the reading thing, to the point of looking up anything they don’t know or asking about anything they don’t understand.

But the real beauty of the messages of DiCamillo books is for adults to read/hear/learn. They are the ones who can be most “changed” by the sweet charm of Kate DiCamillo’s characters–often non-humans of some kind brought to life–who seem to all have a better grasp of some aspect or aspects of life than all of us living life.

And all we need to do is generously read and see and listen to the message of the book(s), and then go out and do a better job from then on, of being human, of having a heart, and of seeing into people’s eyes well enough to learn what is also in their hearts, and what we’re all capable of: improving.

These puppets–a king, a wolf, an owl, a boy, and a girl–well, they’ve got important things to teach you. Come along for this quick ride and see!

Come back next Monday for another book review!