“Most controversial books are really about moral choices, and what makes them controversial is the necessity of presenting the other option. It’s not a choice unless the reader understands the alternative.

“You can’t meaningfully discuss values and morality without the broader context of what you’re choosing against, whether that’s profanity, sexual violence, drug use, whatever.

“As a parent, I believe so much in the dialogue, the endless conversation with my kids about difficult situations and how to do the right thing. Books are a crucial part of that dialogue.”

Cynsational Notes

Elise made the above comment in the context of a discussion on one of my author list servs. I found it so insightful that I asked her permission to share it with cynsational readers, and she graciously agreed. Thanks, Elise!

See Author Interview: Elise Broach on Shakespeare’s Secret (Henry Holt, 2005).

Cynsational News & Links

Gift Ideas for Children’s Book Professionals from The Purple Crayon by Harold Underdown. The site also features reviews of the classic Writing with Pictures by Uri Shulevitz and a recent complimentary book, Illustrating Children’s Books: Creating Pictures for Publication by Martin Salisbury. See also Who’s Moving Where? for recent publishing news from Scholastic, Zonderkids, Little Brown, and Boyds Mills.

Open Ice by Pat Hughes (Random House, 2005) from Greg Leitich Smith’s blog.

“We’re number 16!” by author Chris Barton from Bartography. On Austin ranking 16th among, America’s Most Literate Cities.