Childrens Book Show 1974
An introduction
All of us have memories of our first books; the peculiar binding, the smell of the paper, the look of a particular drawing will stay longer in the mind than the books of adulthood. Indeed, that interminably asked question — Why so many children's books? — answers itself; they are the first I.nklings to the child of a world beyond its immediate family, the richness and colours of a drawing spell wonder to a child in ways which we adults cannot easily remember and, as the child grows older, the stories of childhood adventure become a constant source of pleasure and excitement.
But the universal attractiveness of the book also poses a particular problem for the writer and the publisher. Since a Picture or a story can have a strong and sometimes lasting effect on the child's mind, it becomes necessary to choose with great care the books which we put in front of him. Some of the reviewers in this special Spectator supplement discuss this MEN/ problem; Lady Hastings, in her article, challenges the assumption of certain publishers and writers that children should be spoon-fed with sweet stories and bland drawings — "Does it not, after all, stand to reason that if the world is to be saved, it must be by a generation reared not on bread and milk but on strong, red meat?" George van Schaick, the headmaster of a primary school, discusses some recent fiction for older children (like all these categories, a loose one but which can be taken to mean the eleven years olds and over) and says quite early on that "The World can be a hard and cruel place . . Most writers of books for children, at least for older children, no longer pretend otherwise." And David Williams, in his review of Geoffrey Trease's autobiography, makes the point that Trease himself saw a transformation in children's fiction during the 'fifties and 'sixties. But this novel emphasis on "red meat" is not as unfamiliar as it appears; it might be nearer the mark to say that children's literature has at last moved out from under the mamby-pamby cloud-cuckoo of the 'thirties and 'forties and has returned to the strong and somewhat shocking children's fiction of the last century and the early part of this.
This is, however, a matter to be debated as it is the duty of the parent to choose books for their children with considerable care. Over forty publishers are exhibiting their books at this year's Children's Book Show, organised by the indefatigable National Books League. This is the seventeenth year of the Children's Book Show, and this year for the first time it is being held in Glasgow. The venue is the McLellan Galleries and will be open from September 15 to 21. The opening times ' are, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6.30pm. and there will be a special late night opening on Thursday from 10am to 8pm.
There will be over two thousand titles on show, and the exhibition provides a marvellous opportunity for parents, teachers and children to browse around and see the range of children's books currently on sale. Many of the leading children's book authors and artists will be travelling up to talk at the Show, and there will also be filmstrips and competitions as there were last year. An Information Bureau will be manned throughout the Show, where advice on children's books will be given by expert helpers. There will also be a bookshop which will have a copy of every book which is on display at the Show. Happy hunting!
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