Who was Alice Thomas Ellis?
Alice Thomas Ellis was the penname for fiction writer and columnist Anna Haycraft. Born Anna Margaret Lindholm in 1932 in Liverpool, England, […]
Inspired by children: The Betsy-Tacy series and books about innocence
In Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy-Tacy series, readers encounter the embodiment of innocence. The girls—Elizabeth (“Betsy”), Anastacia (“Tacy”), and later Thelma (“Tib”)—are far […]
Participation in creation
Your life, your work, should never be negative, nor anti anything. It is — it must be! — positive, optimistic, youthful, cheerful and peaceful. […]
How to introduce poetry to young children
Many mothers have been so deformed in their imagination by brief and unpleasant encounters with modern poetry that they avoid the entire […]
Paper dolls: A whimsical pastime for little girls
Paper dolls are the kind of simple toy that makes no noise (is there a more important feature?), can be stored in […]
Practically Speaking: Making the bed in which you lie
“You’ve made your bed, now lie in it.” -English idiom On the topic of practical household activity, we previously considered a […]
Books Worth Reading: Patricia MacLachlan’s All the Places to Love
All the Places to Love is a quiet celebration of the particular. Written by Patricia MacLachlan, the work is an ode to […]
Camille Paglia: women should regard men with a mix of gratitude and rational fear
Eccentric academic Camille Paglia appears to be a Cassandra, prophesying our destruction in words we refuse to believe. Her incisive observations about […]
The difference between fiction and lies
In an average high school literature class, there is an increasing inability to understand fiction. Stories, those timeless entertainments and balm to […]
Habits as strings in “Uncle David’s Nonsensical Story about Giants and Fairies”
“It is very important, Harry, to choose the best course from the beginning,” observed Lady Harriet. “Good or bad habits grow stronger […]