Reviews
Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom by Ursula Nordstrom, Leonard S. Marcus, Maurice Sendak
sillypunk's review against another edition
5.0
Such a wonderful collection of letters.I can't believe I hadn't heard of her before: https://blogendorff.com/2019/01/11/book-review-dear-genius-the-letters-of-ursula-nordstrom/
spiderfelt's review against another edition
1.0
I put this away after twenty minutes of reading. The introduction was interesting background, offering insight into Ursula Nordstrom, clearly a force to be reckoned with and a trailblazer in the publishing industry. However, her letters alternately bored and vexed me. I used to dream of being an editor for a publishing company, back when I was researching university programs. For various reasons, I didn't end up following that rack, and now I see how unsuited I would be for that work. Could you lease make the characters in your stories bunnies instead of humans? Could you draw more confidence in the little boy's expression. Oh we love your work, but there really needs to be more certainty in the mouse's posture. Your best work is yet to come, if you just apply yourself and start writing again.
razishiri's review against another edition
5.0
Stuart Little. Charlotte's Web. The Runaway Bunny. Little House in the Big Woods. Bedtime for Frances. Where the Wild Things Are. A Kiss for Little Bear. It's Like This, Cat. Freaky Friday. Harriet the Spy.
It's hard to imagine that a single individual was involved in the publication of so many beloved childhood classics, but Ursula Nordstrom was such a woman. As director of Harper Publishing's childrens department from 1940 to 1973, she was friend and mentor to some of the most creative writers and artists of the day. This compilation of her personal correspodence, published 10 years after her death, is a fascinating excursion into the world of children's publishing through the life of one of its most brilliant and influential editors.
The first thing I noticed while reading Nordstrom's letters: she's funny. Not 21st-century, passive-agressive sarcasm funny, but real old-fashioned wit. No smileys here, but plenty of sly allusions, affectionate banter and code words (MCP is male chauvinist pig). The amount of personality she puts in her letters makes one long for the snail mail days.
The second thing: sincerity. Though sometimes self-deprecating, Nordstrom was ever sincere in her praising her author "geniuses" (hence the title Dear Genius). In her very first letter to Laura Ingalls Wilder as an assistant editor, Nordstrom writes, "all of us were upset about [an editorial error in her book] because, very frankly, every single bit of copy written for your lovely book has been worked over with enthusiasm and affection". I especially enjoyed reading her letters to John Stepdoe, the teenage author of Stevie, which strike the perfect balance between respectful encouragement and motherly scolding. Nordstrom was somewhat subversive in her conviction that children's books should be written for children, not the adults who buy them -- if the word wasn't now associated with Sarah Palin, I'd call her a maverick. She was utterly devoted to her audience and her work. One can't help but conclude that the moral and artistic education of children was in the best of hands.
In Goodreads reviews, I'm usually stingy about handing out five stars, but I really can't give this volume anything else. It amazed me, and it spoke to a part of me I haven't been in touch with for a long time. There is something holy about the books you read as a little kid. For someone who cried over Charlotte's death, who tried to start a spy notebook like Harriet, whose aldolescence was defined by Freaky Friday, who still reads The Runaway Bunny when she can't sleep at night -- meeting Ursula Nordstrom is like coming home. And now I'm being overly sentimental, but as Ms. Nordstrom quoted on page 270:
"Every time a resolve or fine glow of feeling evaporates without bearing fruit, it is worse than a chance lost; it works to hinder future emotions from taking the normal path of discharge."
- William James
It's hard to imagine that a single individual was involved in the publication of so many beloved childhood classics, but Ursula Nordstrom was such a woman. As director of Harper Publishing's childrens department from 1940 to 1973, she was friend and mentor to some of the most creative writers and artists of the day. This compilation of her personal correspodence, published 10 years after her death, is a fascinating excursion into the world of children's publishing through the life of one of its most brilliant and influential editors.
The first thing I noticed while reading Nordstrom's letters: she's funny. Not 21st-century, passive-agressive sarcasm funny, but real old-fashioned wit. No smileys here, but plenty of sly allusions, affectionate banter and code words (MCP is male chauvinist pig). The amount of personality she puts in her letters makes one long for the snail mail days.
The second thing: sincerity. Though sometimes self-deprecating, Nordstrom was ever sincere in her praising her author "geniuses" (hence the title Dear Genius). In her very first letter to Laura Ingalls Wilder as an assistant editor, Nordstrom writes, "all of us were upset about [an editorial error in her book] because, very frankly, every single bit of copy written for your lovely book has been worked over with enthusiasm and affection". I especially enjoyed reading her letters to John Stepdoe, the teenage author of Stevie, which strike the perfect balance between respectful encouragement and motherly scolding. Nordstrom was somewhat subversive in her conviction that children's books should be written for children, not the adults who buy them -- if the word wasn't now associated with Sarah Palin, I'd call her a maverick. She was utterly devoted to her audience and her work. One can't help but conclude that the moral and artistic education of children was in the best of hands.
In Goodreads reviews, I'm usually stingy about handing out five stars, but I really can't give this volume anything else. It amazed me, and it spoke to a part of me I haven't been in touch with for a long time. There is something holy about the books you read as a little kid. For someone who cried over Charlotte's death, who tried to start a spy notebook like Harriet, whose aldolescence was defined by Freaky Friday, who still reads The Runaway Bunny when she can't sleep at night -- meeting Ursula Nordstrom is like coming home. And now I'm being overly sentimental, but as Ms. Nordstrom quoted on page 270:
"Every time a resolve or fine glow of feeling evaporates without bearing fruit, it is worse than a chance lost; it works to hinder future emotions from taking the normal path of discharge."
- William James
sharonfalduto's review against another edition
Childrens' book editor at Harper from the 1940s through 1981, who oversaw the publication of classics such as "Goodnight Moon," "Harriet the Spy," and "Where the Wild Things Are," and who was a fine letter writer herself.
jgeisler's review against another edition
5.0
If you love children's books, this is the book for you. Ursula Nordstrom was the head of the Harper's "Boys and Girls' Department" from 1940 to 1973 and is credited with being one of the most creative forces in children's books. She had an uncanny ability to recognize talent and potential in writers and illustrators. She worked with people such as Maurice Sendak, E.B. White, Margaret Wise Brown, Shel Silverstein, Garth Williams, John Steptoe, Mary Stolz, and on and on. She was a magnificent mentor, providing support, encouragement and at times, the "push" that was needed, often through letters. This book assembles many of her letters and offers a glimpse into her thinking, her relationships with the creators of children's books and her wit.
The book is out of print - I bought a pristine copy secondhand for less than $15. It was worth every penny. I will be sharing this with other friends who love children's literature - it is too good a book to sit forgotten on my shelf. It begs to be read.
The book is out of print - I bought a pristine copy secondhand for less than $15. It was worth every penny. I will be sharing this with other friends who love children's literature - it is too good a book to sit forgotten on my shelf. It begs to be read.
jmtinsd_58's review
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
This is a collection of Ursula Nordstrom’s letters written to some of the most loved writers and illustrators of children’s books. Nordstrom was the editor at Harper for about 40 years and her letters are personal encouragements and a behind the scenes peek at the writing process. It did run a bit long.
kcarella's review
5.0
I gobbled this book up. I gulped it down. I truly cannot recommend this collection of letters highly enough. It’s perfect for anyone who loves children’s books (particularly books published during the ‘50s-‘80s), and it should be required reading for anyone who works in the children’s publishing industry. Five stars!
zarap's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
5.0
I love this book of letters so much. Part of the reason it took me a year and a half to read is that I got to a certain point and didn't want it to be over, and it was a wonderful companion over that time. Ursula Nordstrom will forever be at the head of my "who would you have to dinner, living/dead/fictional" table. Writing this in December 2020, I think it might be time to start again.