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Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom by Ursula Nordstrom, Leonard S. Marcus, Maurice Sendak
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.
satyridae's review
2.0
What I liked about this collection of letters is the way UN's wry wit was always in evidence. It was fun to read some of the letters to authors I know and love.
What I didn't like was the lack of context, the disconnected nature of only getting one side of the conversation.
What drove me crazy is maybe only something I don't understand, perhaps some scholarly convention- but I found it maddening that the editor assigned "short" names to some of the authors as if he would be referring to them by these compressed names but then continued to use the whole name, followed by the shortened version in parentheses throughout.
In summation I see the merit of a book of letters but I'd have been much, much happier with a biography.
What I didn't like was the lack of context, the disconnected nature of only getting one side of the conversation.
What drove me crazy is maybe only something I don't understand, perhaps some scholarly convention- but I found it maddening that the editor assigned "short" names to some of the authors as if he would be referring to them by these compressed names but then continued to use the whole name, followed by the shortened version in parentheses throughout.
In summation I see the merit of a book of letters but I'd have been much, much happier with a biography.
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