Tag Archives: Childhood

Children Lit’s Changing Racial Landscape

By Robin Bates | Published: October 15, 2015

My mixed race granddaughters have children’s books with protagonists of color. It’s a far cry from the Dick-Jane-and-Sally books of my childhood and of the reality described by Toni Morrison’s “Bluest Eye.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Swimming with the Water Babies

By Robin Bates | Published: June 3, 2015

Swimming with my granddaughters put me in mind of Charles Kingsley’s “Water Babies.” Kingsley helped us enter into the rich imaginative lives of children.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments closed

“Is My Son Mad?” Mary Asks

By Robin Bates | Published: May 10, 2015

In Thomas Hardy’s version of Mary, she’s a mother wondering whether her son is mad.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

King Looks to Children for Hope

By Robin Bates | Published: March 2, 2015

Despite the horrors he describes, Stephen King’s vision is ultimately a hopeful one. The key, as he sees it, is plugging into childhood hopes and imagination.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

Walking Out in the Sun of October

By Robin Bates | Published: October 3, 2014

As we enter October, revel in Dylan Thomas’ celebration of the season.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , | Comments closed

Angel Infancy

By Robin Bates | Published: August 17, 2014

Henry Vaughan’s “The Retreat” believes that children have a special connection with eternity.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments closed

What Rises So Far Above into the Light?

By Robin Bates | Published: July 7, 2013

Denise Levertov’s poem about moving amongst tall trees becomes a meditation on life and afterlife.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Comments closed

Tintin to the Rescue

By Robin Bates | Published: January 13, 2012

The new film “Tintin” takes me back to my childhood, when my brothers and I scoured Paris book shops to assemble a complete set of what were early graphic novels.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged | Comments closed

March Madness, A Return to Innocence

By Robin Bates | Published: March 19, 2011

Sports Saturday March Madness begins this weekend. Actually, to be exact, it begins for the big schools. Division III colleges are in the final week of their tournament. I know because my college was one step away from making the final four. For the first time ever, St. Mary’s College of Maryland sent a team […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments closed