"The characterisation in Potter! The world-building! The ethical complexity! The switchback storytelling when they visit the psychiatric ward at St Mungo's and see first vain penseur Gilderoy Lockhart, now amnesiac but still rabbiting about autographs, then Alice Longbottom, a victim of the Cruciatus curse, shuffling along with a sweet wrapper for her son. It's the best depiction of anguished dementia I've ever read."
"Those stories are much better than those I was reading when I was eight. By which I mean Enid Blyton, but also perhaps Judy Blume and Anthony Jennings Buckeridge, and including some of Roald Dahl and a lot of CS Lewis, even those Narnia cassettes read by Michael Hordern."
"Children's culture more broadly seems a step above what it was 35 years ago, but also much of what is aimed at adults today. Don't believe me? Binge-watch All Hail King Julien: Exiled, a spin-off of a spin-off from the Madagascar franchise and a razor-sharp study of royal overreach. It's up there with Wolf Hall."
World Book Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the quality of contemporary children's literature. Modern books by authors like Andy Stanton, Louis Sachar, and J.K. Rowling offer engaging storytelling with sophisticated characterization and world-building that surpasses classic children's literature from decades past. Harry Potter audiobooks demonstrate particular excellence through complex ethical themes and nuanced character development, such as the portrayal of dementia through Gilderoy Lockhart and Alice Longbottom. Beyond books, children's media broadly has evolved significantly, with animated series like All Hail King Julien showcasing sharp storytelling comparable to adult literature. This advancement in children's culture reflects meaningful progress in how stories engage young audiences.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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