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Let There Be Dragons – Books For Keeps

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I have still got the first book I ever read. It was The Wind in the Willows. Well, it was probably not the first book I ever read – that was no doubt called something like Nursery Fun or Janet and John Book 1. But it was the first book I opened without chewing the covers or wishing I was somewhere else. It was the first book which, at the age of 10, I read because I was genuinely interested. I know now, of course, that it is totally the wrong kind of book for children. There is only one female character and she’s a washerwoman. No attempt is made to explain the social conditioning and lack of proper housing that makes stoats and weasels act the way they do. Mr Badger’s house is an insult to all those children not fortunate enough to live in a Wild Wood. The Mole and the Rat’s domestic arrangements are probably acceptable, but only if they come right out and talk frankly about them. But it was pressed into my hand, and because it wasn’t parents or teachers who were recommending the book

This article is featured in BfK 83 November 1993 This article is in the Category Let There Be Dragons Author: Terry Pratchett I have still got the first book I ever read. It was The Wind in the Willows . Well, it was probably not the first book I ever read – that was no doubt called something like Nursery Fun or Janet and John Book 1. But it was the first book I opened without chewing the covers or wishing I was somewhere else. It was the first book which, at the age of 10, I read because I was genuinely interested. I know now, of course, that it is totally the wrong kind of book for chi

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