Arts & Culture

Children's Books Lead to Life-long Love of Reading

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Thomas Fudge / Science and Technology Reporter

Published August 20, 2008 at 11:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

Why do we love to read as adults? Probably because we fell in love with reading as children. At least that's the belief held by Seth Lerer, a professor of literature who's written a book that chroni

Why do we love to read as adults? Probably because we fell in love with reading as children. At least that's the belief held by Seth Lerer, a professor of literature who's written a book that chronicles 2,000 years of children's books.

Maureen Cavanaugh: Children's literature is something we talk about. It's something that's marketed to kids and parents and generated by publishing houses. But what is it? That question is answered in a comprehensive book by Seth Lerer called Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter.

Last August Tom Fudge talked with Seth Lerer just as he was starting his new job as Dean of Arts and Humanities for UC San Diego. Here's that interview.

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Guest

Seth Lerer, new dean of Arts and Humanities at UC, San Diego, and author of the new book "Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter."

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Arts & Culture Books

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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Thomas Fudge

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A journalist with 30 years of experience, Tom covers science and technology stories for KPBS' platforms. He has received recognition for his outstanding work in hosting and public affairs reporting from the Unity Awards, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, and the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

See stories by Thomas Fudge