Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

"What is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures and conversations?"

Welcome to Spring Semester where we’re delving into the world of Classic Children’s Literature—unearthing the stories that have shaped readers, exploring the conventions that define these classics, and expanding our knowledge of diverse kid lit across genres. 

Today we’re launching our semester with a trip down the rabbit hole and a discussion of Lewis Carroll’s Victorian fantasy classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. We both really enjoyed reading this book as scholars, educators, and moms of toddlers who are rapidly acquiring language. In our episode, we ruminate on what makes this book exciting and adventurous, and what makes it a little terrifying. We journey through extended metaphors and wonder just what Carroll is saying about childhood—or if it’s perhaps all nonsense after all.

Here are a few links on Alice, Carroll, and British children’s literature to explore:

• Poetry Foundation biography of Lewis Carroll

• How Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland changed the way we look at time and space

• Learn more about nonsense and new words in Alice

• Explore the differences between British and American children’s literature

This month we have a variety of bonus episodes and events to help you get even more out of your month of fantasy kid lit. On Wednesday, February 8th, we’ll be teaching a class on how to use literary lenses while reading Children’s Classics. And then, on Tuesday, February 28th, we will gather on Zoom to discuss both The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe & The Golden Compass. This is going to be a fantastic month of reading and learning, filled with lively conversations you won’t want to miss! Come join the coziest, nerdiest community on the internet.

Alright readers, we hope you enjoy today’s episode and are looking forward to an incredible semester filled with fantastical journeys, coming-of-age stories, orphans, scamps, and more!

Chelsey & Sara