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All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 from pbs.org (This is an edited and updated version of a post originally published on 2/24/25.) |
The news about what children's books are most popular right now is a little discouraging. I love to write and read quiet, contemporary novels, but according to some in the publishing community, no one is buying those stories.
Horror, even for kids, is
"having a moment" right now, perhaps due to its popularity in movies. Some say that scary stories are popular because they are a safe way
for kids to deal with their fears and anxiety. But these types of stories tend to make kids more, rather than less, anxious.
But there is another option. One that won’t give kids more things to be afraid of.
All Creatures Great and Small
My family loves All Creatures Great and Small. Season six starts this weekend, which must mean someone else (maybe lots of someones) likes it too.
Interestingly, nothing
of significance happens in the show. The stakes are low. Usually
there’s a problem with an animal or personal relationship that is
resolved by the end of the episode. James and Helen—a married couple on
the show—get along and work as a team. It's a given that no
important characters will die.
All Creatures Great and Small Season 6 Preview from pbs.org
Glimmers of Goodness
Last year, I was inspired by a post on Facebook by Karen Andreola, author of the novel, Michael’s Gentle Wife and nonfiction books about homeschooling.
She talked about having a glimmer of sunshine in your stories instead of filling it with things that might trigger your reader.
If you do add those glimmers of goodness, she says, you might have to write outside the norm.
It
seems every writing book I’ve read says, “Make it darker, darker,
darker.” That’s what makes people turn the page. It’s like watching a
car accident on repeat.
Is that the only thing that makes people turn the page?
I’m
not saying that all books or stories need to be quiet, because I also
enjoy fantasy and mysteries. But if you are a reader who likes quiet,
everyday stories, remember that there is a long legacy of popular books
in this genre, especially for children and teens. And hopefully, there
will still be people who write them.
Books that people come back to again and again. Because they feel like friends.
Here are a few of my favorite quiet reads, both old and new:
Anything by Kate diCamillo, but especially The Three Rancheros Series
Anne of Green Gables (of course!)
Nancy Cavanaugh's books
Maud Lovelace (Although I love her Betsy, Tacy series, Emily of Deep Valley is my favorite.)
The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Van Glaser
Wonderland by Barbara O'Connor
Your Turn:
Are you drawn to more quiet stories or action-packed or does it depend on your mood? What types of books would you like to see more of? Do you have any quiet books you love? I'm always looking for new gems!
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There's room for quiet stories and adrenaline rush stories. I enjoy both and appreciate having the choice.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you mention that the trend is toward darker stories. I don't keep up with kidlit, but as someone who writes darker stories, I get discouraged by how many agents have a long list of dark themes on their anti-MSWL. It's all about finding the right reader, I suppose.
Of course, we need lots of kinds of stories. It's interesting to hear it from a different angle. You do have to find the right reader. MSWL can be discouraging, because the requests are so specific.
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