If anyone knows what makes a great children's book,it must be Sussex author and illustrator(插图画家)Jane Hissey. Her "Old Bear" books have achieved classic status in a variety of formats.
I met Jane at her home in the East Sussex countryside and asked her what she thought the secret of a classic children's book was. "That's a difficult one, I suppose it has got to be related to children's stage of development-for young children, pictures on a page that are familiar; for older children, an experience. The book should be familiar, but hold some surprises too to keep the interest. It must inspire and delight them, but there are the things that happen every day."
After the birth of her first child, she gave up teaching and worked on her own artwork, drawing pictures of teddy bears. An editor from a publishing company saw her work and invited Jane to do a children's book. Over the years, from the first "Old Bear" book in 1986, her children have made a huge contribution-especially in terms of plots. She said, "I used to give my children the toys to play with-and they had tea parties and so on. One of my bear characters,' Little Bear', is the same age as Ralph, my youngest, who's seven now. All the children have joined in my work and, in years to come, they will realize how much."
"I hope I'll know when people are getting tired of the characters. If ever they did, I think I'd go on drawing them for fun," Jane continued. "My own children have been very useful to me in my work, but as they are older now, I' ll just have to hope that other people's children can inspire me."
【小题1】What is Jane's opinion about a successful children's book?
A.It contains something unexpected. |
B.It offers an escape from everyday life. |
C.It's more attractive as children get older. |
D.It's set in a place known to its readers. |
【小题2】Why did Jane take up writing books?
A.She got to know an editor. |
B.She hoped to make classic children's books. |
C.Her artwork attracted a professional. |
D.She wrote stories for her own children. |
【小题3】How did Jane's children assist her in her work?
A.By helping her concentrate on her work. |
B.By telling her their own stories. |
C.By suggesting characters for her stories. |
D.By giving her ideas for her stories. |
【小题4】What is Jane's attitude towards her future work?
A.Encouraged. | B.Uncertain. |
C.Tired. | D.Disappointed. |