What children's book changed the way you see the world?
For actress Julianne Moore, it was "Little Women." Comedian Jay Leno better understood his penchant for comedy through reading "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." For Robert Ballard, explorer of the Titanic wreck, it was, not surprisingly, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea."
Many people can recall a children's book that resonated with them — which Anita Silvey set out to capture in her recent book, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Children's Book."
Silvey, who will host a discussion at Gordon College next Thursday, culled responses from 110 notable people, including painters and dancers, inventors and scientists, financiers and politicians.
"It was a dream project to work on," said Silvey, former publisher of children's books at Houghton Mifflin and former editor-in-chief of The Horn Book Magazine.
"Every time I go to a cocktail party, ride the elevator or take a taxi cab, I always say, 'What did you read as a child and why do you remember it?'" said Silvey, 62. "I talked this for years."
But it wasn't until a friend suggested the idea for the book that the light bulb went on.
"It took me all of a nanosecond," she said. "I wanted to have people from different places in life reflecting on the children's book that had shaped them."
In her book, Silvey includes an essay from each person, her own notes about each selected book, and an excerpt and often artwork from the book.
On the North Shore, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Children's Book" was selected as the fourth annual Community Read in Hamilton and Wenham — a book residents were encouraged to read.
On Thursday, April 8, Silvey will speak at Gordon College, which is sponsoring the event in partnership with the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library and the Friends of the Library.
"People get really animated about their favorite book or the book that meant the most to them," said Jan Dempsey, director of the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library. "Her book was really a catalyst for very good discussions about children's literature."
During her visit, Silvey said she plans to talk about the people she interviewed and her observations.
"I'll talk, and then I hope I'll get to listen," said Silvey, who lives in Westwood. "I'm hoping people will be willing to share some of their own stories."
"We're excited to have her come," Dempsey said.
Q&A with Anita Silvey
How did you choose the subjects for your book?
I did a lot of research. I wanted people who both had distinguished themselves in leadership positions and who would also have something interesting to say.
Who surprised you most?
Kirk Douglas was one who surprised me. He's "Spartacus." He's Mr. Tough Guy. He played every "mean guy" role in Hollywood, and he started to talk about "The Bobbsey Twins."
How were the interviews?
Some of the people wrote essays. ... The interviews were my favorite part. I just loved talking to these people. For them, these were such good memories. Steve Forbes talked about his mom putting him in her lap and reading. I was bringing them back to very precious times in their lives.
Why have you dedicated your career to children's books?
I think they are the most thoughtful and the most tightly worked-out communication from adults to children. ... You really have that unique opportunity for a child to encounter in a page of a book what they need to hear.
Want to go?
Anita Silvey, author of "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children's Book"
What: Anita Silvey lecture and book signing
When: Thursday, April 8
Time: Meet the author from 6 to 7 p.m.; lecture at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Gordon College Ken Olsen Science Center, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham
Cost: $8, $5 for students/seniors
Information and tickets: Call the Hamilton-Wenham Library at 978-468-5577, or visit http://hwlibrary.org
Book signing: Silvey's book will be for sale and people can also bring their copies for Silvey to sign
What children's book make a big impact on you?
Lorraine Der
Children's librarian, Hamilton-Wenham Public Library
Book: "Puss in Boots"
Why: "I loved the characters, the illustrations, the language, and it was just a fun book. I loved animals — particularly cats — and I liked the idea that a cat could be your friend, and such a good, loyal, intelligent and clever friend. I also loved to say, 'Marquis of Carabas.' It was a treasured book from my childhood that I reread many times."
Cheryl Opolski
Head of children's services, Salem Public Library
Book: The "Dick and Jane" books
Why: "Because they taught me how to read, in a nutshell. We didn't have TV and there were obviously no computers, and reading was a great thing. It was nice to be able to have the key that unlocked the world of reading to 'The Bobbsey Twins,' Louisa May Alcott, Cherry Ames, Trixie Belden mysteries, ... 'Anne of Green Gables' and many more books."
Emily Nichols
Head of children's services, Beverly Public Library
Book: "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
Why: "It's about this boy (Milo) who is very bored; then this magic tollbooth shows up with a car and takes him to an alternate world where he learns to see the world in a different way. ... There is a scene where Milo goes to this city, and because everyone was looking down at the street and not up at the buildings, they actually disappeared because no one was paying attention to them. It profoundly shaped the way I look at the world. You have to be engaged in the world around you or it disappears."
Carol Bender
Children's librarian, Peabody Institute Library, Peabody
Book: The picture book "The Little House" by Virginia Lee Burton, and the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Why: They "helped shape my sense of home. ... To me these stories reveal that home is not a singular place that as an adult I would someday leave behind, but rather a safe and special place that I create and share with family and friends wherever I happen to live. In this day and age, I'm especially glad for their message that space is temporal, but relationships lovingly tended are forever."
JoAnne Powell
Head of children's services, Peabody Institute Library, Danvers
Book: "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel," by Virginia Lee Burton
Why: "Captain Kangaroo would do a reading session. ... One of my favorite books he read was 'Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.' I just got a lot out of it. I think it was the steam shovel and all the work that Mary Anne (his steam shovel) did. I just related to that. If there's work to be done, that's me."
Society leaders' take on influential children's books:
Peter Lynch, investor and fund manager: "The Hardy Boys" by Franklin W. Dixon
Deval Patrick, Massachusetts governor, "Liza Lou and the Yeller Bel:y Swamp" by Mercer Mayer, which he read to his two daughters
Kathy Bates, actor: "Impunity Jane" by Rumer Godden
Judy Blume, children's author: "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans
Roger Ebert, film critic: "The Saturdays" by Elizabeth Enright
Maurice Sendak, author of "Where the Wild Things Are": "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson
Jay Leno, comedian and "Tonight Show" host: "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton
Tiki Barber, broadcaster, former pro-football player: "The Little Engine That Could" by Watty Piper
Stan Lee, Marvel Comics writer who created the Hulk and Spider-Man: "Poppy Ott" by Leo Edwards
Leslie Moonves, president and CEO of CBS: the Babar books by Jean de Brunhoff
Seven Pinker, Harvard researcher, psychologist and professor: "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back" by Dr. Seuss
Pete Seeger, folk singer, activist: "Rolf in the Woods" by Ernest Thompson Seton
