Once the Americans decided that “Philosopher’s Stone” was too scary, and made the first Harry Potter book about the “Sorcerer’s Stone,” I knew we still couldn’t look the Brits in the eye and pretend to be a cultured nation.

Of course, people with gorm tend to be kempt.

We have a set of abridged Beatrix Potters and they’re unreadable. Fortunately my kid (age 2) can’t tell; he only likes them because they have lift-the-flap pages.

It has been a while since I read Matilda and I just might revisit it. I love Dahl. What I find in so-called children’s literature is respect for the reader, not only in the language used but most often the ideas explored.

The list reminds me of “Henry Bear’s Park,” (David Small?) in which young Henry describes his father not as a balloonist but as an ascensionist. Now there is a powerful word. I hope you know this book, a wonderful read aloud for young children, a book I still read from time-to-time.

Thanks for this post.

I’ve always liked the Brit-speak term “gormless,” though I haven’t a clue what “gorm” might be and why its lack is such a character flaw.