Books Good Enough for You

A celebration of the life and work of Ursula Norstrom—the groundbreaking editor of classic children’s books like Charlotte’s Web and Where the Wild Things Are—and a powerful defense of a child’s right to read

Legendary Harper & Row children’s book editor Ursula Nordstrom was a trailblazer. Her books were honest, smart, emotional, and firsts of their kind. And—perhaps because they challenged the status quo—they were often censored or banned. But Nordstrom always fought back.

Books Good Enough for You follows Nordstrom from childhood through her extraordinary career as book editor, literary revolutionary, and advocate. Full of anecdotes about some of Nordstrom’s most famous collaborators, like Maurice Sendak, Margaret Wise Brown, and E. B. White, this biography is a true celebration of collaboration and friendship.

Many of Nordstrom’s books—from to Where the Wild Things Are to Charlotte’s Web—are now considered classics, but back in her day, these stories faced fierce opposition from those who deemed them inappropriate for children. In the face of this criticism, Nordstrom pushed back, building up her authors and proudly defending young readers’ access to literature that reflected their worlds.

Filled with quotes from her eloquent, empathetic, and often sharply humorous editorial letters, Books Good Enough for You is a timely reminder that children deserve fresh, groundbreaking, and deeply human stories.