For anyone who has read an Eric Carle book to a toddler (and who hasn't) again and again and freaking gawdammit again, this link is for you.
Money quote:
Anyone who thinks that writing a good book for a 2-year-old is easier
than writing a good book for a 32-year-old is deluded. The children's
author has a monumental task. First, he must entertain, educate,
stimulate the imagination of, etc., the child. That's primary. But he
must also entertain, educate, stimulate the imagination of, etc., the
parent. This is secondary but, for the continued sanity of the
reader-parent, of great importance.
than writing a good book for a 32-year-old is deluded. The children's
author has a monumental task. First, he must entertain, educate,
stimulate the imagination of, etc., the child. That's primary. But he
must also entertain, educate, stimulate the imagination of, etc., the
parent. This is secondary but, for the continued sanity of the
reader-parent, of great importance.
— Anne Levy, Cybils admin.