Why Reading Sad Books Is Good for Kids

The books in Peter Brown’s “Wild Robot” trilogy were the first ones to really challenge 7-year-old Henry Fehrman.

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Craig Fehrman, a contributor to The New York Times Book Review, recently watched his young son, Henry, read “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown and wrestle with the feelings the book brought up. In this episode, Craig and Henry talk about why those big, uncomfortable feelings are what made the book such a rewarding read.


  • Craig Fehrman is a journalist and historian, and a contributor to The New York Times Book Review.

  • Henry Fehrman, Craig’s son, is in second grade.

ImageThe cover of “The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown, which features an illustrated robot standing on top of a mountain of rocks.

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