Russell Hoban is a writer whose genius is expressed with equal brilliance in books both for children and for adults. Since the late 1950s, Hoban has created some of the best-known characters in postwar children's literature: Frances the Badger, Charlie the Tramp, Emmet Otter, the Mouse and His Child, and Manny Rat. In his more than fifty children's books, Hoban has established himself as a writer with a rare understanding of childhood (and parental) psychology, sensitively and humorously portrayed in familiar family situations. He has an unerring ear for dialogue and has recorded some of the funniest lines in children's books; his background as an artist has contributed to his memorable depiction of scenes; his intelligence and skill have crafted wise and warm stories notable for delightful plots and originality of language. Yet Hoban is much more than just a clever and observant writer. His works are permeated...