Meindert DeJong's prominent place in children's literature seems assured, although he has passed the peak of his popularity. In thirty-four years (1938-1972) he published twenty-seven books for children, and his work has won major awards, including the Newbery Medal. DeJong's consistent strength as a writer is his power to convey what it is like to be a particular child or animal in that individual's world. He sees the world through his characters' eyes and recreates their experiences from their perspectives. Place is an important part of their experiences and DeJong's skill in evoking the worlds in which his characters live, especially in his well-known Dutch stories, is masterful.

DeJong's own childhood has provided the main source for his stories. He claims never to concern himself with the ages or interests of his readers; instead he focuses inward, on his own subconsciousness. He describes his writing process as becoming...