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CORRECTION APPENDED

Children’s literature leaves a profound mark early in mental and social development and appeals strongly to adults’ “damaged sense of wonder,” said folklore and mythology department chair Maria Tatar to a packed crowd at Brattle Theater last night.

The event focused on Tatar’s recently published book, “Enchanted Horrors: The Power of Stories in Childhood.” She and Humanities Center Director Homi K. Bhabha explored the impact of children’s literature presented in the work. [SEE CORRECTION BELOW]

“Tatar is an esteemed member of our community, and we wanted to take the chance to celebrate her latest publication,” said Heather Gain, marketing manager of the Harvard Book Store, which co-sponored the event with the Humanities Center.

The event attracted a diverse audience, including Harvard and Simmons College students studying children’s literature, and local Cambridge residents, said Gain.

Following the discussion, Tatar—also a professor of Germanic languages and literatures at Harvard—signed copies of her book. The theater later screened the children’s film Pan’s Labyrinth, which Tatar said captured many of the elements she wrote about in her book.

“This is about curiosity and wonder, wizardry and sorcery,” Tatar said of her work. “I am exploring what it is about certain books that children find engrossing, what relationship parents have in reading with children, and the effect these stories have.”

Tatar said that children internalize the books they read, which she said can be considered a “somatic effect.”

“Children read not only with their brains, but also with their spines,” she said. “I think you’ll remember that tingle in your spine as you were reading something as a child.”

Tatar’s research led her to observe children’s reading habits and conduct interviews to try to better understand the impact of the written word.

“It was really extraordinary to hear about the impact of books on the children,” she said. “Even the most trivial detail became a talisman.”

Bhabha applauded Tatar on her unique exploration of the role of horror in children’s books. “You fear the monster and you need the monster,” he said. “Children’s books raise this even more strongly than adult books.”

Attendees said they appreciated the multidimensional nature of the talk. “I love reading folklore,” said Erica Werfel, a local therapist. “Tatar’s description about the role of story-telling was very useful.”

CORRECTION

The April 28 news article "Books Leave An Early Mark" gave an incorrect title for Maria Tatar's recent book. The title is “Enchanted Hunters: The Power of Stories in Childhood,” not “Enchanted Horrors: The Power of Stories in Childhood.”