By which, of course, I mean that babies love board books, and you, as the board book buyer, have the delightful task of getting to choose exactly which board books. You might choose an old standby, of course, perhaps Goodnight, Goodnight Tenant Farm Site or Guess How Much I Left You a Year, but why waste this chance to instill in your favorite baby a true love of the classics. And, obviously, by classics I mean the work of the universally beloved Jane Austen, who is perhaps the only author there is, and clearly the work I speak of is Pride & Prejudice, the only work of literature worth adapting. The trend of adapting classic literature into a board book format seems to have begun with Jennifer Adams and her BabyLit line with her publisher, Gibbs-Smith, in 2011. It, of course, launched with Pride & Prejudice: A Counting Primer, along with Romeo & Juliet: A Counting Primer, which was inspired by a gentleman named William Shakespeare (?), who appears to have written several theatrical plays. A lower form of art, to be sure, but we must allow even the common to have their amusements. In each of the board books listed below, the authors chose a different tack in their adaptation. Some focused on the story, some used the story to teach children important concepts, and some, shock and horror, used the story to make jokes. Jokes. From our important literature. What utter cheek. To help discerning shoppers find the very best Pride & Prejudice adaptation, I’ve ranked them from least to most faithful. Note that this is not necessarily a distinction of quality, as all of these books are honorable attempts to bring enlightenment to our youngest pre-readers. As stated earlier, the only work of literature anyone needs, and therefore the only work of literature that ever needs be adapted, is Pride & Prejudice, but if the authors below did deign to adapt another work of Austen’s, I’ve noted it in the description. I do so hope you’ve found this list of board book adaptations to be helpful as you work to educate the bantlings in your care. I, myself, have been quite energized by this ramble through the lower shelves of the library, and have been inspired to expand my own literary horizons. Perhaps even tomorrow, I shall find myself a new book. After reviewing the vast options at hand, I have chosen — what else? — Sense & Sensibility.
