"'I can't help you. You're on your own' : Alison Bechdel's Graphic Memoir"
Ellen's online review considers the subtle contexts and imagery through which Bechdel portrays her family relationships.
May 10, 2012

"Remembering Maurice Sendak"
In her online article, Ellen pays tribute to influential children's book artist Maurice Sendak, who passed away on May 8, 2012. Ellen was also interviewed about Sendak's passing and legacy on The Madeleine Brand Show.
May 10, 2012

"For Midnight's Children"
With online reviews of The Enigma of Karma by Raja Mohanty and Folk Tales of Uttarakhand by Deepa Agarwal, Ellen reflects upon the important role that children's books like these play in preserving India's rich cultural heritage in the 21st century.
April 6, 2012

"Gingrich 0, Obama 0"
Online reviews of Sweet Land of Liberty by Callista Gingrich and Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama.
November 17, 2011

"Liminal Leo: Mourning Leo Steinberg"
Ellen's tribute to influential art historian Leo Steinberg, who passed away in March 2011 at the age of 90.
September 24, 2011

"Pedagogy in Purgatory"
Online review of two recent Holocaust-related books: Ruth Thomson's Terezín: Voices from the Holocaust and Linney Wix's Through a Narrow Window. In The Book, The New Republic.
September 21, 2011

"Yellow Brick Philosophy"
Online review of L. Frank Baum's classic children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. In The Book, The New Republic.
May 25, 2011

"Illuminating Childhood: Ellen Handler Spitz with Andrea Sabbadini"
On March 22, 2011, Ellen will be speaking about her new book Illuminating Childhood at the Freud Museum in London, UK. Further information and tickets available at the Freud Museum's web site (link above.)

"Dr. Spitz releases her new book, Illuminating Childhood"
A recent reception at the University of Maryland [UMBC] celebrated the publication and critical praise of Ellen's newest book. The Retriever Weekly, UMBC's campus newspaper, covers the event, along with Ellen's reflections on teaching and the importance of intellect and cultural literacy.
March 15, 2011

"Life Lessons"
Online reviews of two children's books:
What Charlie Heard by Mordicai Gerstein
and Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is
Gertrude by Jonah Winter.
In The Book, The New Republic.
Dec. 29, 2010

"I've Got a Little List"
Letter to the Editor, The New York Times Book Review
Dec. 24, 2010

The University of Michigan Press has just published a new, paperback edition of Ellen's recent book: Illuminating Childhood.
: visit the publisher's web site :

Ellen spent this year's spring break in Serbia, giving interviews and lecturing at the University of Belgrade in support of the recent Serbian translation of her book Art and Psyche. Ellen wrote a new introduction for this edition, published by Clio.
: visit the publisher's web site :

Ellen spent her winter break traveling to the Czech Republic, for research, and to India, where she gave the first annual alumni lecture to English Alumni Association of Ravenshaw University in Cuttack and the keynote address at the International Seminar on Children's Literature and Politics. She recently shared an account of her thrilling experiences with Talking Heads TV. She also lectured and presented stories to young students at SAI International School in Orissa, India.

Ellen was recently quoted in the The Telegraph, Calcutta, in reference to her recent visit with and storytelling to young students of SAI International School, Orissa, India.

"Re: How To Be Good"
A letter written by Ellen has been published in the October 3 edition of the New Yorker Magazine. The letter is also accessible online at the above link.
September 29, 2011

"The Children's Authors Who Broke the Rules"
In the September 18 2011 edition of The New York Times Book Review, children's book editor Pamela Paul quoted Inside Picture Books:

Ellen Handler Spitz, the author of the classic study "Inside Picture Books," wrote that the story "perpetuates the myth of the selfless, all-giving mother who exists only to be used and the image of a male child who can offer no reciprocity, express no gratitude, feel no empathy — an insatiable creature who encounters no limits for his demands."

"Psychoanalysis and the Visual Arts."
Ellen was recently invited to write a chapter for The Textbook of Psychoanalysis, Second Edition. Ellen's chapter is entitled "Psychoanalysis and the Visual Arts." The book is edited by G.O. Gabbard, B.E. Litowitz, and P. Williams and published by American Psychiatric Publishing.
: visit the publisher's web site :

"Wizard of Oz Lives On"
Ellen was recently interviewed on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio International's The Book Show, presented by Ramona Koval, on the subject of her recent online book review, "Yellow Brick Philosophy."
July 15, 2011