Autobiography Revision

When I think about reading, I think about how I used to read all the time as a child. I used to sneak a flashlight under my pillow and stay up until all hours of the night waiting to get to the end of my book. I could hardly put a book down until I got to the very end. Yes, I admit that I went through the Sweet Valley High /Babysitter Club/ Boxcar Children phase, but two of my favorite authors were also Mary Downing Hahn and Lois Lowry. I couldn’t keep my hands off of their books! Particularly, my favorite books by these two were Stepping on the Cracks, The Anastasia series, and Sam series I remember in the third grade my teacher read to us All About Sam, and we couldn't get enough! I always wished that the library would carry more books by these authors so that I could read all of them.
One of my earliest memories of reading is of when I was just learning to read, and my Granny took me to the bookstore to pick out a book as my birthday present. After carefully looking through the many shelves, I remember that I chose Clifford’s Book of Jokes and Riddles. Seeing as this is one of the few presents that I can remember receiving when I was younger, it must have been a really exciting experience for me! I also remember thinking back in those days that it was such a privilege to go to the library. My mom used to take my brothers and me to the public library after school, and I remember being so excited! We used to spend hours there just looking through all of the books. One of my favorite series from this time that I used to love to read with my brothers were the Little Critter books. One of our favorite Little Critter titles was the Christmas book, because there was a recipe for Christmas cookies in it.
In elementary school, one of the coolest things that we got to do was have Read-Ins. A Read-In meant that we got to come to school with our sleeping bags, some snacks, juice boxes, and a backpack full of books! We got to spend the whole day reading and sharing books with our class mates; it was a dream come true! I also remember that my school participated in a Book-It program, which meant we got to go to Pizza Hut for free pizza every time we filled up our Book-It Badge with all the books we’d read. Over the summer, our local movie theater had a similar program, where if you read a certain amount of books, you got to come watch a free movie each week. It was so great to get rewarded for doing something I already loved to do!
Growing up, my family also used to spend lazy Sunday afternoons together in the living room reading various books and newspapers. As kids, we always fought for the comics, but we also liked to read my dad’s collection of Calvin and Hobbs comics. Reading has just been a huge part of my life, as well as my family’s, which I feel has helped to encourage my love for reading. Once I hit middle school, I began getting into fantasy books, such as A Wrinkle In Time, The Giver, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Another one of my favorite books in middle school was Bridge to Terabitha. This book was one of the first coming-of-age stories to touch me because of the strong emotions portrayed in the story. Whether it is between the wild imaginations of the two characters, or to the traumatic ending, this book tells a great story of two courageous children that the reader will always remember (and that can’t be conveyed throw a CGI-animated film!)
In High School, we began to read the Classics, such as The Great Gatsby and Slaughterhouse 5. My junior year of high school I was introduced to one of my favorite books of all time, The Catcher In the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I could not put this book down! In fact, I read it 3 more times in a row when I was done with it. A few years ago, when I found out that absolutely none of my friends had read this book, I gave it to them as a Christmas present. I just could not believe that anyone had gone through their life without being able to read it! I just loved the use of free thought in the book. I also loved all of the points that the main character, Holden Caulfield, makes in the book about “phoniness.” I remember in my class, after discussing this book, that everybody either loved the book like I did, or they just couldn’t get through it. As much as I loved this book, I could see how it would be frustrating for some people to get through, especially since you can’t put your finger on a specific event that happens. Really, I think that the main point of this book is the coming of age, and character’s identity. After reading this book, it left me wondering, “Is Holden Caulfield really the crazy one…or is everybody else crazy?”
Today, I do not make much time for casual reading due to my busy schedule. I am, however, excited about one of the current books that I just bought called, Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things… which is a book of short stories by authors Lemony Snicket, Nick Hornby, Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man), and Jonathan Safron Foer. I have started on the first two stories, which I really liked, and I am excited to finish it. I think this would be a good book for anyone to read, no matter what age, because I think with the contributions from Lemony Snicket and Jon Scieszka, even older kids would enjoy this book.
And while you will not catch me staying up until all hours of the night trying to finish a good book under the light of a flashlight, I do very much still enjoy reading. Some of my favorite authors right now are Chuck Klosterman, Kurt Vonnegut, and John Irving. Most of my reading time right now is spent dedicated to homework, or to reading to the little girl Terra who I watch. I try to read to her any chance I get. In fact, when I went home for Christmas I brought back a collection of books that I used to read (including Little Critter) so that Terra could read them as well, and she loves it! I also try to take her to the library when I can so that we can pick out more books to read. Terra really likes the David series by David Shannon, especially David Gets in Trouble. And come to think of it, all this talk about how important reading is for children makes me wonder why we don’t do away with text books and emphasize reading literature in college as well!

Annotated Bibliography

This Next New Year
By Janet Wong

This is a great book for a little bit older children to be introduced to the fact that American traditions are not the only one's celebrated in our country. I also like how it compares the Lunar New Year, with the American New Year's, so that kids know the difference between the two. I also liked the fact that many different ethnicities celebrate the new years in the book. This shows kids that anybody who wants to could celebrate a chinese new year! I also loved the idea of cleaning to "move these mountains of bad luck off the floor" and scrubbing the house "rough and raw" to bring in good luck. The little boy also washes his hair to soak up good luck. I also like at the end of the story, that the little boy talks about how he is ready to make his dreams come true. This is very similar to the American New Year's because traditionally Americans make up New Year's Resolutions. I think that the main idea of New Years, whether it is Chinese or American, is that you are getting a fresh new start.



Twist
By Janet Wong

Janet Wong has a great way with words, and I loved reading these poems because of their simplicity, but also because the poems were true for each movement. She also had reasons behind each movement, such as in the poem "Cat/Cow", where the pose starts out as a cat, but the cat wants to turn into cow so that she can make her own milk. I think that the poems in this book are wonderful. However, I might not use it in a classroom because the poems seem a little bit older/you might need some background knowledge in Yoga, but if I had a student who really liked Janet Wong I could introduce this book to them.



I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today
By Dr. Seuss

Who can't relate to this book? Everyone has a day (or maybe it's EVERY day!) when they just don't want to get out of bed! This book goes through a whole series of events that could happen, even the police showing up at the house, and the character still will not get out of bed. This is another book that I've read to Terra and I think that she really likes the classic Dr. Seuss rhyming scheme as well. I think that this would be a cute and fun book to share with your class. You could maybe even use the title as a writing prompt, and have kids write their own versions of I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today!



Shadow Play
Paul Fleischman

This book is actually full of illustrations by Eric Beddows. It tells the story of Beauty and the Beast, and how what we see on the outside does not always represent what is in the inside. I thought that this book had a good message, and that the illustrations were very clever, however just like in Sidewalk Circus, when I showed these books to the three-year-old that I babysit, she thought that the pictures looked scary, and I had to agree with her. Most of the illustrations are of shadows, which look dark and scary. I know that the shadows are part of the message of the book, however I'm not sure that this would be a good book to use as a teaching tool.



Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker

This is one of the cutest books I have ever read! Clementine has so much energy and all of her ideas really make perfect sense, even if they don't always work out the way she plans. This is really a coming-of-age story for the little ones, and I think it would be appropriate for about 2nd grade to 4th grade. One of my favorite parts about this book was when Clementine kept pointing out that she was really the only one paying attention when her parents or teachers told her to "Pay attention!" I think that a lot of young readers would be able to relate to Clementine, especially since she is always misunderstood.



Babymouse: Queen of the World!
By Holm & Holm

I really enjoyed the Babymouse series, and I really think its cool that you can buy her T-shirts on this website that I found: BABYMOUSE T-SHIRTS HERE!!! (I'm thinking about buying one...) Just like in Babymouse:Our Hero, Babymouse is stuck in yet another dilemma! Babymouse really wants to go to the most-popular-girl's slumber party, but the only problem is: Babymouse isn't invited!!!! So Babymouse resorts to doing this girls homework just to go, and ends up ditching one of her good friends to go to this (really lame) party. Fortunately for Babymouse, she quickly figures out who her real friends are, and who she would rather be spending her Friday evening with. I think a lot of kids today find themselves in the situation where they want to hang out with the "cool kids", however we all have to find out own niche. I think that its important for kids to learn that your real friends are the ones you can be comfortable around, even if they (and you) are big dorks. I also happen to be a big dork, and I am really excited to get my hands on a copy of Babymouse: Rockstar!

Zoom Craft Lesson

For a craft lesson on Zoom, I would use this to show how things have to work together in a way that every little thing that we do becomes a part of a much greater thing. This might be a hard concept for students to grasp, especially depending on the age level, but you could take this to another level, such as in the movie "Pay It Forward", where everyone is encouraged to do three nice things as payment for receiving a good deed. Students would be encouraged to try to "pay it forward", and then write a paper about their experiences and thoughts of the assignment.

Zoom

I think that this book had a really cool concept, however I am not the biggest fan of picture books. And while the idea was interesting to see how everything fit into all of the pictures to show exactly how small this world is, I didn't really like the pictures and it even started to get a little old after awhile. I think that if I had a student who was into books like this, I would recommend it to them, but I don't think that I would be able to use this in a classroom.

Babymouse Craft Lesson

This book deals with peer pressure, as well as bullying. It can be hard for students to find ways to fit in with others, especially if they are not good at something already. Just like Babymouse, I hated kickball and I always stood in the back as to avoid the ball! After reading this book, our class could have a discussion about things they are good at, as well as things they are bad at. This way students can discover that everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Afterwards, students could come up with ideas on how to work on their weaknesses, such as getting together with a friend in class who might be able to help them.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 17.... Motivating Students to Read

Many children do not like to read. One of my friends was even "forced" to read as punishment when she got in trouble, because her parents knew she hated it so much! While this might sounds like a strange form of torture, there may be better ways to get kids to read! Just like how we talked in class about introducing kids to books, whether it is by an author they already know and enjoy, or if it is a book we recommend because it deals with something we know that student may be dealing with. One of the biggest problems with students is they feel that reading is a chore, or obligation. Our role as teachers is to find a way to make reading a fun and enjoying experience. I always personally loved to read, and I hope I can share that love with future students.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 16.... Controversial Books

I feel that it is important to be sure of what books you are putting into your classroom, and to make sure they are appropriate by age, as well as by school standards. While it is good for young students to begin to think on their own, you also have to think about what parents might think. Some parents can be very restrictive as to what their children learn according to different belief systems. However, I love the example from the movie, Donnie Darko, where the parents decide that children should not be allowed to read Graham Greene's "The Destructors" because the parents felt that the book would lead to the students own destruction of the school (which does happen in the movie). However, the book is an allegorical story that represents the destruction of something corrupt.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 15.... Multicultural and International Books

I really enjoyed the websites that we discussed in class last week, that went over different websites that publish multicultural and bilingual books for children. I think that it is extremely important for children to be aware of other cultures and languages . Multicultural books can even introduce children to different places they might like to visit when thy are older.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 14.... Informational Books

I think that it is important for children to at least be aware of informational books, so that they know these books are available to them now, or in the future, when doing research on certain topics. I think it is also important for kids to learn how The Dewey Decimal System works for when they need to locate these books.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 13.... Biography

I really liked the definition that this book gives for a biography, in that a biography should "breathe life and meaning into people and events". I also think that it is good for children to get familiar with biographies through picture book biographies. This might be a good way to introduce biographies to children in a classroom. Afterwards, students could be encouraged to continue reading biographies on their own as they get older.

Stuart's Cape Craft Lesson

I mentioned this earlier, but I feel that Stuart's Cape would be a great book to get kid's imaginations running. Each kid could create their own "superhero" device, whether it is a cape, or a ring, or some kind of special power, that helps them to have adventures. Then the kids could create their own series about the different adventures that they have. This would help kids to get creative, but to also understand that being creative is an adventure in itself, just like with Stuart and his cape.

Sidewalk Circus Craft Lesson

For this lesson, I would read this book (or show the pictures) to my class, and then have kids make up their own version of the story. They could write down in their own words what is going on in each of the pictures, the way they see it. I think it would be a good way to show the different perspectives that the kids might see in the same pictures. Another idea that I had for this book is to allow kids to make their own picture books, and then switch books with a classmate and let another student create the text to go along with the pictures.

Babymouse: Our Hero

How cute was this book? I mailed it to my little sister (along with Minn and Jake!) to see if she would like it. She was always into the Captain Underpants, and these are pretty easy reads, I think at any age. This book is also a great way to teach kids that we don't always have to be good at everything, as well as that we should stand up for ourselves and our friends.

Stuart's Cape

I LOVED this book. It was extremely creative and I thought that it really spoke to a lot of kids. Moving is a hard situation all around for kids, let alone finding something to do when you are bored on top of that. I absolutely loved Stuart's idea for his cape, and I loved when the dinosaur and the other animals show up at Stuart's house and stuart has to explain to them that they shouldn't be offended when he pretends to be them. I also really liked his crazy aunt, and the scene where he planted buttered toast (it also made me really want to eat some toast!) This book is a great way to encourage kids on how to be creative and use their imaginations when they feel that there is nothing to do. Stuart needed the belief that only adventures happened to people with capes, but I think that you could use this to help children realize that creativity really comes from within, not from a cape.

I also thought that this picture was pretty creative, someone tried to make their own rendition of Stuart's Cape!

Poetry Folder

I have always enjoyed poetry that makes me laugh, or that makes me realize that I have felt a certain way before. You can use poetry in so many ways by showing descriptive imagery, conveying feelings by using compare contrast, or by writing about something as simple as a pencil. A lot of the poems that I chose are silly poems, are school-related, or animal related. Having the ability to find humor in things is always something that I look for, so I mostly chose humorous poems. Even the school-related poems poke fun of being in school, but I think that is something that students can relate to. While students know that being in school is important, I think that the idea of having to be somewhere every day can get annoying. Being able to find something about school that makes us laugh can make school not seem so bad. I think that another thing you can do with poetry is to introduce a new insight. I think that especially with poetry, you can throw in little twists at the end that make the poem more enjoyable. This also helps people to understand the other side of a perspective. The animal poems are cute and fun poems about animals that I think most people will like. The poems give you a clue into the character or perceived character of what it might be like to be that animals.
I took my poetry folder as an approach at mostly teaching children how to see new perspectives and looking at things differently. I think that the idea behind tolerance and acceptance of others is very important for children to learn. I hope that through the poems that I chose, I can help teach children how to appreciate those around them, as well as learn about themselves, and to understand the ways other people might feel.



Keep A Poem In Your Pocket
By Beatrice Schenk DeReginiers

I really felt like this was a great poem to start out my poetry folder with. It is a very simple poem, but it also really hits home with what a poem feels like. Many of us say poems or little rhymes to ourselves to help us count or go to sleep, and I think that this poem does a great job of explaining that. I think this would be a great poem to introduce poetry with in a classroom, as well as to introduce the concept of what poetry does.


I’m Staying Home From School Today
By Kenn Nesbitt

I thought that this was a fun poem for students, because everybody has a day where they just don’t feel like going to school. However, nobody thinks about that maybe their own teacher has days like that! I really liked the twist in this poem, because it adds humor. I would use this poem to teach different perspectives, and to introduce the concept of thinking about how other people might feel.


Homework
By Jane Yolen

As soon as I read this poem, I loved it right away. Who hasn’t found a million other things to do when you are supposed to be getting homework done? I chose this poem because of my instant attraction to it, as well as the fun-nature the tone has. This is another great poem that I think kids would be able to relate to, and to help kids realize what types of things they might do to avoid getting homework done.


Stupid Pencil Maker
By Shel Silverstein

This is also a great poem that is humorous, but makes a good point. How often do we only look at something one way and assume it is wrong? I could use this poem to show insight into looking at things differently. Obviously, the character in the poem is wrong because the way he describes the pencil is correct. However, the character never stops to think that he might be the wrong one. This could also gives students the skills they need for second-guessing themselves in some areas.


What I’ve Learned In School
By Robert Pottle

How many times do we do something that we think is right, but it breaks a rule? This poem actually reminded me of the character Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker, who is always told to “Pay attention!” Even though Clementine feels she is the only person who is actually paying attention to things. Just like the character in the poem feels that he is learning new things every day, it sounds like the teacher probably gets on to them a lot. I think that when students read this poem, they will identify all of the descriptions as things you shouldn’t do in class, but at the same time see that learning comes by experience with things, and not just simply from a text book.



Breath
By Janet Wong

I really loved Janet Wong’s whole Twist collection, however I chose this poem because you feel relaxed just by reading it. I also liked the simplicity of the poem being about breath, something most of us take for granted. Janet Wong makes you realize the beauty of breath, and what a gift it is. I think this would be a great way for students to look other things they take for granted. You could also use this poem as a simple relaxing exercise for the class.


Tee Vee
By Eve Merriam

I loved the creativity of this poem because how often do we let what’s on the television control what we do? Especially with children, I know from experience that if one of their favorite shows is on and you try to talk to them, they will completely ignore you. I think that sometimes we even do this as adults. While I am certainly not against watching TV, I think that it is important to realize the effects of watching too much TV. Maybe for an assignment after reading this poem children could think about things they could go out and do rather than sit in front of a TV all day.


Holding Hands
by Lenore M. Link

I have loved this poem since I was a little girl. It came out of a book that my dad has had since he was little, and that he shared with my brothers and I. I just love the imagery of this poem. You can see the elephants holding each others tails with their trunks and just playing so freely. I think this is a great way to teach students about different characteristics that we share with animals. Even though elephants don’t have hands, they have other ways of communicating and holding on to things by using their trunks. This would also be a good way to introduce other characteristics that elephants might have to help them to survive.


Captain Hook
By Shel Silverstein

This is just a fun poem that helps you see another side to a familiar character, Captain Hook from Peter Pan. While most of us see him as a mean pirate out to get Peter Pan, this poem helps the reader see some of the things that Captain Hook has to put up with! Maybe with a new understanding of Captain Hook, some of us may not judge him so harshly. I think this would be a good introduction into fairytales and into having students write their own versions. You could also introduce The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, by Jon Scieska. Students could come up with their own poem or story about a character who might just be misunderstood.



The Crocodile
By Lewis Carroll

I love poems that make light of something that could also be seen as something dark. The imagery of a crocodile eating fish could be seen as something mean or violent, but in this poem shows the side of the crocodile “welcoming” fish into his mouth, as if he were a host. This would be a great way for students to realize that things are not always as they seem. Students could think of other ways, like in the Captain Hook poem, that they might be able to write about something that is unpleasant in a pleasant way.


The Hippopotamus
By Jack Prelutsky

I thought that this was also a great descriptive poem and gives you a great idea of what this hippopotamus must look like. You can see the hippo wading in the mud, pretty much doing his own thing, and just living a carefree life. This would be a good poem to introduce poems and have students write about their favorite animal and their characteristics.


Mice
By Rosie Fyleman

This is another poem about seeing the other side of things. Even though a lot of people don’t like mice, some people do. You could find this out with many other topics, such as worms, or lizards, like in Minn and Jake by Janet Wong. Students could write about the different things that they like or don’t like, and see that not everybody has to like or dislike the same things.


How Does A Dinosaur Say Good Night?
By Jane Yolen

This poem actually comes in the form of a book, but it still works as a poem. I thought you could use this book for children to show the different types of behaviors they might show when they have to do something that they don’t want to. The dinosaurs in the poem are basically acting out what children actually do at bedtime when they aren’t ready to go to sleep. I think that this is a good way to show that art shows true form, without coming straight and telling you. This would be a good way to introduce the concept of using satire and different objects or time periods to disguise what is actually meant.


A Lesson For Mama
By Sydney Dayre

What little child doesn’t feel this way? I can specifically remember thinking as a child that when I was a parent, I would never do half the mean things that my parents did. I just thought that this poem gave such a good perspective of how kids think. As parents and teachers we have to put ourselves in the shoes of our children, and although we may not need to buy our students candy every day, I think that it is important to remember what is going on with our students. This can also be applied to simply understand somebody else’s perspective or being in somebody else’s shoes.


Description
By Shel Silverstein

Not only is this poem humorous, but it gives the reader little hints about the different points of views that people have on certain issues. While you do not necessarily have to bring up God as the topic, it could be any type of opinion such as “My dog is better than yours.” As long as students have a justifiable reason, they could explain why they believe a certain way in a persuasive paper. I think that students will also like the idea that the narrator has a secret that he decides not to share with the rest of the class. I think that it is important for kids to have little secrets that they realize are not necessarily meant to be shared but kept private.


Wastebasket Brother
By Shel Silverstein

I think that in a classroom, most of your students will have siblings that are tough to get along with. Poems about sibling rivalry are always fun and the students enjoy them because they can relate. Another idea you can introduce with this poem is the idea of putting your wishes down on paper, without making them actually happen. Sometimes we wish that our brother could be deported to South Africa, but that doesn’t always mean it will happen. Students could write about something they wish they could do, like chew gum in class or be able to walk upside down.


Cat/Cow
By Janet Wong

Just like the Breath poem, I love the way Janet Wong can describe an action so perfectly, and also explain the motions as well. Cat/Cow is a move done in Yoga, but I would have never thought to think “why does the cat want to turn into a cow?” And maybe this is an actual reason-behind-the-pose, but that is something I would have to research. However, for this poem I think that it would be neat to have students think of reasons why something is the way it is. Like why is the grass green? Students could make up their own sort of fable to explain the reason behind something.


Mountain/Volcano
By Janet Wong

While this is another one of Janet Wong’s yoga poems, it is one of the few “nature” poems that I like. Typically I try to stay away from nature poems because they are just too cheesy for me, but I like how Janet Wong incorporated the yoga movements into the actual features of a Mountain and Volcano. For this poem, students could create a poem about a natural feature, such as a rock or mountain, and give it humanistic features like in Wong’s poem. I think this would be a good way to teach about different ways to write, such as having magical creatures. Another good example of this is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, or Grandmother Willow in the Disney version of Pocahontas.


Jessica Jane
By May Justice

First of all, I love this poem because it is about me! Well, or at least my name is in it, and I like to cook. Except I don’t cook mud pies, at least not anymore. I was thinking that with this poem I could introduce writing poems that incorporate our names with things that we like to do.


Too Manny Daves
By Dr. Seuss

I love finding new, obscure poems by Dr. Seuss that I have never heard of! I also really liked this poem because you can just imagine the chaos of all these little boys with the same names, as if they were clones, just running around! Plus, coming from a family of five children, I can only imagine that my own mother felt this way sometimes. Maybe after reading this poem children could write about poems about their own families. While most of the children won’t have 23 siblings, or even 5, they could incorporate the names of the people in their family and the things that describe them.

Sidewalk Circus

By Paul Fleischman

This is an interesting picture book about a little girl who is sitting at a bus stop who's imagination gets the best of her. Through the shadows of what goes on in the city, the little girl imagines cirucs acts happening from people working, such as two men painting a building who look like trapeze artists, and a man doing construction work who looks like a man walking on a tight rope. The pictures were clever, however the pictures also scared the little girl that I babysit, so I am not sure how age appropriate this book would be. The pictures also creeped me out as well.... I think this a good picture book, but at the same time I can think of better ones. However, I like the theme that this book has of looking at things in a different way.

Read Aloud Plan: Little Critter by Mercer Mayer

Mayer, Mercer. Just a Little Critter Collection. New York, NY. Golden Books. 2005.
Mayer, Mercer. The Smelly Mystery: Little Monster Private Eye. New York, NY. Inchworm Press. 1998.


One of my favorite books growing up were the Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer. I bring these books with me when I go to watch Terra, and she absolutely loves them. Particularly, she likes the ones that feature Little Critter's younger sister, such as in Just a Nap, When I Grow Up, and Me Too! It was really hard for me to pick just one book for this activity, because usually when it is time to read before Terra's nap, she grabs every single Little Critter book she can find. I have even started going to the library to find more that I don't own for us to read. I also discovered some of Mercer Mayer's other book series, such as Little Monster Private Eye. Terra really likes these books as well, especially The Smelly Mystery, about an Evil Smell Switcher who is running all over town switching smells! I think that the best part about this book is that kids can't wait to find out what's going to happen!

I think that Terra mostly likes these books because they are fun and relatable. I remember loving these books when I was younger, especially I Was So Mad, and When I Get Bigger. You can really understand what the character in these stories is feeling, and realize that you feel, or have felt that way at some time. In I Was So Mad, absolutely nothing is going Little Critter's way, so he decides that he should move away. However, as he is trying to leave, his friends come over to see if he can play, so Little Critter decides he will run away tomorrow, if he is still just so mad. I can remember thinking I should run away when I was little, and I know as kids the silliest things make us so mad! I also know that especially with Terra, if she doesn't get her way it's time for a temper tantrum! Also, with When I Grow Up, and When I Get Bigger, I think that kids really like these books because every child wishes that they could grow up and do grown up things, like stay up late and do things all by themselves. I also think that Terra enjoys the Me Too! book because it is predictable. Every time Little Critter tries to do something, who comes up behind him but his annoying little sister saying "Me Too!" so then Little Critter has to help her or share. How annoying right? But Terra knows that every time Little Critter tries to do something, like use his skateboard, his sister is going to say... "Me Too!" so Terra can chime in and say that part of the book. Just A Nap is also a really cute story about a little girl who finds just about every distraction in the world to keep her from taking her nap. "But I just wasn't sleepy..." she says, which Terra tells me pretty much every time it's time to take her nap. I think that one thing that is interesting is to see how the characters reflect the way kids actually are. I think it will be fun for Terra to look back at these books and say "Hey, I remember feeling this way!" just like i do now.

Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico! Craft Lesson

For this craft lesson, I think this would be a great way to incorporate geography and history for "Where does this come from?" The book already gives great examples of foods and where they originated and what they are used for, but students could choose a food that interests them (either out of the book, or one that they come up with on their own) and research where it comes from, as well as its journey through time. For example, where would you find a cocoa bean to make chocolate? Who came up with the idea behind chocolate? When did chocolate practically become a staple in the United States? I think this would be interesting for students because they would be able to pick a topic they already want to learn about, as well as learn a lot of unknown facts about their favorite foods. Actually, two of my other classes had been talking about using geography as "where does this come from?" such as our clothes, cars and tools, and then using this as a map to figure out the way other countries live, and I think this would be a really fun and creative way to get kids interested in different cultures.

For the activity, once students have done their research, the class could make their own book of foods. Students would write the information that they learned in a paper format, and then draw their own pictures. Students could incorporate each other's findings into a huge class book that they could share. That way the students would have something to take home and keep when they wanted to learn new facts about other food that the rest of the class researched.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 9..... Traditional Fantasy

Traditional fantasy deals with folklore and stories that were originally told orally and passed down. In fact, no one knows exactly where these stories originated or who first told them. i really like the differences and similarities that the stories share between cultures. For example, almost every country has a version of Cinderella, but each story incorporates a different touch that reflects the society and culture of each country. I actually took an Anthropology class that compared each of the different versions. We talked about Yeh-Shen, who has a magical fish that helps her get to the ball, and the Spanish version, Little Gold Star, where the fairy god mother is the Virgin Mary. Both of these stories not only tell the traditional tale of Cinderella, but also give you little clues into what is important to these cultures.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 12.... Historical Fiction

I really liked the point that this chapter made: Text books don't always do their justice! All texts books can really do is skim over something briefly, while inserting dates and not talking about the people who were actually there. Text books also don't give you different perspectives, they only talk about the "Americanized" version of a tale. In this way, history books falsify history because they aren't giving you the complete story. When someone does actual research into an event, such as pilgrims and colonization, that person would learn that the Native Americans probably were not the savages that the history books makes them out to be.... and that maybe the colonists were not so nice either.
This chapter also mentioned some great books that I remember loving, such as the Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, about a young Jewish girl who goes to open the door for Elijah during Passover and ends up being transported into the Holocaust and meets one of her ancestors. I always thought this was the coolest book, and ever since then I always wanted to have a Jewish Passover so I could open the door for Jehovah too! This book not only taught me about the Holocaust, but about Jewish culture and traditions as well. Another book this chapter mentions is Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. I just always loved Lois Lowry, but this book was also great because it dealt with times in history, but it wasn't sugar coated like a text book would be.

Read Aloud Plan: ABC by Dr. Seuss

Seuss, Dr. ABC. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1960.

For my read aloud, I again read to the little girl that I watch, who is three. For another class I already had to use the Dr. Suess's ABC's, so I decided to use that book with her as well. I really liked this book because it teaches the concept of uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as incorporates pictures so that the kids reading know what is coming. Terra already knows her letters and is learning how to write them, so I thought I would use this book to see if she could pick up on the small words. Like, at the beginning of each page the text says "Big B, little b, what begins with B?" So I tried to get Terra to recognize the word BIG and have her "read" the beginning of each page.
I think that this is a good book for kids learning how to read and learning their letters because it is a fun book for those who don't understand yet, but it is also fun for those learning to read to pick up on the rhyming and picture clues. I think she also likes being able to read parts of the book on her own, so that she is more involved with the story. It also seems to be fun for her to know what is coming, like when "Silly Sammy Slick sipped six sodas" he gets.... "sick, sick, sick!"

Yum! Mmmm! Que Rico!

Mora, Pat. Yum! MmMm! Que rico!. Illus. Rafael Lopez. Madison Avenue NY: LEE & LOW BOOKS Inc., 2007.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I thought that the haikus were really creative and the pictures were AWESOME, but on the other hand some of the food that the book talks about were boring. I read this book to the little girl that I babysit, and (ok, i know she is young!) but I am pretty sure that she had no idea what a papaya was, or knew why in the world you would eat a prickly pear. I felt like the author had a good idea going with this book, but that she could have done a lot more with the book. Of course my favorite two were the one's about chocolate and chili peppers! I felt like the description of them through the haiku hit what eating these things is really like. I also liked the information about the different foods, but I think that part of the book would be for older children.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 11..... Contemporary Realistic Fiction

I really like the quote at the beginning of this chapter: "There are three rules for writing a good novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are." I think this makes a good point that there is no exact recipe to a good story.
One of the best characteristics of this category of books is that it is the most relatable to readers. Have you ever felt like the person you are reading about could be your best friend? A lot of the books that this chapter mentions are books that have relatable and fun characters that people enjoy to read about. This was a fun chapter because I got to reminisce books that I read when I was in middle school, such as ones by Lois Lowry, Judy Blume, and Louis Sachar.

My Many Colored Days Craft Lesson

Discussion: Everybody has "Many Colored Days", but not everybody knows how to express their emotions in the appropriate way.
After reading My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss, have the kids discuss the different emotions that they remember from the book. Then ask them what kind of events make them feel happy, or sad, or angry or busy as a bee! Then we could talk about how their feelings make them react, such as if they yell or get frustrated, and talk about whether these reactions are appropriate.

Activity: After our discussion, have the children write a short story or draw a picture about the way they should handle a situation when they get angry, or scared (etc.) After they finish their picture, they can share with the class. This way kids could come up with the right behaviors on their own, without being told what is right or wrong.

Children's Literature Autobiography

When I think about reading, I think about how I used to read all the time. I would sneak a flashlight under my pillow and stay up until all hours of the night waiting to get to the end of my book. I could never wait to see what was going to happen. Yes, I admit that I went through the Sweet Valley High /Babysitter Club/ Boxcar Children phase, but two of my favorite authors were also Mary Downing Hahn and Lois Lowry. I couldn’t keep my hands off of their books! Particularly, my favorite books by these two were Stepping on the Cracks, The Anastasia series, and Sam Series. I remember in the third grade my teacher read to us All About Sam, and we couldn't get enough! I always wished that the library would carry more of their books so that I could read all of them.
One of my earliest memories of reading was when I was just learning to read, and my Granny took me to the bookstore to pick out a book as my Birthday Present. After carefully looking through many books, I remember that I chose Clifford’s Book of Jokes and Riddles. I also remember thinking while I was growing up that it was such a privilege to go to the library. My mom used to take my brothers and I to the Public Library after school and I remember being so excited! We used to spend hours there just looking at all of the books. One of my favorite books that I used to love to read with my brothers were the Little Critter books. One of our favorite Little Critter books was the Christmas book, because there was a recipe for Christmas Cookies in it.
In Elementary School, I remember one of the coolest things that we got to do was have Read-Ins. A Read-In meant that we got to come to school with our sleeping bags, some snacks, juice boxes, and a backpack full of books! We got to spend the whole day reading and sharing books with our class mates, it was a dream come true! I also remember that my school participated in a Book-It program, which meant we got to go to Pizza Hut for free pizza every time we filled up our Book-It Badge. Over the summer, our local movie theater had a similar program, where if you read a certain amount of books, you got to come watch a free movie each week. It was so great to get rewarded for doing something I already loved to do!
Growing up, my family also used to spend lazy Sunday afternoons together in the living room reading various books and newspapers. As kids, we would always fight for the comics, but we also liked to read my dad’s collection of Calvin and Hobbs comics. Reading has just been a huge part of my life, as well as my family’s, which I feel has helped to encourage my love for reading. Once I hit Middle School, I began getting into more Fantasy books, such as A Wrinkle In Time, The Giver, and The Chronicles of Narnia. Another one of my favorite books in Middle School was Bridge to Terabitha. This book was one of the first coming-of-age stories to touch me because of the strong emotions portrayed in the story. Whether it is between the wild imaginations of the two characters, or to the traumatic ending, this book tells a great story of two courageous children that the reader will always remember.
In High School, we began to read more modern literature, such as The Great Gatsby and Slaughterhouse 5. My junior year of high school I was introduced to one of my favorite books of all time, The Catcher In the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. I could not put this book down! In fact, I read it 3 more times in a row when I was done with it. A few years ago, when I found out that absolutely none of my friends had read this book, I gave it to them as a Christmas present. I just could not believe that anyone had gone through their life without being able to read it! I just loved the free thought and randomness of the book, mostly because I am an extremely random person. I also loved all of the points that the main character, Holden Caulfield, makes in the book about “phoniness.” I remember in my class, after discussing this book, that everybody either loved the book like I did, or they just couldn’t get through it. As much as I loved this book, I could see how it would be frustrating for some people to get through, especially since you can’t put your finger on a specific event that happens. Really, I think that the main point of this book is the coming of age, and character’s identity. After reading this book, it left me wondering “Is Holden Caulfield really the crazy one…or is everybody else crazy?”
As of now, I do not make much time for casual reading, due to my busy schedule. I am, however, excited about one of the current books that I just bought called, Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things… which is a book of short stories by authors Lemony Snicket, Nick Hornby, Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man), and Jonathan Safron Foer. I have started on the first two stories, which I really liked, and I am excited to finish it. I think this would be a good book for anyone to read, no matter what age, because I think with the contributions from Lemony Snicket and Jon Scieszka, even older kids would enjoy this book.
And while you will not catch me staying up until all hours of the night trying to finish a good book, I do very much still enjoy reading. Some of my favorite authors right now are Chuck Klosterman, Kurt Vonnegut, and John Irving. Most of my reading time right now is spent dedicated to homework, or to reading to the little girl Terra that I watch. I try to read to her any chance I get. In fact, when I went home for ChristmasI brought back a collection of books that I used to read (including Little Critter) so that Terra could read them as well, and she loves it! I also try to take her to the library when I can so that we can pick out more books to read. Terra really likes the David series, especially David Gets in Trouble. And come to think of it, all this talk about how important reading is for children, it makes me wonder why we don’t do away with text books and emphasize reading literature in college as well!

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 10.... Modern Fantasy


This was a neat chapter because it reminded me of all the books that I enjoyed to read when I was younger, but that I would have never thought to call it "Fantasy". I guess that when I always think of fantasy I immediately think of science fiction. However, this chapters covers all the different elements that Modern Fantasy includes, such as Magic, Other Worlds, Good Vs. Evil, Heroism, Special Characters, and Fantastic Objects. In fact, Science Fiction is more defined as being futuristic more than anything else. But with Modern Fantasy, the story elements still have to have a strong and a believable character that examines human issues, even if that main character happens to be a talking horse. It has also been found that most modern fantasy novels are written as a metaphor to reveal a truth. Some of the books that this chapter mentioned that I always loved when I was younger were The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Winnie-The-Pooh, The Giver, and Wait Til Helen Comes.

And, not to get too off-topic, but I was suddenly reminded of this South Park episode where a talking towel decides to publish a book. At first nobody wants to publish his book because he is a towel, however the towel makes his story relatable to humans and it becomes part of Oprah's Book of the Month Club! Anyway, I suppose this episode involved a "special character" and could be considered Modern Fantasy as well!

Literature Festival

First of all, to be perfectly honest I was dreading going to the Literature Festival. However, after attending I realized how amazing this opportunity was! It was really great to hear such wonderful speakers, especially Janet Wong, and to hear their stories. I have only read a few of Janet Wong’s books, but I like how she has kept them themed. My favorite book so far is Twist: Yoga Poems. I think my favorite part about what Janet Wong had to say as the fact that anyone can, and should, write! Janet Wong mentioned that out of her twenty-something books that have been published, she has written over 200 that were rejected. I think that it is important for children to realize that even famous authors have had discouraging times. This should help children to learn not to give up when they feel that they have failed.
The poems that the children got to read at the opening presentation were also really cute to hear. I think that it is great that children are being encouraged to write poetry in a way that reflects their own personal story. That was another strong point that Janet Wong made. She even mentioned that when she first started taking poetry classes that the teacher never said anything to Wong until the day Wong finally wrote a poem that meant something to her. I think with any kind of literacy and writing, that finding a way to make it mean something to you in a personal way, is the best way to appreciate literature.
I also really enjoyed the break out sessions. I attended the class that talked about how to present books to your class by Karen Humphreys. She gave us some really great ideas about getting kids excited to read, such as using the right body language and questions to get kids to figure out what might happen in the story next. Also, she mentioned getting kids excited by asking them questions. I thought that Janet Wong also did a really great job of this, like when she asked the audience how many of us had grumpy moms or dads. She used this to introduce her poem about a grump, and it got kids excited to hear what she had to say. The biggest key that I learned at this Literature Festival was to find out outlets for each child. Do they like to read, write, or draw? Find ways to incorporate these things into the poems or literature they might be reading. When a child truly enjoys and understands what they are reading, it can help them to be excited about future poems and literature.

Minn and Jake Craft Lesson

Discussion:

Minn is having a hard time. She "feels pigtailed and lizardy and alone." She has just lost her true best friend, she's the tallest student in her class, one of her classmates made fun of her new red high-top sneakers, and she's the only one in class who is an only child. Have you ever felt like you were the only different person in class? Everybody has differences, and it is important to embrace the differences of others instead of trying to hide them. What are some things that make us different? Maybe our haircut isn't in "style" or maybe we can't afford the same style of shoes that everyone has to have. But this doesn't mean we need to feel ashamed. Have the kids talk about the things that they like about themselves, and what they like about their friends as well.

Activity:

Ok, so maybe this might seem a little cheesy, but I always thought that a good motto for kids is the "one put-down equals two put-ups". So, for the class activity we could have the kids make little "mailboxes" and then have the class write one another letters about reasons why they like each class member. I think this would also really tie in with the Valentines Day theme, especially since the characters in Minn and Jake are encouraged to make each other their own Valentine for the whole class, or to not bring any at all. I think this would be a really good activity to get kids to realize that differences make us unique and interesting, rather than a reason to feel embarrassed or maybe have someone else make fun of.

Wet Pet, Dry Pet, Your Pet, My Pet

Seuss, Dr. Wet Pet, Dry Pet, Your Pet, My Pet, Illus. Dr. Seuss. New York, NY:Random House, Inc., 2005.

I also did not know about this Dr. Seuss book, but I thought it was too cute so I chose it for my board book. It's a great book for younger kids because it is full of "pettable pets!" It was also inspired from One Fish, Two Fish, Red FIsh, Blue Fish (if you couldn't tell by the title!) My favorite pet is the on that says "all girls who like to brush and comb should have a pet like this at home", because it is this tiny little pet with HUGE blue hair! it's so fun! I also read this book to Terra, the little girl that I babysit and she really liked the page with the Gak, because you could play ring toss with his antlers and move the rings around on the page. Overall this book is just a really cute idea.

My Many Colored Days

Seuss, Dr. My Many Colored Days. Illus. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. New York, NY: Random House, Inc., 1996.


I really liked this book... and who knew Dr. Seuss had even written a book like this!?!?! It is a simple story for little kids with a rhyming scheme that goes over...My many colored days! Basically the book talks about how you can feel different ways throughout the week... and then sometimes you feel all mixed up and you just aren't sure how you feel. I think this is a great way to get kids to realize the different emotions we have, as well as realizing that everybody feels different at times. I think my favorite example is the yellow day, when you're a busy, buzzy be! FIrst of all, I like this page because that is how I always feel! But I also love the colors and the illustrations for this page. Especially since the bees are saying Wheeeeeeee!

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 18...... Teaching Through Children's Books


Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

The goal of teaching literature is to help children become lifelong readers. When children love to read, they also become self-motivated and eager to continue their eduation. As a teacher, you also want children to realize that reading is worthwile. THe book also mentions how many people today have become educated, simply by reading books, and with no formal education. That is why many teacher's use children's books as a teaching tool, or a tradebook. Many times, we find as students that textbooks are pretty boring and unappealing. Trade books, on the other hand, are designed to engage readers. Book discussions and using creative writing activities can help children get the most out of what they read. I liked the chart in this chapter, called Death to the Traditional Book Report! This can create interest and promote reading by giving children a fun way of providing examples of how they understood what they read. I remember in highschool, when we had to read the Great Gatsby, that our teacher let us do a similar non-traditional book report activity. This one kid in class dressed up and re-wrote the song "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith, and sang the words "Great Gatsby" instead. To this day... I always think of that song when I hear "Walk This Way". I think this is a great way to get kids to be creative, while also being excited about what they read.
At the end of the chapter, the book lists three guidelines for using trade books as teaching tools that I felt were important:
1. Have children read the book as it was mean to be read (for enjoyment!)
2. Let children discover information on their own.... in other words, there is no right or wrong answer to what a child thinks the book means.
3. Let children share their insights with the class... who knows, something that a child has to say might surprise you and open your own eyes!

Minn And Jake

Wong, Janet S. Minn and Jake. Illus. Genevieve Cote. New York: Francis Foster Books, 2003.

While this book seems like the simple story of the tallest girl in class becoming friends with the shortest boy in class, this book deals with a lot of issues for younger readers. The character Jake has just moved to Santa Brunella from Los Angeles. Jake does not exactly fit in right away, and Minn does not even like him at first. Any child who has had to deal with moving can understand Jake's position. This book also talks about the hardships of trying to fit in. The beginning of the book talks about how Minn feels "empty", "odd", and "lonely" because she has just lost her very best friend. The age group that the characters Minn and Jake deal with act the way real children of their age would act. There is also the character of Lola, a gossip queen who can talk the talk but has no actual backbone. There are also the charcters of Vik and Henry, who try to impress everyone by eating worms and following through with a dare to try and prove something. These character's true identities come out in the chapter, Rescue, where Minn tries to save Henry after reportedly falling down into the gulch. Minn is the only actual brave character because she rushes down into the gulch to try and rescue Henry, who was only trying to fool everyone. However, Minn ends up getting stuck and nobody except Jake knows what to do. Jake pulls out his cell phone and calls 911. This scene pretty much puts everyone in their place until the end of the story. Henry and Vik can no longer impress people, and Lola convinces herself that in no way was any of this her fault.

In the end of the story, Jake must move back to Los Angeles for the summer to visit with his sick grandmother. At first Minn is sad because she feels that Jake should understand how she feels and stay with her for the summer. However, Minn realizes that going to visit Jake in Los Angeles is not such a bad option. I think this story really shows a coming of age for Minn's character, because she realizes that you cannot be selfish in a friendship. Jake's character also tries to grow up, by trying to teach his younger brother to catch lizards (so the Jake still doesn't have to!)

One of my favorite parts of this story is when Jake tries to sell the old fish tank to Minn. At first his reasonings are selfish: he is trying to make some money. However, he also knows how badly that Minn loves lizards, and that building a terranium would be a much better way for Minn to watch the lizards. This scene is similar to when Minn doesn't actually want to be Jake's friend, however she feels it is her duty to teach him how to catch lizards so that people won't make fun of him. Both of these scenes display the instictual selfishness we can have as people, yet how we learn to actually be giving in a friendship.

Apple Pie, 4th of July Craft Lesson

This book mainly discusses different cultures and traditions. First we have the American Tradition of celebrating the 4th of July, while we also have the contrast of Chinese culture and food.

For older children...

We could begin by asking the kids what types of things we do to celebrate the 4th of July, such as parades, fireworks, eating hot dogs, etc. Then we can look at the Chinese traditions mentioned in the story, such as the different foods, as well as the fact that they have to work instead of take a day off. However, the book also mentions that fireworks are Chinese. We can use this to incorporate the two cultures together, as fireworks are something the Americans took from Chinese Culture. This can help children to understand where traditions come from, especially since most American traditions originated elsewhere.

ACTIVITY

Kids could look up other traditions that may have come from other cultures, such as games, stories, or foods. This can help the children to see the similarities that we might share with other countries, as well as to see the origin of where things came from.

For younger children...

This book uses a lot of visuals, sounds, and uses ways to manipulate the senses. We are able to hear the parade, "boom boom boom", smell the apple pie cooking upstairs, as well as the chow mien in the kitchen. Even for those who cannot read yet, this book uses alot of expression through the pictures to convey events, such as the fireworks. The text also lets us know that after sitting out all day, the noodles feel like "shoe laces". We can ask children if this makes the story more real to them by hearing or seeing the descriptions.

We can use this information to ask the children if they understand the events of the story. You can ask questions such as "How does the character feel in the beginning of this story?" Is she sad, mad, frustrated.... We can also ask the children what her dilemma or hopes are, does she want to be part of the 4th of July Celebration, or does she want to be in her parent's store working? And finally, How does the story end? Does the character finally get what they want? And how does the character cope with her situation?

Asking these types of questions should help the readers to think about what is going on in the story. This can help the children to become involved with reading and use these skills for critical thinking in future reading adventures.

ACTIVITY

After our discussion, have then children create their own short story or even draw a picture about something they may have been frustrated about. While the children may not know how to create the visuals like in Janet Wong's book, the kids could create their own sound effects for the story. The idea is to simply make the story their own by relating to the events, as well as to incorporate description by using the senses.

Buzz Craft Lesson

(For younger children, particularly those learning sounds and letters)


The main things going on in this book are the sound effects, and the fact that everything is moving at a fast pace. Everyone is trying to stay busy!

I thought that the best way to teach this book would be to have the children compare the book to their own experiences. What activities do they notice going on in the book? What activities do they do in the morning that are similar to the main character? What kinds of different things do they do? I think it would be good for the kids to talk about things that they do in their own home to get ready for class. This can help the children to understand why we eat breakfast in the morning, or even why they should brush their teeth.

Another aspect of the book shows different family dynamics. Not all the children will have a mom and dad who rush off to work, so we could talk about who helps them to get ready, or if there are siblings who help out. The child may even have a younger brother or sister that they have to help get ready in the morning.

The kids can also talk about the different noises that they read in the book. Do similar noises go on in their own house? Can they mimic the types of noises they hear? Such as the sound of a blender making a banana milkshake.

ACTIVITY:

After our discussion, kids could make their own books about how they get ready in the morning while creating their own sounds to go along.

I think if children are able to compare themselves and relate to the events happening in the story they will be able to see that everybody has to start out their day. I think it is good for kids to be able to relate to the similar aspects they share, as well as their differences.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 8.... Poetry

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.


It is a common notion that most people do not appreciate poems due to extensive memorization drills and in-depth analization during their school years. I thought that it was interesting that the book mentioned how most people prefer limericks and narratives, while free-verse and haiku's are some of the poems that people avoid. I also like how this chapter brought back the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends", by Shel Silerstein. This book contains several humourous poems that anyone can enjoy.

Another point that this chapter makes about poetry is that orignally, poetry was meant to be oral. Poems seem to be enjoyed more when read aloud, rather than when read to oneself.

I also thought that one of the poems that the book uses as an example was really cute. It is from a collection of poems chosen from the National Council of Teacher of English, titled "TeeVee", and is as follows:

In the house
of Mr and Mrs. Spouse
he and she
would watch TV
and never a word
between them spoken
until the day
the set was broken.

Then "How do you do?"
said he to she
"I don't believe
that we've
met
yet.
Spouse is my name
What's yourse?" he asked.

"Why, mine's the same!"
said she to he,
"Do you suppose that we could be--?"

But the set came suddenly right about
and so they never did find out.

-EVE MERRIAM, 1981

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 7.... Picture Books


Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

Picture books are not necessarily a genre but a format. There are several different types of picture books, however, such as ABC Books, Participating Books, and Storybooks. I liked this chapter because it was fun to go back and remember some of the different types of books that I read as a child. It was also neat to learn about other types of books out there that I could use in a future classroom, such as "Anno's Counting Book", which includes several different techniques to introduce numbers through pictures that can appeal to younger and older children. I also liked the idea behind the book "If You Hopped Like A Frog", which compares distances between animals.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 6.... Organizing Children's Literature By Genre

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

This chapter bascially gave a good overview of the different types and genres of books. It also explained the differences (although there are not many) between poetry and prose. Poetry is known for its rhyme and being rhythmic, but this is not the case for all poems. However, prose should always be in paragraph form, while poetry may not necessarily be so. This chapter also explains the differences between Nonfiction and Fiction. While Fictional books may be based on Nonfictional events, the best way to differentiate the two is whether the facts can be proved or not. At the end of the chapter, the text also mentions that at a young age, most children do not recognize or care about the differences in genres because all kids want is a good book to read!

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 5..... Children's Books: History and Trends

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

Children's books were not initially well-recieved in the sense that until the 20th century, children were thought of as "little adults". Many classic novels today were actually meant for adults, but have been claimed as children's favorites.

It was not until the 1800's that classics such as Snow White, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, Mark Twain, and the Grimm's Fairy Tales were released. It was in this time frame that illustrations for children's books also began to be popularized.

In the early 1900's, Peter Pan and the Wizard of Oz were published. Publishing children's literature became a phenomenon that has lasted until present day. Presently we have classics such as Charlotte's Web, and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe which have encouraged more andmore children's books to be published and sold.

In 1962, the first book about an African American as a protagonist was published in the book, A Snowy Day. This new wave of Realism featured books about minorities, children's relationships with their parents, and physical maturation. An emphasis for younger readers was also established in books such as Cat in the Hat.

The government also began funding money to libraries for children's books, as well as introducing paperbacks for a cheaper price. In the marketplace, Children's Publishing became a high dollar industry.

Currently children's books recieve awards and praise, while the slogan for reading is running strong. You can see that the rise in children's books over the past few years has encouraged many children to start reading, even at ages where they cannot decode the words.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 4..... How to Recognize a Well-Illustrated Book

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

Children are much more visually aware than adults.
"The function of art is to clarify, intensify, or otherwise enlarge our experience of life." (30)
Artists use various styles in art, typically painterly and graphic. Painterly media would use common tools such as paint and pencil, while graphic media uses carvings or through a collage.
Artists use visual elements such as lines, shapes, color, texture, and composition. The composition ties all of these elements together to form an illustration.

I like that there are so many different types of art to reach out to children. Simple pictures such as stick figures can do the same job as an ellaborate collage. Pictures are great for helping children to interpret the story, especially for children who cannot read. A girl in class last night mentioned that one of her 3-year-olds loves to "read" a book to her, even though the girl makes up a story by using the pictures.

Illustration is an important form of communication for children, and it is also appealing to the eye.

Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 3.... How to Recognize a Well-Written Book


Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

When people describe a book as "well-written", they are most likely meaning that the book is pleasing to them. However, to attain the title of a well-written book, the book should pass a few qualifications. First of all, the author has to choose the right word choice. The word choice canbe conveyed through vocabulary, language, and dialogue. Typically the text needs to explain the events in visual way so that the reader can see what the writer are talking about. Text can be delivered in other forms as well, such as in an understatement. Oftentimes, if the author has done their job, they can end with a short and brief statement that proves how well the reader has understood the story.

Another form a author can deliver their text is through an unexpected insight. This thought can pop into your head as "oh, he's right!". Unexpected insights can also make you laugh, or realize something you may not have thought about before. The important part of writing a book is making sure that you can get the point across to your reader. In other words, good writing should be believable and interesting. A teacher also has to be careful that the book they are choosing for their students does not undermine them, or use a condescending tone.

Children' Literature, Briefly

Chapter 2..... What is a Good Book?

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

A "good book" varies from opinion to opinion... but we choose books mainly by the lessons taught, illustrations, and other things that might appeal to us. There are several different ways that a book offers quality, through Style & Language, Character, Plot, Design & Layout... etc.

However, merit and quality are not necessarily the equation to a good book, and vise versa. People like to choose books that they can relate to and feel close to. If the book leaves one with a sense of connectedness, they are going to feel that the book was good. If a child is forced to read a classic story, but cannot figure out how to relate to the main character, then the reader will gain nothing from the reading experience. As teachers, we need to realize when a child responds or does not respond to a book. When we find a character that we can relate to in a book, we are able to appreciate the book and feel that it is our own story being told through the character.

As George Woods is quoted at the end of the chapter; "we know a good book because it hits us in the gut" (16) In class we talked about books such as "Sweet Valley High", or "The Babysittiers Club", (yes, I was also a fan!). And although these books do not have awards or may not be considered wonderful writing, they grab the attention of those who read them. These books are also like a foot out the door to continue reading in the future.

Chilren's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 1....... Why Read?

Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

Everyone can agree.... reading is good! Reading can be stiumulating, and when reading for enjoyment, is "worth it". Some even consider reading as "bibliotherapy" because of its therapeutic feelings, insight into different perspectives, and it creates a feeling of connectedness with others who have also enjoyed a specific book.
There are two types of reading... Unengaged, and Engaged. Typically Unengaged reading can be described as anything that is being forced onto a reader without any actual personal motivation. Engaged reading, however, is something a reader does for enjoyment or to gain something such as knowledge or an experience.

I enjoyed the quote by Walter Matthau, from the book "Books that Made the Difference," when talking about his favorite book: "I fell so in love with the book that I searched out and married the girl who wrote it."(8)

Buzz

Wong, Janet S. Buzz. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. San Diego CA: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2000.

Buzz is another cute story about a little boy who recognizes the simple noises from every-day morning activities, including his father's shaver and the noise of the coffee pot. The boy also tries to act out and immitate the things his parents do or mock the noises that he hears.

This book helps children to become familiar with simple words and noises. I think this is a good beginner book that can be read to a child at any age, even if they cannot speak yet.

Apple Pie 4th of July

Wong, Janet S. Apple Pie 4th of July. Illus. Margaret Chodos-Irvine. Orlando FL: Voyager Books/Harcourt, Inc., 2002.

Apple Pie 4th of July is a cute story about a little girl whose parents own a Chinese Restaurant. She is trying to fit in with the American holiday, 4th of July. However, she feels that her parents do not understand American tradition because their Chinese restaurant is open even though nobody is coming inside. The girl feels that nobody would even think about eating Chinese food on the 4th of July.

I think this is a good story for all children because it tells the story from the perspective of a person coming from a non-traditional background. This way, the story shows children that people do have different histories and traditions, as well as showing other children that some backgrounds are just like their own. I think that it is good for children to see that we can find similarities and differences in almost anyone.

At the end of the story, people finally decide to come in and get some Chinese food. The character also gets to eat her apple pie and enjoy the fireworks, just like everybody else on the 4th of July. The author even mentions that fireworks are Chinese. I like this incorporates that part of Chinese tradition (fireworks) are used in American traditions as well. This helps kids to understand some of the similiarities that our cultures share. It also shows how our cultures and traditions have been intertwined in the fact that her Chinese parents participate in the 4th of July, while still remembering their heritage.