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.