Unit 1
Johan Gutenberg
1450's discovered movable metal type, which made it possible to mass-produce books.
Jealousy
: a common emotion depicted in children's books. Dealing with new baby: The Bernstein Bears
Observing
Colorful picture books are excellent for developing observational skills in both younger and older children: Aphabatics, Keep Looking, Look Back, etc. Some books also encourage observing and counting like Ten Flashing Fireflies, Count and See, and Over On the Farm: A Counting Picture Book Rhyme, Sidewalk Circus (observe and compare).
Comparison
Picture books can provide opportunities for children to compare items or characters: Old Hat, New Hat; Older students can compare main characters (Hatchet and The Voyage of the Frog), themes (On My Honor and One-Eyed Cat), characterizations, protagonists, and different depictions of biographies
Awareness of different views of the world
The Girls Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble - Native American girl loves her family but longs for a free life among the wild horses; Allen Say's Tree of Cranes - cross culture Christmas (Japanese and American).
Science Fiction
allows them to speculate about the future or to travel to distant places in the galaxy
Informational Books
biographies, concept books, etc. help stimulate cognitive development of even very young children
Setting as Antagonist
can be an antagonist in plots based on person-against-society or person-against-nature conflict.
Hypothesizing
children can hypothesize about what's going to happen on the next page (The Z was Zapped). Hypothesizing is stimulated as children search for clues in pictures and text to answer various questions.
Adventure Stories of Defoe and Swift
children embraced Adventure stories written for adults. 1719 publication of Robinson Crusoe; stimulated a whole group written about similar subjects known as Robinsonades (Swiss Family Robinson). Second major adventure story (1726) was Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift; written as a satire for adult but children thought the story as an enjoyable adventure.
Socialization
children learn to function within their groups. Control their emotions; develop relationships with family members. Three processes influential in the socialization of children
Logicomathematical Ability
classifying objects on common criteria; arranging objects according to size, quality, and quantity; comparing objects (similarities and differences); understanding spatial relations, distance and time
Limited Omniscient POV
concentrates on the experiences of one character but has the option to be all knowing about other characters. Contemporary realistic fiction for children age 8 and older uses first-person point of view and limited omniscient point of view that focuses on one child's experiences
Person Against Person
conflicts between animals and humans are common in folktales like Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs; Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty have heroines vs. evil stepmother
Perception
detection, organization and interpretation of information
Person Against Society
develop when main character's actions, desires, or values differ from those of the surrounding society. Brock Cole's The Goats - children pick on boy and girl; take clothing; maroon them on a deserted island. Girls classified as queens, princesses, dogs and real dogs. Girl is a "real dog."
Analytical Book Review
discuss, compare and evaluate literary elements (plot, characterization, setting, theme, style, and point of view), the illustrations, and relationships with other books
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
encourages them to experience relationships with the people and environment. Some of the most controversial books
William Caxton
established England's first printing press in 1476. Books printed by Caxton were to improve manners or instruct their minds. In 1481 Caxton published the beast fable Reynart the Foxe (The History of Reynard the Fox). His most important publication is The Fables of Aesop and his publication in 1485 of Sir Thomas Malory's La Morte d'Arthur preserved the story of King Arthur and his knights.
Reflection
evaluation of the quality of ideas and solutions
Cumulative Folktales
have very strong and chronological order
Fear of going to school
In Chrysanthemum a mouse child has problems with other children making fun of her name and an understanding adult makes her appreciate her name.
3rd Stage
identification- requires emotional ties with models and their feelings, and actions become similar to those of people they believe are like them. Guess How Much I love You - a loving bond between two rabbits as the father and son try to explain the measure of their love for each other. Aliki's Those Summers - carefree times at the beach and the interactions with children and adults can be used to motivate discussions about special times during the summer. Skin Again by Bill Hooks: what makes us unique and different
Censor
is a person empowered to suppress publications or excise any matter in them thought to be immoral, seditious, or otherwise undesirable
Theme
is the underlying idea that ties the plot, characters, and setting together into a meaningful whole; consider what the author wanted to convey about life or society and whether that theme is worthwhile for children when evaluating themes in children's lit. Theme may be stated by characters or through the author's narrative.
Sibling Rivalry
Stevie - a mother takes care of a child from another family; her son resents him, but misses Stevie when he leaves.
Reasoning
knowledge to make inferences or draw conclusions
Person Against Nature
nature is the antagonist; main character is subjected to nature's harsh laws of survival. Julie of the Wolves by Jean C. George - 13 yr. old Miyax (Julie) must survive the North Slope of Alaska when she gets lost. Must depend on help and acceptance from the wolves. Her enemy is the cold tundra and no food.
2nd Stage
observation of others teaches children the responses, behaviors, and beliefs considered acceptable in their culture
Characterization
one of most powerful literary elements; whether story is contemporary tale in which characters face realistic problems or an adaptation of classic literature. The credibility of a character depends upon the writer's ability to reveal the full nature of the character, including strengths and weaknesses. Do this by: describing the character's physical appearance, recording the conversations of the character, revealing the character's thoughts, revealing the perceptions of other characters, and showing the character in action.
Person Against Self
person must overcome a personal conflict. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen - 13 yr. old Brian must survive in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash and deal with the "secret" of his parent's divorce (a secret about his mother). This is a very popular plot device in children's lit.
Physical Knowledge
physical environment through observation and experimentation
Searching for Identity
common theme with young animals, the Ugly Duckling
Insight
recognition of new relationships between two or more segments of knowledge
Descriptive Book Review
report factual information about the story and illustrations of a book
First Person POV
speaks through the "I" of one of the characters
Ages 6-8
start to use complex sentences with correct adj. and adv. Clauses; sentences 7 ½ av. long
Biographies
use chronological life events to develop plot
Flashbacks
used for older readers
Standards for Evaluating Books
• Literary: How effective is the development of the various literary elements? • Artistic: How effective are the illustrations and the illustrator's techniques? • Pragmatic: How accurate and logical is the material? • Philosophical: Will the book enrich a reader's life? • Personal: Does the book appeal to me?
John Glasser Study
(1991) identifies four ways in which literature contributes to the emotional growth of children: • First: Literature shows children that many of their feelings are common to other children and that those feelings are normal and natural. • Second: Literature explores a feeling from several viewpoints, giving a fuller picture and providing a basis for naming the feeling. • Third: Actions of various characters show options for ways of dealing with particular emotions. • Fourth: literature makes clear that one person experiences many emotions and that these emotions sometimes conflict.
George Maxim
(1993) : states that cognitive development includes 2 major areas: Physical knowledge and logicomathematical ability. ): Personality characteristics are" the traits that give each person a unique style of reacting to other people, places, things, and events. Children go through many stages of personality and learn to express emotions acceptably. Experience empathy towards others, and develop feelings of self-esteem
John Locke's Influence on Views of Childhood
(tabula rasa=blank slate) Society viewed children as small adults and expected them to behave accordingly. He enlightened the belief for the late 1600's that children should go through a period of childhood rather than be treated like little adults. He believed that children should be provided with easy, pleasant books suited to their capacities- books that encouraged them to read; not fill their heads with useless "trumpery" or encourage vice.
Puritan Influence
provided for children's education and by 1640's Massachusetts pass a law requiring heads of families to teach their children and apprentices to read. Puritans thought chapbooks were impious and corrupting because they dealt with traditional tales about giants, fairies and witches. Children were provided with literature that instructed them and reinforced moral development. Two books found in Puritan homes were Pilgrim's Progress and The New England Primer, a combination alphabet and catechism designed to teach Puritan ideals.
Historic Fiction
provides children with the opportunity to live in the past
Fantasy Fiction
reader is wiling to accept the impossible in the story, can provide them with a story that suspends disbelief
The School Library Journal*:
reviews chiefly analyze literary elements (*places the greatest emphasis on sociological analysis)
Sociological Book Review
reviews emphasize the social context of a book, concerning themselves with characterizations of particular social groups, distinguishable ethnic characteristics, moral values, possible controversy, and potential popularity.
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
reviews tend to be descriptive; mention literary elements
1st Stage
reward or punishment by parents and other adults reinforces socially acceptable attitudes and behaviors and discourages inappropriate behavior
Setting as Symbolism
sometimes have symbolic meanings that underscore what is happening in the story. Common in traditional folktales, where brightening adventures and magical transformations occur in the deep, dark woods, and splendid castles are sites of "happily ever after." The Secret Garden: garden symbolizes a father's grief after death of his wife, his son's illness, and the emotional estrangement of the father and son from each other.
Memory
storage and retrieval of perceived information
18 months
telegraphic speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives •Sudden upsurge around age two from 2-word combinations of 14 and a vocabulary of 900 words
Omniscient POV
third person; author not restricted to the knowledge, experiences and feelings of one person.
Kohlberg's (1981) Stages of Moral Development
•Stages 1 and 2: pre-conventional level, a child responds to external, concrete consequences. Stage 1: the child chooses to be good, or to obey rules in order to escape physical punishment. Stage 2: the child obeys or conforms in order to obtain rewards. E.g. The Tale of Peter Rabbit. • Stages 3 and 4: conventional level - child concerned with meeting the external social expectations of family, group, or nation. Stage 3: child desires social approval makes decisions according to expectations of the people important to child. Stage 4: Law and order orientation - child conforms because of high regard for social order or patriotic duty. Stage 3 begins in the upper elementary grades and Stage 4 behaviors emerge in adolescence. • Stages 5 and 6: may be combined - Post-conventional: autonomous or principled level. Children establish their own moral values. Stage 5 react to equal rights and avoids violating the rights of others. Stage 6 conforms to his or her inner beliefs in order to avoid self-condemnation. Kohlberg estimates that only 25% of the population moves on in the late adolescence or adulthood to a morality of equal rights, justice, and internal commitment to the principals of conscience. E.g., Jacob Have I Loved (stage 6) • Stage 7: highest level of ethical and religious thinking. Person experiences wholeness—a union with nature, a deity, and the cosmos.
Age 3-4
1,500 words, speech more complex using more adj., adv., prep., •Age four: produce grammatically correct sentences (why and how stage), vocabulary up to about 22,500 words
Walter Loban's Study
1976 established the firm relationship between oral language development and success at reading and writing and provided the base upon which our present-day thinking about the integrated language arts curriculum rests. (Study: ages 5-18; high proficient in oral language 1st grade to those low until 6th grade; written in 4th grade to low until 10th grade; high language proficiency excelled in the control of ideas expressed, showing unity and planning in both their speech and writing.) • Books with repetitive language are excellent for encouraging children to join in during oral reading: Hattie and the Fox (cumulative & repetitive), Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Goodnight Moon, etc. • Wordless picture books encourage students to tell the stories using their own words: Tuesday; Free Fall; Changes, Changes; School; etc. • Literature is a crucial resource providing: models for expanding language proficiency, and to stimulate oral discussion, creative dramatics, creative writing, and listening enjoyment. (Where the Wild Thing Are, Matthew's Dragon, Jumanji, Owl Moon {filled with figurative language}.)
Setting as Historical Background
: Accuracy is extremely important in historical fiction and biography. Authors must describe period and time for students to understand. A Gathering of Days - historical fiction that carefully depicts setting - small New Hampshire farm in the 1830's; Blos describes home remedies, country pleasures, and country hardships. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry describes Copenhagen during the 1940's. Danish Resistance helps Jews to relocate in Demark. Actions of King Christian add to historical accuracy.
Egocentric
: Children see themselves as the center of the universe. Help develop self-esteem with books like: The Patchwork Quilt; Owl Moon, Song and Dance Man, all of which depict environments in which children are valued by family members.
Brothers Grimm
: Early 1800, German scholars Jacob and Wihelm Grimm collected folktales in the ancient German language and tradition. First edition of tales published in 1812 (85 stories): Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and The Frog Prince. 2nd edition (1815) designed more specifically for children, with illustrations and minimum of scholarly comment on the tales. In 1823 translated into English: German Popular Stories.
Picture Books
: Identification of objects, body parts, colors, etc. Dressing, In the Tall, Tall Grass, Richard Scarry's The Best Word Book, etc.
Battledoor
: a lesson book made of folded paper or cardboard; like hornbooks contained an alphabet, numerals, and proverbs or prayers.
Ages 5-6
: begin to use correct pronouns and verb tenses in present and past tense and can understand about 6,000 words
Hornbooks
: printed sheets of text mounted on wood and covered with translucent animal horn. Used to teach reading and numbers; shaped like a paddle; had alphabet, syllabary, invocation to the Trinity, and the Lord's Prayer; were popular until the 1700's.
Social Education review
: reviews emphasize human relations and social issues; represent a diversity of groups and are sensitive to a broad range of cultural experiences; present an original theme or fresh slant on a traditional topic.
Plot
A good plot has enough action, excitement, suspense, and conflict to develop interest. Young children: simple plots; Older children: more complex plots
Setting as mood
Authors use settings to create moods that add credibility to characters and plot.
Chapbooks
Caxton's books were too expensive so peddlers known as chapmen sold crudely printed chapbooks for pennies at the markets and fairs. Some of the first chapbooks were traditional tales: "The Two Children in the Wood" and "Jack the Giant Killer". Content of chapbooks fell into the following categories: • Religious instruction • Interpretations of the supernatural • Romantic legends • Ballad tales • Historic narratives
Classifying
Children can classify by color, shape, size, and usefulness. Characteristics of stories: realistic or unrealistic; likeable or unlikable; happy or sad; and funny or serious
Style
Choice of words and ways they are arranged in order to create plots, character, and setting and to express themes. The language should help develop the plot, bring the characters to life, and create a mood.
Hans Christian Anderson
Credited with being the first to create and publish an original fairy tale. Used his own experiences to stimulate his writing: The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid and The Red Shoes. Life in Italy made him famous in his time, but Fairy Tales Told for Children made him renowned forever.
Newberry Books for Children
Features that characterized this book: • It had a lengthy title page • A dedication • An introduction • Descriptive chapter headings • Stories and poems interrelated within the text Because of Newbery's success publishers realized that there was a market for books written specifically for children. The coveted award given annually to the outstanding author of a children's literature selection bears Newbery's name.
Charles Perrault's Tales of Mother Goose:
He was one of the first writers to recognize that fairy tales have a special place in the world of children. He published Tales of Mother Goose: tales not Mother Goose rhymes but fairy tales from the French oral tradition like: Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Blue Beard.
Point of View
How different persons describe a story is influenced by their experience, the details they choose to describe, and their judgments about what occurred may vary because of their backgrounds, values, and perspectives
Organizing
Illustrated books help children understand sequences of time. Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art, children follow the tree through the seasons: summer-summer again. Plot development helps children understand logical organization: The Little Red Hen—chronological order from the seed to the planting, to the harvesting, to baking and finally eating
Setting
Its location in time and place- helps readers share what the characters see, smell, hear and touch, as well as makes the characters' values, actions and conflicts more understandable. Credibility depends on how well the plot, characterization and setting support one another. Fairy tales begin with "Once upon a time."
