Conclusion to Children's Literature

Through these blogs, I believe I have encountered many different kinds of books, both of quality and others that were not, though they had been recommended to me. By analyzing the use of the books in my future classroom and keeping a close eye for any people that were marginalized through the book or finding social justice issues, I was able to reevaluate books I had read as a child as one-sided and not appropriate any longer. I was very interested to find out that many Eric Carle books are not scientifically accurate, even though as a child we used his books for research in my Kindergarten and first grade classes.

My exposure to high quality literature during the reviewing process also allowed me to analyze not only quality writing, but also quality illustrations. In order for an illustration to be of high quality according to Children's Literature: Briefly, it must "operate in a manner unique to its special format" including defining characters, establishing a setting, and reinforcing what the text of the book says (30,31). Most of the books I chose did just that. My favorite illustrator I have been introduced to in this process by far was Kadir Nelson. As seen in my blog on Henry's Freedom Box, Nelson is able to bring characters to life through his drawings, and just looking at his scenery makes one feel they are a part of the book. He has won numerous awards for his artwork in children's literature, and I have already bought one of the books he has illustrated for use in my future classroom.

By being forced to read books across the genres, I expanded my knowledge on the various genres of literature as well as experiencing books I had not read since I was much younger. It allowed me to develop a new love for genres that as a child I had no interest in, such as Informational Text or Biographies. A classroom is not complete without an array of children's books from across the genres, and I have used my newly gained knowledge of the genres of literature in order to begin building my collection for my library.

I understand that in order to help children enjoy poetry it should be of some interest to them, and no library collection would be complete without Prelutsky or Silverstein. By using informational texts with rich illustrations or real life photos, such as Seymour Simon's books, children become engaged in reading books that teach them things instead of only whisking them away to another world. Though folktales and fairytales are classic, providing children with new multicultural options can help them to see beyond their bubble of a world and ultimately help to create more world conscious human beings. Discussing the marginalized in books allows books that do have marginalized characters to still be used, while also exposing students to new ways of thinking and social justice issues at a young age. In order to fight for social change, children must not live in a darkened world, and it is our job as teachers to expose them to quality literature as well as unbiased literature while maintaining everything at a developmentally appropriate level.

Karate Kick

by Matt Christopher

Summary

Eleven year old Cole Richards loves karate more than anything. Currently he is a blue belt, practicing hard for his test to become a green belt. He is a very kind boy, but a girl Monique who already has her green belt just rubs him the wrong way. Cole is faced with a dilemma when he hears about a kata contest, create your own karate routine, and receives an invitation to test for his green belt on the same day. He goes to the park to practice and is confronted with high school bullies. One of them seems especially keen to fight Cole, but he doesn't. One of the other boys warns Cole to be careful is he is ever left alone with Darren. Cole goes to practice with one of his friends and Monique, and after she leaves they find her kata plan, even though she had told them she wasn't planning on entering. His friend Marty says taking it is not the karate way, but he takes it anyway. On his way home he sees Monique working with Sensei Ann to ward off weapons, and Darren finds him. It turns out to be Ty, the boy who warned Cole about Darren, in an attempt to prove to Darren that he shouldn't mess with Cole. Through Ty's story about quitting karate, Cole learns that as a young girl, Monique had a violent encounter with a stranger, so he now understands why she works so hard. Cole completed his testing for his green belt and earned it, and for the kata contest he and Marty learned Monique's kata and surprised her by performing it with her. He explained at the end that he learned again that he needs to remember to respect everyone, as that is one of the main lessons in karate.

Discussion

This book is written very well, and is appropriate for grades 2-3. Matt Christopher has the number one sports series for kids, and I understand why. His writing is engaging yet filled with factual information about the sport it focuses on. It embodies the worries of younger children as they incorporate sports into moral stories of growth. In this case, Cole learned that respect is key in growth, which also happens to be a key in karate. The facts about karate are clear, and they would make any child studying karate very engaged in this book, as it is a sport that is rarely written about. This is much better for an independent read, and can be placed in a classroom for free read but probably should not be read aloud due to the select crowd it addresses.

Christopher, M., & Peters, S. (2009). Karate Kick (Matt Christopher Sports Fiction). New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

The Lorax

by Dr. Seuss

Summary

On the far end of town there used to be a Lorax, and to find out what it was the boy must ask the Once-ler, who lived next door. He never leaves his house, but sometimes he tells stories from inside. His story costs fifteen cents, but once it is paid we are taken "way back in the days when the grass was still green and the pond was still wet and the clouds were still clean." Once-ler decided to set up a shop and chop down a Truffula Tree to take the soft tuft and knit a Thneed. From the stump a Lorax popped out. He said he spoke for the trees and asked what he had made out of the tree. He was quite concerned for the trees, but Once-ler explained that he had only chopped down one. However, he continues to chop down trees, and the Lorax stopped coming to warn him. He came back to warn him again that the swans could not breathe in the air because of all of the smoke from the factory, so they were leaving town. He also says the fish have to leave because all of the waste from the factory is polluting the water. When the last tree fell, everyone left except the Once-ler. The Lorax left a small pile of rocks with one word: UNLESS. He never understood the meaning until the boy came, and the Once-ler stated: "UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

Discussion

This book is deemed controversial because of its environmental message. When taking the story for what it is, many people do not appreciate that the blame of the pollution and destruction of this planet is on our shoulders, though that is the case. People prefer to live in false blindness, enjoying their apathy and pretending they don't see the problems in the world. This book urges readers, especially children, to take an environmental stance and protect the planet from harmful pollution before all the animals leave and everything becomes deserted. The illustrations and writing style are very typical of Dr. Seuss. This book was written in the early 1970s, when environmental consciousness just had begun. There is also much controversy about the book because many feel it has an unfair look on the logging industry. By writing a children's book with such a difficult topic for children to grasp, Dr. Seuss hopes that they will look for justice and fairness for our planet instead of the complacency that has become the norm in so many areas, especially throughout the United States.

Additional Information

On the Dr. Seuss website I found a Save the Trees game for children to play: (http://www.seussville.com//games/lorax/).

Geisel, T. S., & Seuss, D. (1971). The Lorax (Classic Seuss). New York: Random House Books for Young Readers.

Rejoice: Poetry Celebrating Life in the Amazon Rainforest

written and illustrated by the third grade students of Mendon Center Elementary in Pittsford, NY

*2009 Scholastic Grand Prize Winner NonFiction

Summary

The introduction of this book tells about the wonders of the rainforest, while also saying that the rainforest is in danger of extinction. By the year 2050, if nothing is done, the rainforest could be gone forever due to the cutting down of trees and ruining the natural habitat of many animals that could become extinct. The poems in the book are nonfiction, each short poem telling about a different animal in the rainforest.

Escape Artist

I swing on the wines,

And I dash through the trees.

I escape the villainous harpy eagle

That may snatch me at any moment

As it hunts just above me.

But it cannot catch me,

For I am the spider monkey.

The last page of the book gives a few more details about the animals discussed in each of the poems, as well as different plants in the rainforest.

Discussion

Though this book has won no awards as of yet, I think it is a fantastic edition to any classroom. It was written and illustrated by a third grade class, which empowers children and could inspire my class to write and illustrate their own book to submit for publication. The illustrations are crisp and bright, and they are set against a simple white background. Because it is written by third graders, the language is developmentally appropriate as well as engaging, and this book can be fun for classes to read out loud or alone. As for application, any rainforest unit in the classroom would be much assisted by this, as it has a different little known animal on each page. This book received a wondeful review by Jon Scieszka, who said "Wow. Beautiful poems, spectacular art, a wonderful combination of information and art."

Third graders at Mendon Center Elementary. (2009). Rejoice! Poetry Celebrating Life in the Rainforest. New York: Scholastic.

Shiloh

by Phillis Reynolds Naylor

*1992 Newberry Medal

Summary

Marty Preston is an 11-year-old growing up in West Virginia, and one day he finds a beagle running loose in the woods behind his home. He realizes the dog has been abused, and also that it belongs to his mean next door neighbor, Judd Travers. Because he knows it is Judd's dog, Marty gives the dog back to Judd even though he knows it is abused. The next time he sees the beagle, however, he hides him in a pen on his property in the woods and names him Shiloh. He keeps Shiloh a secret from his family because he knows that his family would force him to return the dog to his neighbor, as it is Judd's dog rightfully. However, a German Shepherd ends up near Shiloh's pen and attacks him. Marty has to go to his family for help, and in doing so all of his secrets and lies are exposed. Judd finds out that Marty has been hiding Shiloh and demands him back, as Shiloh was his hunting dog. Marty is able to stand up for what he believes in, and he works for Judd for twenty hours in exchange for Shiloh. After Marty has been working for a while, Judd says that the deal was no good because no one was there, and that he was going to keep Shiloh. Marty does not give up and continues to work hard, and Judd gives him the dog in the end.

Discussion

As a short novel, this book is good reading for a chapter a day story, or for more advanced children to read on their own. It raises many issues about violence to animals and telling the truth, especially in tough situations. As a group read, groups can discuss what kind of secrets Marty was keeping from his family, and if he was justified. With a young group, this book can cause a lot of confusion, as they may not realize why anyone would ever hurt a dog, and may agree with Marty. Using this book as a dialogue for change and discussion of justice and fairness can be effective in a classroom as long as those key points in the story are addressed. Students need to understand that lying in general is not okay, but that extenuating circumstances at points can call for drastic measures.

A House Divided

by Marshall Poe

illustrated by Leland Purvis

Part of the Turning Points Series

Summary

This graphic novel begins with the death of two abolitionists in Boston in the spring of 1856. Owen and Amos are their sons, and they plan to carry on the legacy of their parents by continuing to host fugitive slaves traveling through the Underground Railroad. Jeremiah, a fugitive slave about the same age as Amos, is friends with him, and Amos helps him to reunite with his family. Amos's father believes they need to continue traveling north to Boston, as "no slave is safe in this country with the Fugitive Slave Law" which stated if slaves were found by their owners, they are to be sent back. Amos stumbles into a conversation with the adults when they are discussing Abraham Lincoln as a possible advocate for the end of slavery. Upon hearing that slavery is a big problem in Kansas but there are many abolitionists there, Amos convinces Owen that they should move to Kansas to fight slavery and help there. However, upon getting there they realized that the abolitionists fought with guns and knives instead of with words and actions. Owen wants to go join ranks with Abraham Lincoln, but Amos runs off, choosing instead to work with John Brown. Amos realizes after he is already there that Brown uses unnecessary violence to push his agenda. His troops are outnumbered, and Amos's friend is killed in battle. Meanwhile, Owen is present when Abraham Lincoln gives his "A house divided against itself cannot stand" speech, after winning the Republican vote for Senate. Brown has changed his tactics from freeing slaves to attacking the government. However, this attack gets him hanged, and Amos makes his way to hear Abraham Lincoln speak in hopes he will find his brother Owen. He travels to Lincoln's Springfield office and is reunited with his brother right before Lincoln receives the nomination for the Presidency and ultimately wins. The end of the book describes the inevitable beginning of the Civil War.

Discussion

This is the first graphic novel I have ever read, as I was not interested in them when I was younger. I would recommend this book to high level second graders or third graders as an independent read. The topic of slavery covered in the book could be difficult for younger children to grasp in this context, even though the language is simple enough for good readers in the first grade to read. Their maturity level may just not be quite high enough as of yet. While reading the book I was interested to see what happened next, as it wove a story of two separated brothers, each fighting for the same thing in different ways, with the prelude to the Civil War. The book was able to parallel the boys' fights with those of the abolitionists, as there were two main ways to fight slavery: violence and through peace and governmental change. This book presents children with a great social justice issue of whether violence can be used for good, whether it is inevitable in some cases, or if social change can begin through peace.

As this book was just published this year, I believe it will win awards, or at least be placed on reading lists in upper elementary classrooms, due to the symbolism of the brothers' struggles with the struggles of our nation during the time before the Civil War. The drawings in the book successfully convey the frustration as well ass the determination of Owen and Amos, and the fact they are in black and white allows them to be a nice support to the story instead of the story themselves.

Poe, M. (2009). A House Divided (Turning Points). New York: Aladdin.