One of my favorite Rossetti’s Sing-Song Poems:
“What are heavy? sea-sand and sorrow:
What are brief? to-day and to-morrow:
What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth:
What are deep? the ocean and truth.”
The main difference between Sing-Song and A Child's Garden of Verses is the tone and the content of the collections. While Sing-Song is often carefree in its expedition to take the reader on a voyage of life, A Child's Garden of Verses is cold and harsh in its text. Both collections have similar pictures, but Sing-Song was written simply for a child's enjoyment and that is easily noted through the poems.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Television and Media--A Way to Teach Children's Stories
There is a growing trend in America to recreate popular books into movies and television shows. This is the case with Harry Potter, Ella Enchanted, Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Hobbit, and the list could go on and on. I believe that recreating traditional stories can have a detrimental effect on the minds of youth if they use the media's version to replace the literature. It is now more popular than ever to spend an afternoon watching the television instead of exploring the outdoors or devouring a book, which drains the world of imagination out of the minds of kids.
Children discover it overwhelmingly easy to watch a movie and receive the same satisfaction and information as it is to read a book. When I was young, I would often find it much harder to read a book if I had already seen the movie because I knew the outcome of the novel, which removed all excitement and tension from the story. Children are fed inadequate information through movies, but are not motivated to discover the actual truth.
Not only are movies a popular means of retelling children's literature, but also television. Due to the production of programs such as PBS, stories such as Arthur and Clifford are played on TV every afternoon, which subsequently draws children to watch shows about their favorite character rather than spending the time reading. If we wish to motivate children to read more, we must remove the distraction of television that we place in their life and encourage them to read a book, rather than taking the way out.
Children discover it overwhelmingly easy to watch a movie and receive the same satisfaction and information as it is to read a book. When I was young, I would often find it much harder to read a book if I had already seen the movie because I knew the outcome of the novel, which removed all excitement and tension from the story. Children are fed inadequate information through movies, but are not motivated to discover the actual truth.
Not only are movies a popular means of retelling children's literature, but also television. Due to the production of programs such as PBS, stories such as Arthur and Clifford are played on TV every afternoon, which subsequently draws children to watch shows about their favorite character rather than spending the time reading. If we wish to motivate children to read more, we must remove the distraction of television that we place in their life and encourage them to read a book, rather than taking the way out.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Charlie the Caterpillar
Charlie the Caterpillar is an all-time favorite picture book for many children. The story begins when Charlie, the Caterpillar, is born one sunny day and decides that he must go out and see the world around him. The young caterpillar comes into contact with a group of monkeys, rabbits, and mice, all of which will have nithing to do with the youngster because he was "ugly." Saddened at the previous events, the caterpillar spun himself into a cocoon. When he awoke, he was no longer an ugly creature that crept across the dirt floor, but rather he was a beautiful butterfly that spread across the afternoon sky. Upon seeing the transformed creature, the animals--which previously had nothing to do with Charlie--now desired to be his friend. He shrugged them off in the same manner that they had done to him and continued to fly until he found a baby caterpillar distressed at her appearance. She was upset because, in her opinion, she was ugly. Charlie spoke to her about the joys of becoming a butterfly and the two became best friends.
The story encompasses a moral that children should not let the world tell them their value, for one day they will be of great importance. De Luise, the author of Charlie the Caterpillar provides much repetition so that the reader can learn new vocabulary when seeing the word more than once. For example, each time the caterpillar faces a new situation he looks to his left and then he looks to his right. Not only is the story of great value, but the pictures contain so much color and are fun for little eyes to look at as the story is being read to them.
The story encompasses a moral that children should not let the world tell them their value, for one day they will be of great importance. De Luise, the author of Charlie the Caterpillar provides much repetition so that the reader can learn new vocabulary when seeing the word more than once. For example, each time the caterpillar faces a new situation he looks to his left and then he looks to his right. Not only is the story of great value, but the pictures contain so much color and are fun for little eyes to look at as the story is being read to them.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Brazos Valley Children's Museum
While talking with a friend from school, I recently found out that the city of Bryan has a children's museum. It was founded in December of 1995 when Texas A&M professor Dr. Dale Whittaker decided to pursue a dream of creating a non-profit children's museum that would encourage children to have a hands-on approach to educational activities, including art and science experiments. There are eleven exhibits for children to take part in, including a grocery store for children, upside down room, a Volkswagon bug for children and adults to paint on and a health and fitness area. The success of the Brazos Valley Museum is due in part to the tremendous support from volunteers. The museum is a great place for children to spend an afternoon having fun while learning.
For more information and times of operation, check out their website at: http://www.mymuseum.com/index.shtml
For more information and times of operation, check out their website at: http://www.mymuseum.com/index.shtml
Friday, March 21, 2008
Websites for Children's Books
The Children's Literature Web Guide: This website provides a list of children's bestsellers, children book awards, as well as this year's best books--even though it does not seem to be too up-to-date. There are also several resource links for parents, teachers and children. Also included on the website are direct links to author pages, stories on the web and journal/book reviews.
KidsRead.com: This website provides children with information regarding the world of children's literature. It encompasses links to author pages, coming soon books, new in paperback and books into movies. There are several detailed reviews about various books as well as a list for "must reads."
Kids@Random: This website is in direct correlation to Ranodm House Publishing Company. It provides kids, teens and adults various resources regarding literature. On the kids webpage, there are several lists of all time favorite characters that children can use to read and play games. There are also "mini-sites" which are links to stories of a specific character.
Scholastic Kids: This website is created and maintained by the Scholastic Publishing Company. There are links to games that children can play with the book character of their choice. There are also links for assistance with homework, book reviews and tools to improve children's writing.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Reading Rainbow
Most college students of this generation can remember watching a favored television show called Reading Rainbow. I can still remember that time of the day in my elementary school classes being one of my favorite times of the days. While loving the show dearly as a child, I could not have fathomed its direct influence on children's literature today.
Reading Rainbow is an acclaimed American children's television series aired by PBS since 1983 that encourages reading among children. Each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature which is explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also provides book recommendations for kids to look for when they go to the library.
Reading Rainbow is hosted by actor and executive producer Le Var Burton. He regularly features a children's book narrated by a noted celebrity. The show also regularly features Burton in different places talking to individuals about their work and contributions to children's literature, all focusing on the theme of each episode. The final segment of each show, called Book Reviews, allows other children to give reviews of books that they recommend to the viewer. In more recent years, Reading Rainbow has begun to tackle issues that other children's programs have historically avoided, such as poverity in U.S. inner cities, the September 11 attacks, childbirth and its impact on the family, and prison (all from a child's point of view).
Reading Rainbow has won numerous awards. It has won eight Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Series. The series was also nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards in 2005. It won three more Emmys for Writing, Photography and Editing and was the most honored children's series of 2005. Critics note that Reading Rainbow is one of only a few U.S. children's shows also watched regularly by adults. It is one of the most commended shows in all of children's television.
Reading Rainbow is an acclaimed American children's television series aired by PBS since 1983 that encourages reading among children. Each episode centers on a theme from a book or other children's literature which is explored through a number of segments or stories. The show also provides book recommendations for kids to look for when they go to the library.
Reading Rainbow is hosted by actor and executive producer Le Var Burton. He regularly features a children's book narrated by a noted celebrity. The show also regularly features Burton in different places talking to individuals about their work and contributions to children's literature, all focusing on the theme of each episode. The final segment of each show, called Book Reviews, allows other children to give reviews of books that they recommend to the viewer. In more recent years, Reading Rainbow has begun to tackle issues that other children's programs have historically avoided, such as poverity in U.S. inner cities, the September 11 attacks, childbirth and its impact on the family, and prison (all from a child's point of view).
Reading Rainbow has won numerous awards. It has won eight Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children's Series. The series was also nominated for six Daytime Emmy Awards in 2005. It won three more Emmys for Writing, Photography and Editing and was the most honored children's series of 2005. Critics note that Reading Rainbow is one of only a few U.S. children's shows also watched regularly by adults. It is one of the most commended shows in all of children's television.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
About Illustrator Jan Brett
Jan Brett was born on December 1, 1949 in Hingham, Massachusetts. Brett began her higher education by attending Colby Junior College from 1968-1969, and later the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School in 1970. As a student at the Boston Museum School, she spent hours in the Museum of Fine Arts. Brett currently resides in the seacoast town of Norwell, Massachusetts, a historic area on the South Shore, but spends her summers in the mountains where she completes much of her work on her books. Not only does she write her own books, but she also adopts and illustrates folktales. It takes approximately one year for her to complete a single book.
JanBrett loved to draw when she was a child. By the time she was six years old, she was determined to be a children's book illustrator. As a child, she was extremely shy, and thus found drawing a way to express herself. Her very first publication in which she wrote and illustrated the piece was "Fritz and the Beautiful Horses" in 1981. As with many of her pieces, this book was inspired by her love for animals and pets during her childhood. Animals are an inspiration in many of Brett's picture books and most of her books are set within nature. Jan Brett also inspiration for her books from old folktales. Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books." Although many emotions are embodied within her books, there remains a constant message of hope.
JanBrett loved to draw when she was a child. By the time she was six years old, she was determined to be a children's book illustrator. As a child, she was extremely shy, and thus found drawing a way to express herself. Her very first publication in which she wrote and illustrated the piece was "Fritz and the Beautiful Horses" in 1981. As with many of her pieces, this book was inspired by her love for animals and pets during her childhood. Animals are an inspiration in many of Brett's picture books and most of her books are set within nature. Jan Brett also inspiration for her books from old folktales. Travel is also a constant inspiration. Together with her husband, Joe Hearne, who is a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jan visits many different countries where she researches the architecture and costumes that appear in her work. "From cave paintings to Norwegian sleighs, to Japanese gardens, I study the traditions of the many countries I visit and use them as a starting point for my children's books." Although many emotions are embodied within her books, there remains a constant message of hope.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
The New Kid on the Block
Written by Jack Prelutsky, "The New Kid on the Block" is a collection of absurd poems for children. Jack Prelutsky, the author to over fifty poem collections, claims that he hated poetry in grade school because of the way that it was taught, and therefore desired to create poetry for children in a way that they would not only come to love, but also respect. The introduction to this particular collection best explains the humorous poems found within its pages. For instance, "You'll be introduced to jellyfish stew, a bounding mouse and a boneless chicken. You'll learn why shouldn't argue with a shark or have an alligator as a pet, and you'll meet the world's worst singer and the greatest video game player in history."
Every poem stretches the imagination of its reader, causing them to think far "out of the box" into an imaginary realm of absurdity. Prelutsky derived his name for this collection from his first poem, which is about a little boy who is scared of the new kid on the block. After an in-depth explanation by the little boy of the "new kid," the poem ends with him commenting "I don't care for HER at all."
Not only are the poems within this collection comical, but also the illustrations by James Stevenson, which correspond with each poem. While the poems easily appeal to its reader, the illustrations complete the thoughts of Prelutsky and add essential humor to the piece. Prelutsky was successful in his attempt to transform poetry units in grade schools, and his work is constantly used within classrooms.
Every poem stretches the imagination of its reader, causing them to think far "out of the box" into an imaginary realm of absurdity. Prelutsky derived his name for this collection from his first poem, which is about a little boy who is scared of the new kid on the block. After an in-depth explanation by the little boy of the "new kid," the poem ends with him commenting "I don't care for HER at all."
Not only are the poems within this collection comical, but also the illustrations by James Stevenson, which correspond with each poem. While the poems easily appeal to its reader, the illustrations complete the thoughts of Prelutsky and add essential humor to the piece. Prelutsky was successful in his attempt to transform poetry units in grade schools, and his work is constantly used within classrooms.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
How Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears by Heather Irbinskas
Why does Tortoise move so slowly? Why does Bobcat have such a short tail? And why does Roadrunner fly so close to the ground and not high in the sky like Eagle? Because the Great Spirit made them special so that they could survive in the desert.
But Jackrabbit, who has been especially chosen by the Great Spirit to lead these new creatures to earth and introduce them to their desert homes, does not listen carefully to what the Great Spirit tells him about each one. He makes up stories in answer to their questions--stories that cause his friends to feel bad about themselves.
This book is a sensitive and original tale that teaches children to listen carefully, to treat others kindly, and to see that they (like Bobcat, Tortoise, Roadrunner and even Jackrabbit) are all special in their own ways.
But Jackrabbit, who has been especially chosen by the Great Spirit to lead these new creatures to earth and introduce them to their desert homes, does not listen carefully to what the Great Spirit tells him about each one. He makes up stories in answer to their questions--stories that cause his friends to feel bad about themselves.
This book is a sensitive and original tale that teaches children to listen carefully, to treat others kindly, and to see that they (like Bobcat, Tortoise, Roadrunner and even Jackrabbit) are all special in their own ways.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
A Poem about Children
Children are amazing creatures,
How we should be more like them, for
In their innocence and imagination they can overtake the world.
Loving others comes easily as a young one,
Day-to-day life is full of surprises,
Reality is just the fairy tales that is out of arm’s reach.
Every child is unique in their personalities and possibilities,
No dream is impossible in the eyes of the child.
I wrote this as a fun type of poem to describe the amazing values and views of children. I think that as a future teacher, if I lose sight of how children think and how they interact with the world around them, I think I will fail my students. I do not believe that teachers that are out of touch with their students can be effective in teaching. I try to keep in distance of enough children so that I do not lose sight of life through a child’s eyes.
How we should be more like them, for
In their innocence and imagination they can overtake the world.
Loving others comes easily as a young one,
Day-to-day life is full of surprises,
Reality is just the fairy tales that is out of arm’s reach.
Every child is unique in their personalities and possibilities,
No dream is impossible in the eyes of the child.
I wrote this as a fun type of poem to describe the amazing values and views of children. I think that as a future teacher, if I lose sight of how children think and how they interact with the world around them, I think I will fail my students. I do not believe that teachers that are out of touch with their students can be effective in teaching. I try to keep in distance of enough children so that I do not lose sight of life through a child’s eyes.
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