Chapter 2 was very informative. I found the milestones in literature, even as early the 1400’s, to be very interesting. I had never even heard of a hornbook until reading this unit. I just finished studying John Locke and Rousseau in Introduction to Philosophy, so it was interesting to see how they related to children’s literature. If it had not been for Locke’s view of the human mind being similar to that of a blank tablet, Aesop’s Fables may not have become so popular. Rousseau was just as influential by encouraging people to see the importance of literature in the lives of children. I really enjoyed reading the section on children’s role in family throughout time. I have never read Little Women or Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, but I would really like to now. The text talked of the positive attributes the characters had in their daily lives. I want my kids to experience that simpler time when family was so important. The books my boys bring home are more similar to that of Huck Finn where the characters are independent troublemakers. They love to imagine being in the mischief and not having to answer to “mom and dad”. I would like to read them a good story that teaches family values and the importance of getting along with siblings. I am curious to see what different lessons they might learn at their individual ages with a story like The Five Little Peppers. As an educator, I want to promote stories that offer positive values and morals. I come across children on a daily basis that have never experienced “family” like the rest of us have. If I can offer them the idea of family happiness through literature, then maybe they will use that as a guide in their future. Children’s literature is amazing!
History! History! History! I have to admit I have never been a big history buff. And no, I'm not going to say ALL of my ways have changed after reading chapter two. However, I did find a some interesting thoughts and facts in this chapter. I liked looking over the "milestones" in history of children's literature. Starting back in 1484 going until 1937. I have seen some of the Ragged Dick stories. So "in a SMALL way" I changed some of my thoughts on actually finding some of this stuff interesting. I agree Shandra I also stress family values to my son, respect, eating dinner together etc...I think children can find a sense of comfort through some of the literature they can read. A child can be having a rough time and find some literature that relates to them and can effect them in a positive way. Even if its for a short time, that is something special. Again I am blessed that my seven year old doesn't think reading books is "stupid"! :)
Chapter 2 is a very informative chapter that deals with the history for children's literature. I had never thought about the actual history of literature. Even though I love history, I had never actually thought about how far back books come from. I had never heard of the hornbooks but they are quite interesting. The milestones that they begin with in 1484 is remarkable and what is even more remarkable is the way it changed the views of these authors and illustrators that would write these books. I very happy that Locke and Rousseau were able to see how important literature is for children and that they were able to change the vision that others had thinking that children were only "young adults" who had to learn to be adults in a short period of time and that literature for children there age was not needed. I had heard of John Lock with the social contract theory that he had. I was only familiar with him through my america government and american history classes. I really enjoyed reading chapter and how children's literature evolved so many centuries ago. I also enjoyed reading the section of the children's role in the family, it was outstanding. I have often thought about how difficult it is for a child to have to grow up in the matter of days when the parents die. It is very difficult, usually for the eldest child, because they have the sense that they need to be able to take care of their siblings and that they are now responsible for their family. I am really interested in reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the The Five Little Peppers to my children. Indeed this is only chapter two in this book and I cannot wait to see what the other chapters are about.
I totally agree with Geoff and Shandra when they speak about the importance of spending quality time or family time with your children. Teaching them morals and values is the best give you can give your kids because I think they will become more respectful kids and they will eventually use what they learned as children with their own kids one day. I also think that there are pieces of literature that kids can relate to and find comfort in them because they get the feeling that they are not the only ones going through difficult times.
Maria, I agree. With all the literature that is available, a little research bu US can help the students tremendously. I had a student that all he needed was some books about topics he was interested in, now he can't put a book down. Before he never wanted to read.
Chapter 2 was a very informative and in-depth look at how children’s literature has evolved into what we know today. I have always known that many of our beloved children’s stories, Cinderella, Snow White, Red Riding Hood, etc., came from folktales told to generations hundreds of years ago. Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press helped to lead to the development of hornbooks and eventually chapbooks which led to more accessible printed text material and greater levels of literacy among the population. Hornbooks and chapbooks are terms I had never heard of prior to reading this chapter.
The textbook did a great job of explaining how religious establishments greatly influenced the books available to children in the 1600s-1800s. The Puritans valued the education and literacy of their children; however they disapproved of the content contained in chapbooks. They believed that reading should be focused on improving the religious and moral values of children, rather than for entertainment with folktales and fairytales. We are all very lucky that the philosopher, John Locke, believed that children should be provided with fun reading to promote skills and reward children for learning to read. Jean-Jacques Rousseau promoted another approach that suggested children should be permitted to be children, rather than expected to be young adults.
Although I have never read Robinson Crusoe or Swiss Family Robinson, adventure stories written during this time made a huge impact on the thought that children should be allowed to read for enjoyment, not just to increase their moral goodness. John Newberry’s entry into the world of children’s literature was so prolific that an award to recognize present day children’s authors was established in his name. The text also did a great job of describing how the illustrating of children’s literature has expanded and grown to what we have come to expect in today’s literature market.
I found the section on censorship to be very enlightening and informative. I’ve never read many of the great literary books mentioned in this chapter. Most of them were mentioned on the censorship chart in the chapter. Of Mice and Men was a book I read in a college literature class that left a lasting impression on me, but I remember thinking is was something that was not quite at a college level. While reading this section, I found myself wondering if these books were never presented in my elementary literature classes because they had been censored in the past.
I think the textbook did a wonderful job of showing how children’s literature has been shaped and molded by the times. Children’s literature in today’s age has topics varying from fun and entertaining to dealing with divorce, death, and sexual orientation. In the past, books focused on religious beliefs and the foundation of family life. As a parent, I use books all the time with my children to help them deal with things that may come up in life and I use them myself for that same purpose. Literature today opens doors that weren’t available in the past, and allows our children the opportunity to expand their knowledge and horizons and seek things that interest them. I think that when a child reads what they like and enjoy, they are more apt to continue to read and read for enjoyment.
The history of children's literature, as presented by Donna Norton, was quite extensive and interesting. I was intrigued by the impact of sociological factors on literature. With changes in the roles of children, literature reflected the prevailing thoughts of the time and also encouraged change. The “tabula rasa” theory of John Locke encouraged adults to invest in the education of children. The children of today are very fortunate to have many titles written for their enjoyment and education. The values and topics of current literature reflect the issues that children encounter today. I am also thankful that the titles of the past have survived and continue to be read today. These stories share the history and heritage of many peoples. Another very interesting topic in this second chapter is the issue of censorship. I was surprised by some of the titles on the list, because they have always been classics. Unfortunately, in some small schools the Accelerated Reader program acts as a type of censor. A library with an inadequate budget can only provide a certain number of books and tests. When so much emphasis is placed on acquiring points, children can only choose from the tests available. This discourages students from trying different genres, authors, and levels. This chapter again laid the ground work for how I will look at and present literature in my classroom. I can see that it is a process to get to know a class, their abilities, and challenges. I have the option to share stories that are repeats of what is on television, or I can stretch their development with quality literature. I am glad we are being introduced to so many titles to make this an easy decision.
Rebekah, I have never read many of the great classics, either. I wonder how much I have missed. For my senior research paper I read "Alice in Wonderland," but know I missed out on knowing some of the references of the time. My son enjoyed reading the abridged versions of the classic adveture books. These shorter versions kept his interest when he was younger.
I wonder how future generations will look back at the literature of our times. I have not read many Newbery books, either. I am hoping our lituratre circle assignments will increase my knowledge of literature for grades 3-6 and beyond.
You had many good points in your post. Thanks for sharing.
Geoff – I strongly agree with your comment about finding what it is that the child likes to read! My oldest son, who is now in 5th grade, loved to be read to as a child; so I was surprised and somewhat disappointed when he entered school and struggled with reading. Reading was a daily battle with him. After researching and discussions with him and his teachers, we found genres that he found interesting, not necessarily what mom thought he should be reading. He loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and when he heard the second book was coming out last year, he was full of anticipation. I made a special trip to the bookstore that day to buy it on release day. I brought it home and he went downstairs and started reading. I didn’t even have to remind him that night! This was the first book he read start to finish in just a couple of days. He took it to school and read it during his free time as well as on the bus. By the time I put him to bed on the second day, he was asking me if he could please stay up a little later and finish the chapter that he was on. This was a request he had never made! Needless to say, I have my calendar marked to make another special trip to the bookstore to purchase the next installment that comes out on October 12th!
REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY is also good! I use it with my son, its easy to get young ones motivated when they see that what they do is what "big" people do? For example....eating meat makes you big and strong! My son eats ALL of his meat! :)
Chapter two had a lot of valuable information. Reading this chapter shows us how children's literature has changed with the ideals of family throughout the history of our country. People now a days would think it was quite silly at the restrictions placed on children's books in the past. Also that most children had no books growing up is something hard for me to comprehend. Growing up I have always been surrounded by books at home. I don’t think I would have had as pleasant of a childhood if it was not for books. I found the evaluation material for young adult literature to be a great tool to use in the future when trying to figure out which books should be used in my classroom. Finding a book that is relevant and a book that children also enjoy can sometimes be harder than you think.
I a lot of people here have mentioned not reading classic books and feel they may have missed out on a good experience. Its never to late! If anything you may enjoy and appreciate them more than you would have as a child. Then you can share them with your own children.
I thought the information in chapter two was very interesting. The puritan's need to not have any fantasy in their writing, while restrictive, mirrored their "no frills" sort of lifestyle. Also, their absurdly long titles for some of their books makes me wonder who would want to read them?
John Locke helped started a revolution in Children's literature. He realized that books should be written specifically for children, and mirror their interests and their mental development.
I've had a chance to see a few books that have the intricate woodcuts that this chapter talks about. They are beautiful, and I think that the amount of work put into them was amazing.
In Victorian times, the literature stressed the importance of gender roles, as well as the importance of moral decisions. They also showed the deplorable conditions some children lived in, while other children were able to live lives of leasure.
As far as the changes in the child and the family, I find it interesting that earlier stories showed the stability of the family, with two parents and children that basically had no real problems. As time went on, though, stories showed the effect divorce, or even death of one parent. These stories seem more realistic to me. I do wonder though, if the change in literature was caused by society, or if the literature fueled the change in society.
I agree with you in the idea that we should have students read books that teach morals. I sometimes wonder how many kids get this kind of training at home. I've gone to my kids' schools several times for different occasions, and I am surprised by the number of children who don't say "please" and "thank you". You'd think these would be very basic and obvious skills parents would teach their kids, and those are only small examples.
I agree with the different people who said family values was important. I too am a big believer in spending time with your family and teaching your children morals and a good work ethic. I try to instill these things into my kids. Too many parents expect the teachers to not only teach their children but to also instill morals and values that should be taught at home, which makes teaching even harder.
I liked chapter 2 much better than chapter 1. I found the history of children's literature very interesting. I am usually not big into history, but I think as I get older my interests are changing. It is good that now we orient books towards children which they didn't do years ago.
The author had a section where she talked about book banning. I personally don't agree with this. If there is a book out that a person does not think their child should read, they should first read the book themselves and decide off of their own experiences as to let their child read that book. Other people should not be able to decide whether a book should be read by the masses, that should be a personal or parental decision.
Chapter two was much more interesting than Chapter one. I enjoyed reading the history of writing and illustrating and learning how children’s literature adapted with the times. Children a few centuries ago were very different from children in current society. It is almost appalling to read how children were treated like adults and that before the middle ages “infanticide was a regular practice” (Norton, 2007, p.67). I remember from another class that Puritan fathers were allowed to murder their children if they were considered unruly. Infanticide was apparently a practice that was considered socially acceptable for several hundred years! It’s amazing to see that connection to literature. If children didn’t learn their proper lessons and accept their lack of entertainment, was that grounds for murder? The subject matter of older books is interesting to me. I would like to be able to read some of those Puritan-age books to see how the views of society have so drastically changed. Books from the 1700s to now have increased in entertainment value, but I also found interesting the drastic change in subject matter in the last few centuries. Literature definitely reflects the changes in society. My kids don’t read books about men’s superiority to women like people did 150 years ago, but in that century, there weren’t books to help kids cope with divorce and other issues. I also found the chart on censorship (Norton, 2007, p.66) interesting. I found several books that I had read in school on the list. For example, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Bridge to Terabithia, The Giver, and Of Mice and Men had all been on a list to be banned. The chart doesn’t say whether they all actually were, though. Overall, this chapter has helped me to appreciate modern children’s literature, and has peaked my interest on some older literature. Maybe it will be useful in the future to help students understand the value of the books they have!
I liked your comment on the Puritan's "absurdly long titles." That is so true! It seemed as if the title had to be a summary of the entire book. At least they knew what they were getting into if they did decide to read it.
As for your question on whether literature changed to suit society or vice versa, I think that it has done both. There are books that were written a century ago that were progressive for the time. For example, books like "The Time Machine" or "Journey to the Center of the Earth" or even "1984" were meant by the authors to be depictions of their own fantastical ideas of the future. However, society now has made advances in science and politics so the center of earth, time travel, and dictatorial political movements have been studied and have occurred! On the other hand, children of the past didn't deal with issues like divorce as often as children do now, so books are written to help children cope with changes in society. I think it's somewhat of a relief to know that I can find a book about any issue my kids may be dealing with, and at the same time, it's interesting to find books that portray events that hadn't yet happened when they were written. Is that what you were thinking when you were reading the chapter?
After reading chapter 2 I was suprised at how books were not written for children earlier in time and how children were expected to grow up as soon as possible and become small adults. Again I love the list of books for the different time periods as you read through the chapter. I've never really read any of the older books but this chapter helped me realize how literature changed so much throughout the years. In the section of Children and the Family, 1856 - 1903 I really like how the books show the importance of family and hard work. I also think it's important how some of these books show the importance of respecting adult authority as well.
RebekahS I agree with what you said about Robinson Crusoe. Reading should also be for enjoyment and not only for educational purposes although that is very important too. But I would not want my kids to think of reading as a chore.
The Children's Literature, chapter 2, was very informative for me. The historical milestone table was very interesting. I never thought of how far back children's books began. Nor, the extend of which they began, such as, the tales not necessarily being told for children. I enjoyed reading about the Hornbooks. It is very interesting the materials that was used while teaching in the 1400's. The pictures in Chapter 2, made me wish that I could keep turning the pages to those books listed. The chapter reflected on history in which I have never been fond. Basically, I think its' been because I have a hard time with names and dates. I wonder how as an educator I can take such great information such as listed in Chapter 2, and help students thrive and absorb this information? Making reading fun and enjoyable is the key to helping children want to read. Just as a thought I as a mom, have never liked these A.R.Goals, in some school systems. One of the schools that my children use to attend, actually made punishments if you did not meet your A.R.Goal. Therefore, my children began to hate to read. As where my six year old, did not attend that school, and she loves to be read to all the time. As a school teacher, teaching children literature is so important, but doing it so that they take with them the material you have shared, and being thrilled to use it. Such as the family units, and tribes carried onto their children.
Chris, I also agree that I have always enjoyed the fairy tales growing up as well. As I have used several tales to my children to get a point across while trying to teach them the right ways of life. Interested that after I posted I went back and was reading blogs and noticed you talked about A.R.goals as well. That in which you stated is very correct as well. My own children have wanted to read certain books but didn't have the time because it didn't meet their requirements of their A.R. goal.
Randi J Chapter two was very informative. I didn’t even imagine there being a time where children’s literature just wasn’t that important. One of the milestones in the development of children’s literature, which I think is still very important, is the oral tradition. I always admire my grandparents when they tell stories of their childhood. It is even more impressive to hear my great grandparents talking about the dust bowl and other eras they have done through that I am learning about. Something that I learned that I had no idea was how long ago these stories were actually made. And how many and many generations of people have been telling the same fairytale stories, and how some day I will be sharing the same stories with my children. In one way or another I agree with all the authors mentioned in this chapter. The Puritans for example wanted children’s reading to be focused on religion and moral values; which is very important, but I also believe that John Locke belief is very important as well, along with remembering what Jean-Jacques Rousseau had believed. I also believe that family is very important. Having a stable, loving, home can be success for any child. The understanding of being respectful, kind and caring to your family and other people, along with accepting people and the way you are, makes you and this world a better place.
Randi, I enjoyed reading your post as it took me back to memories of my grandparents telling me stories as well. I agree with many of your statements in your blog about having a stable life for your family, etc.
Chapter 2 was full of lots of useful information. This would all be great to share with some fourth grade and beyond students. They really enjoy history. I liked to read about how stories were written for children as somewhat of an instruction manual for life. The adults thought they could form children by what they read. They new at this point that reading could be a treendous influence on a child's life. I always love to think about how they are just words and it is amazing how they can take you away and make you feel emotion. The old saying words can never hurt me. But words are powerful. It was awesome to read about the early stories for children. Most of them have become Disney movies. Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella for instance. It was a nice piece of history to learn that the first Mother Goose stories including these and were not nursery rhymes as we think of them today. I enjoyed the fact that John Locke thought we needed to lead childern on their journey yet Rosseau thought we need to only accompany them. This could be one reason literature began to change to entertain children.
While I was in college years ago I took English Literature and fell in love. I was never much of a reader before that time. I had a wonderful teacher and was able to read many many different genres I would have never picked up. I found out I enjoyed a grahic novel and Shakespearre made sence. I have tried my hardest to make sure my children are interested in reading and set them an example of how fun it can be.
This was such an interesting chapter. I didn't know that most childrens books started out as stories for adults. I was amazed by what used to be considered childrens books. Although they are considered classics some of the books listed had mature story lines. I never would have read books such as Robinson Crusoe, Alice in Wonderland, and The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn to name a few. I did like finding out how childrens books awards came to be. As a child I would find books off of these lists to read. Hearing the history behind the authors brings their personal stories to life. This chapter is full of history but also great ideas on books to read. After reading this chapter I am glad at the way childrens books have evolved to be age appropriate and not geared towards small adults as original childrens books were.
Trisha M, I love your thought that adults could form children by what they read. I do agreee that this could be true. And as a parent I think that it is my responsibility to provide them with age appropriate material and not too mature reading. Books are a great learning experience.
Chapter 2 really opened my eyes to just how much children’s literature has changed from it’s beginning until now. I really never gave the history of literature that much thought before, but found it fascinating in how it came about. It really made me sad to think that an early belief was that children’s literature was unnecessary and that children weren’t allowed to be children and instead were considered to be little adults. The development of the hornbooks, battledores, and chapbooks were important in children’s literature as it made books affordable to more people, but still the intent of the book’s were not developed for children. The titles of some of the first books were very entertaining and long, and that was amusing. Another thing I found interesting was the role that John Locke and Rousseau played in the changing of views of how children should be treated and educated, and this is when books started to be developed specifically for children. Books were no longer to just to teach morals and educate they could also be for fun and enjoyment. This chapter mentioned many books I remember from my past as well as many I wish had been brought to my attention when I was a child., but I guess it’s not too late to find new treasures..
so I know I posted before on this chapter and was going back to read some new repsonses and I don't see my post so I am going to do it again...
I really enjoyed this chapter and found the history of how it all began very interesting. I never realized that the stories we all loved growing up started out as adult stories and have been around for ages. I always thought that the stories were new ones that someone came up with. Very interesting!
Also I agree with Shadra! I have never heard of a hornbook before and thought that was pretty cool!!
Laurie: I thought your post made very good points and is very similar to what I was thinking. Especially, how boring it sounded to be a Puritan and to have to read during that time.I am also wondering if it was the changes in society helped influence literature or if the changes in literature influence society. I guess it would have to be a little of both for it to happen though.
Also, I agree with pretty much everyone else who spoke of all of the classic titles that were mentioned. I guess I never thought how important all of these earlier books really are. I feel kind of bad for not reading many of them because they were pretty much the groundbreaking point of literature.
I thought that chapter 2 was interesting to read because of all of the history. I don't think people actually think about where books began nor the thought of not having books. If it wasn't for the past we wouldn't have the resources or freedom of reading that we do today.
Also, I too thought the hornbook was pretty interesting. I never had heard that before!
I thought it was very interesting how literature was started. I never realized who was involved with a lot of the classic literature. I also never really didn’t know who the Brothers Grim were. I had heard of the movie that was out, but I didn’t know of the impact that they had on literature.
I think learning some of the history of literature, it makes me reflect on how much I missed out on when I was younger. I feel a little guilty as well, because my son has missed out on some of those things as well because I didn’t know them.
It was really interesting to find out that in the beginning books were not made for children. I think that we all have grown up with schools, and you have to read for education purposes as well as reading for pleasure. Back in the early ages books were only for adults and children didn’t have what we have today. It’s hard to imagine a society without children’s books. I guess it’s kind of like the young kids today trying to imagine what it would have been like without t.v., video games, and cell phones.
It would be interesting to see what types of imaginations kids had back then. I didn’t like reading very much until I became an adult, but I would think life without any kind of books for kids would be horrible.
I agree that the history of literature would be good to teach to kids. I think sometimes knowing what you have an opportunity to have, compared to what others had, makes you appreciate it more. I don't know what age to teach that to would be best, but I do think that the kids would find it interesting as well.
During this chapter I often thought back to when I was a child and just how much has changed in children's literature since then. The books available to day and insightful to a child's life. They are made to teach and entertain them. The beginning times of history the books were strictly to persuade them to be like the adults wanted them to. My favorite book as a child was Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. I fell in love with them and read them several times. My 10 year old daughter loves to read Magis Treehouse and many other series. I am glad to see that times have changed and children are including as people too. It was nice to see through the chapter that olders milestones in children's literature are still being told and read. Such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
Chapter 2: The History of Children’s Literature Taren K. Although I shouldn’t have been surprised by the fact that in early times children’s books were not written for their enjoyment but to improve their manners and their minds, I was still in shock. The Puritans considered fairy tales that we all know and love today to be corrupting and only allowed children to read books that would mold their morals. How can Cinderella and Snow White be corrupting? Knowing what literature and books mean to children today I wouldn’t have been able to be a child back then, told to only read what would improve my manners. Today, books are an important tool for sculpting children’s minds. Yes, they provide instruction on how to have good hygiene, how to follow the rules at home and school, how to be a team player and good friend but they also give a child the freedom to use their imagination in as many ways as possible. In my opinion that is one of the most important roles books have in today’s society. With the Internet, TV and video games that kids are glued to after school today they have very little use for their minds to wonder, think and interpret what they are taking in through their eyes. Reading allows them to open their minds and put pictures in their heads through what they read. Although authors give very good descriptions about the characters and the events that take place in their books they also leave wiggle room for an active imagination to run wild. I’ve always loved to read and started reading chapter books at a very early age so I don’t really remember if I was interested in illustrated books or not. However, I think that having early childhood books with illustrations is another very important tool for children. My niece and nephew love to have books read to them and having the pictures there for them to see what is happening along with hearing what is happening is an important part of taking in and processing what the book is about. I was reading a book to my niece one day about baby farm animals and seeing her face light up with each new baby she laid eyes on was very rewarding and fun for me. I bet we read that book two or three times throughout the day and when I saw her a week later on our actual farm she could point out what animal was what just because she remembered their picture and name from the book I had read to her only a few times the week prior. How can a 1 year old remember and absorb so much information into their little minds and keep it there? It amazed me how smart she was and showed me once again how much literature can impact and sculpt a child’s mind. Children’s Literature has come a long ways over the years and one thing that really stands out is that books that were written years ago about the perfect family with a mother, father, son and daughter has evolved to suit today’s society that not all families are perfect and that not all kids are raised by both parents. These books are showing children that is ok to be a part of these families and that they are just as loved as a child with both parents in the home. Books aren’t trying to mold manners anymore. They are teaching children that live is full of things that aren’t always fair but that there is always a way to overcome and make good out of every situation.
Peder - It is definitely harder now to find something, none the less a book that a children truly enjoys! With all of the gadgets we have in our technology now, books seem to be at the bottom of the pole when it comes to children. It is so refreshing for me when I see anyone read a book!
Chapter two was a rather interesting read. To think that there is such detailed information about childrens literature and how it has developed! Reading how books are censored and how some then are banned now was also interesting. It just shows how the media has greatly changed over the years. My favorite section out of this chapter was Standards for Evaluating Young Adult Literature. I loved that they stated on page 64, "Books should have the power to allow readers to place themselves in the role of the characters, to emphasize with the protagonists and antagonists, and to understand points of view that may be different from their own." I could not agree with this statement more! I also loved reading how the roles of the child and family has changed so much over the years.
It’s amazing how we can forget that history is how it all started! Literature is none the less when it comes to history. As I think of some of the stories I know and have heard, a lot came from what I learned from my parents, grandparents and teachers growing up. So many of our stories are passed on from generation to generation through sharing. It amazes me that such stories as; Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella were published way back in the 17th century! Those Mother Goose Tales are wonderful and we still tell them to our children.
One of the fascinating things I find the most interesting in this chapter is the discussion on illustrations. The work that went into most of the pictures was astounding and even more so when it came to color. They didn’t have color printers during the era, so it all had to be hand-colored; it’s hard to fathom the reality of what they went through to illustrate a book. So many milestones have occurred from the 15th century to present.
It’s so amazing to me that early books showed such significance of family and adult respect. We have veered so far from that thought in the present day world. What if more of our books focused on this type of structure, would we see the diverse problems we see today with lack of respect, family structure, etc?????
Never before did I really care or think about the history of literature….however, after reading this chapter, I’ve come to rethink and appreciate the importance it has.
I totally agree with you, it’s so great that literature has evolved over the years! Like you, I can’t imagine as a child reading some of the books back then. I think that we are so lucky to live in a generation that has evolved with technology. We have such wonderful genres of literature to enjoy, share and pass on to our children.
Chapter 2 was very interesting, especially finding out when some of our fairy tales came about. I guess I really never thought about what time period they came from. I agree with John Locke. He says that, “children who could read should be provided with easy, pleasant books suited to their capacities- books that encourage them to read and be rewarded for their reading efforts.” I think challenging them is more to than easy. Up till now, I never paid attention to the award winners of the books. For example, when our assignment for reading the 22 books; it said to read Newberry Award Winning Book, etc. I thought Newberry was the actual author and I was trying to find a book written by him. I think that some kids believe too much in fairy tales, for example: Cinderella. They are at an age that they don’t understand what fairy tales and fiction means. Besides that, they are very good stories. When looking at the authors on page 63, I didn’t recognize a lot of them. You can tell that I don’t know authors. Even though I have heard of Mark Twain, I haven’t read of any of his books. I know he’s very famous, I just never have felt like reading any of his books. The changes of the Child and the Family through the years are very interesting. In the 1800’s, religion was a large part of life, but as the year’s moves into decades, religion isn’t a large part of life. Morals also have change. I agree with Maria C. I also like history, like her I didn’t know the history of books. It’s amazing how the milestones began within the 1480’s. As soon as I get the chance, I will be looking up more information on the books and authors in this chapter. I also agree with her regarding Lock and Rousseau. How can we as adults get the generation of children now to understand the importance of literature?
Chapter 2 was very informative. I found the milestones in literature, even as early the 1400’s, to be very interesting. I had never even heard of a hornbook until reading this unit. I just finished studying John Locke and Rousseau in Introduction to Philosophy, so it was interesting to see how they related to children’s literature. If it had not been for Locke’s view of the human mind being similar to that of a blank tablet, Aesop’s Fables may not have become so popular. Rousseau was just as influential by encouraging people to see the importance of literature in the lives of children.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the section on children’s role in family throughout time. I have never read Little Women or Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, but I would really like to now. The text talked of the positive attributes the characters had in their daily lives. I want my kids to experience that simpler time when family was so important. The books my boys bring home are more similar to that of Huck Finn where the characters are independent troublemakers. They love to imagine being in the mischief and not having to answer to “mom and dad”. I would like to read them a good story that teaches family values and the importance of getting along with siblings. I am curious to see what different lessons they might learn at their individual ages with a story like The Five Little Peppers.
As an educator, I want to promote stories that offer positive values and morals. I come across children on a daily basis that have never experienced “family” like the rest of us have. If I can offer them the idea of family happiness through literature, then maybe they will use that as a guide in their future. Children’s literature is amazing!
History! History! History! I have to admit I have never been a big history buff. And no, I'm not going to say ALL of my ways have changed after reading chapter two. However, I did find a some interesting thoughts and facts in this chapter. I liked looking over the "milestones" in history of children's literature. Starting back in 1484 going until 1937. I have seen some of the Ragged Dick stories. So "in a SMALL way" I changed some of my thoughts on actually finding some of this stuff interesting.
ReplyDeleteI agree Shandra I also stress family values to my son, respect, eating dinner together etc...I think children can find a sense of comfort through some of the literature they can read. A child can be having a rough time and find some literature that relates to them and can effect them in a positive way. Even if its for a short time, that is something special. Again I am blessed that my seven year old doesn't think reading books is "stupid"! :)
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ReplyDeleteChapter 2 is a very informative chapter that deals with the history for children's literature. I had never thought about the actual history of literature. Even though I love history, I had never actually thought about how far back books come from. I had never heard of the hornbooks but they are quite interesting. The milestones that they begin with in 1484 is remarkable and what is even more remarkable is the way it changed the views of these authors and illustrators that would write these books. I very happy that Locke and Rousseau were able to see how important literature is for children and that they were able to change the vision that others had thinking that children were only "young adults" who had to learn to be adults in a short period of time and that literature for children there age was not needed. I had heard of John Lock with the social contract theory that he had. I was only familiar with him through my america government and american history classes. I really enjoyed reading chapter and how children's literature evolved so many centuries ago. I also enjoyed reading the section of the children's role in the family, it was outstanding. I have often thought about how difficult it is for a child to have to grow up in the matter of days when the parents die. It is very difficult, usually for the eldest child, because they have the sense that they need to be able to take care of their siblings and that they are now responsible for their family. I am really interested in reading Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm and the The Five Little Peppers to my children. Indeed this is only chapter two in this book and I cannot wait to see what the other chapters are about.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Geoff and Shandra when they speak about the importance of spending quality time or family time with your children. Teaching them morals and values is the best give you can give your kids because I think they will become more respectful kids and they will eventually use what they learned as children with their own kids one day. I also think that there are pieces of literature that kids can relate to and find comfort in them because they get the feeling that they are not the only ones going through difficult times.
ReplyDeleteMaria, I agree. With all the literature that is available, a little research bu US can help the students tremendously. I had a student that all he needed was some books about topics he was interested in, now he can't put a book down. Before he never wanted to read.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2 was a very informative and in-depth look at how children’s literature has evolved into what we know today. I have always known that many of our beloved children’s stories, Cinderella, Snow White, Red Riding Hood, etc., came from folktales told to generations hundreds of years ago. Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press helped to lead to the development of hornbooks and eventually chapbooks which led to more accessible printed text material and greater levels of literacy among the population. Hornbooks and chapbooks are terms I had never heard of prior to reading this chapter.
ReplyDeleteThe textbook did a great job of explaining how religious establishments greatly influenced the books available to children in the 1600s-1800s. The Puritans valued the education and literacy of their children; however they disapproved of the content contained in chapbooks. They believed that reading should be focused on improving the religious and moral values of children, rather than for entertainment with folktales and fairytales. We are all very lucky that the philosopher, John Locke, believed that children should be provided with fun reading to promote skills and reward children for learning to read. Jean-Jacques Rousseau promoted another approach that suggested children should be permitted to be children, rather than expected to be young adults.
Although I have never read Robinson Crusoe or Swiss Family Robinson, adventure stories written during this time made a huge impact on the thought that children should be allowed to read for enjoyment, not just to increase their moral goodness. John Newberry’s entry into the world of children’s literature was so prolific that an award to recognize present day children’s authors was established in his name. The text also did a great job of describing how the illustrating of children’s literature has expanded and grown to what we have come to expect in today’s literature market.
I found the section on censorship to be very enlightening and informative. I’ve never read many of the great literary books mentioned in this chapter. Most of them were mentioned on the censorship chart in the chapter. Of Mice and Men was a book I read in a college literature class that left a lasting impression on me, but I remember thinking is was something that was not quite at a college level. While reading this section, I found myself wondering if these books were never presented in my elementary literature classes because they had been censored in the past.
I think the textbook did a wonderful job of showing how children’s literature has been shaped and molded by the times. Children’s literature in today’s age has topics varying from fun and entertaining to dealing with divorce, death, and sexual orientation. In the past, books focused on religious beliefs and the foundation of family life. As a parent, I use books all the time with my children to help them deal with things that may come up in life and I use them myself for that same purpose. Literature today opens doors that weren’t available in the past, and allows our children the opportunity to expand their knowledge and horizons and seek things that interest them. I think that when a child reads what they like and enjoy, they are more apt to continue to read and read for enjoyment.
The history of children's literature, as presented by Donna Norton, was quite extensive and interesting. I was intrigued by the impact of sociological factors on literature. With changes in the roles of children, literature reflected the prevailing thoughts of the time and also encouraged change. The “tabula rasa” theory of John Locke encouraged adults to invest in the education of children. The children of today are very fortunate to have many titles written for their enjoyment and education. The values and topics of current literature reflect the issues that children encounter today. I am also thankful that the titles of the past have survived and continue to be read today. These stories share the history and heritage of many peoples.
ReplyDeleteAnother very interesting topic in this second chapter is the issue of censorship. I was surprised by some of the titles on the list, because they have always been classics. Unfortunately, in some small schools the Accelerated Reader program acts as a type of censor. A library with an inadequate budget can only provide a certain number of books and tests. When so much emphasis is placed on acquiring points, children can only choose from the tests available. This discourages students from trying different genres, authors, and levels.
This chapter again laid the ground work for how I will look at and present literature in my classroom. I can see that it is a process to get to know a class, their abilities, and challenges. I have the option to share stories that are repeats of what is on television, or I can stretch their development with quality literature. I am glad we are being introduced to so many titles to make this an easy decision.
Rebekah,
ReplyDeleteI have never read many of the great classics, either. I wonder how much I have missed. For my senior research paper I read "Alice in Wonderland," but know I missed out on knowing some of the references of the time. My son enjoyed reading the abridged versions of the classic adveture books. These shorter versions kept his interest when he was younger.
I wonder how future generations will look back at the literature of our times. I have not read many Newbery books, either. I am hoping our lituratre circle assignments will increase my knowledge of literature for grades 3-6 and beyond.
You had many good points in your post. Thanks for sharing.
Chris
Geoff – I strongly agree with your comment about finding what it is that the child likes to read! My oldest son, who is now in 5th grade, loved to be read to as a child; so I was surprised and somewhat disappointed when he entered school and struggled with reading. Reading was a daily battle with him. After researching and discussions with him and his teachers, we found genres that he found interesting, not necessarily what mom thought he should be reading. He loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and when he heard the second book was coming out last year, he was full of anticipation. I made a special trip to the bookstore that day to buy it on release day. I brought it home and he went downstairs and started reading. I didn’t even have to remind him that night! This was the first book he read start to finish in just a couple of days. He took it to school and read it during his free time as well as on the bus. By the time I put him to bed on the second day, he was asking me if he could please stay up a little later and finish the chapter that he was on. This was a request he had never made! Needless to say, I have my calendar marked to make another special trip to the bookstore to purchase the next installment that comes out on October 12th!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, Chris!
REVERSE PSYCHOLOGY is also good! I use it with my son, its easy to get young ones motivated when they see that what they do is what "big" people do? For example....eating meat makes you big and strong! My son eats ALL of his meat! :)
ReplyDeleteChapter two had a lot of valuable information. Reading this chapter shows us how children's literature has changed with the ideals of family throughout the history of our country. People now a days would think it was quite silly at the restrictions placed on children's books in the past. Also that most children had no books growing up is something hard for me to comprehend. Growing up I have always been surrounded by books at home. I don’t think I would have had as pleasant of a childhood if it was not for books. I found the evaluation material for young adult literature to be a great tool to use in the future when trying to figure out which books should be used in my classroom. Finding a book that is relevant and a book that children also enjoy can sometimes be harder than you think.
ReplyDeleteI a lot of people here have mentioned not reading classic books and feel they may have missed out on a good experience. Its never to late! If anything you may enjoy and appreciate them more than you would have as a child. Then you can share them with your own children.
ReplyDeleteI thought the information in chapter two was very interesting. The puritan's need to not have any fantasy in their writing, while restrictive, mirrored their "no frills" sort of lifestyle. Also, their absurdly long titles for some of their books makes me wonder who would want to read them?
ReplyDeleteJohn Locke helped started a revolution in Children's literature. He realized that books should be written specifically for children, and mirror their interests and their mental development.
I've had a chance to see a few books that have the intricate woodcuts that this chapter talks about. They are beautiful, and I think that the amount of work put into them was amazing.
In Victorian times, the literature stressed the importance of gender roles, as well as the importance of moral decisions. They also showed the deplorable conditions some children lived in, while other children were able to live lives of leasure.
As far as the changes in the child and the family, I find it interesting that earlier stories showed the stability of the family, with two parents and children that basically had no real problems. As time went on, though, stories showed the effect divorce, or even death of one parent. These stories seem more realistic to me. I do wonder though, if the change in literature was caused by society, or if the literature fueled the change in society.
Shadra,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the idea that we should have students read books that teach morals. I sometimes wonder how many kids get this kind of training at home. I've gone to my kids' schools several times for different occasions, and I am surprised by the number of children who don't say "please" and "thank you". You'd think these would be very basic and obvious skills parents would teach their kids, and those are only small examples.
I agree with the different people who said family values was important. I too am a big believer in spending time with your family and teaching your children morals and a good work ethic. I try to instill these things into my kids. Too many parents expect the teachers to not only teach their children but to also instill morals and values that should be taught at home, which makes teaching even harder.
ReplyDeleteI liked chapter 2 much better than chapter 1. I found the history of children's literature very interesting. I am usually not big into history, but I think as I get older my interests are changing. It is good that now we orient books towards children which they didn't do years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe author had a section where she talked about book banning. I personally don't agree with this. If there is a book out that a person does not think their child should read, they should first read the book themselves and decide off of their own experiences as to let their child read that book. Other people should not be able to decide whether a book should be read by the masses, that should be a personal or parental decision.
Chapter two was much more interesting than Chapter one. I enjoyed reading the history of writing and illustrating and learning how children’s literature adapted with the times. Children a few centuries ago were very different from children in current society. It is almost appalling to read how children were treated like adults and that before the middle ages “infanticide was a regular practice” (Norton, 2007, p.67). I remember from another class that Puritan fathers were allowed to murder their children if they were considered unruly. Infanticide was apparently a practice that was considered socially acceptable for several hundred years! It’s amazing to see that connection to literature. If children didn’t learn their proper lessons and accept their lack of entertainment, was that grounds for murder? The subject matter of older books is interesting to me. I would like to be able to read some of those Puritan-age books to see how the views of society have so drastically changed. Books from the 1700s to now have increased in entertainment value, but I also found interesting the drastic change in subject matter in the last few centuries. Literature definitely reflects the changes in society. My kids don’t read books about men’s superiority to women like people did 150 years ago, but in that century, there weren’t books to help kids cope with divorce and other issues.
ReplyDeleteI also found the chart on censorship (Norton, 2007, p.66) interesting. I found several books that I had read in school on the list. For example, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Bridge to Terabithia, The Giver, and Of Mice and Men had all been on a list to be banned. The chart doesn’t say whether they all actually were, though. Overall, this chapter has helped me to appreciate modern children’s literature, and has peaked my interest on some older literature. Maybe it will be useful in the future to help students understand the value of the books they have!
Laurie F:
ReplyDeleteI liked your comment on the Puritan's "absurdly long titles." That is so true! It seemed as if the title had to be a summary of the entire book. At least they knew what they were getting into if they did decide to read it.
As for your question on whether literature changed to suit society or vice versa, I think that it has done both. There are books that were written a century ago that were progressive for the time. For example, books like "The Time Machine" or "Journey to the Center of the Earth" or even "1984" were meant by the authors to be depictions of their own fantastical ideas of the future. However, society now has made advances in science and politics so the center of earth, time travel, and dictatorial political movements have been studied and have occurred! On the other hand, children of the past didn't deal with issues like divorce as often as children do now, so books are written to help children cope with changes in society. I think it's somewhat of a relief to know that I can find a book about any issue my kids may be dealing with, and at the same time, it's interesting to find books that portray events that hadn't yet happened when they were written. Is that what you were thinking when you were reading the chapter?
After reading chapter 2 I was suprised at how books were not written for children earlier in time and how children were expected to grow up as soon as possible and become small adults. Again I love the list of books for the different time periods as you read through the chapter. I've never really read any of the older books but this chapter helped me realize how literature changed so much throughout the years. In the section of Children and the Family, 1856 - 1903 I really like how the books show the importance of family and hard work. I also think it's important how some of these books show the importance of respecting adult authority as well.
ReplyDeleteRebekahS I agree with what you said about Robinson Crusoe. Reading should also be for enjoyment and not only for educational purposes although that is very important too. But I would not want my kids to think of reading as a chore.
ReplyDeleteThe Children's Literature, chapter 2, was very informative for me. The historical milestone table was very interesting. I never thought of how far back children's books began. Nor, the extend of which they began, such as, the tales not necessarily being told for children.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about the Hornbooks. It is very interesting the materials that was used while teaching in the 1400's. The pictures in Chapter 2, made me wish that I could keep turning the pages to those books listed.
The chapter reflected on history in which I have never been fond. Basically, I think its' been because I have a hard time with names and dates. I wonder how as an educator I can take such great information such as listed in Chapter 2, and help students thrive and absorb this information?
Making reading fun and enjoyable is the key to helping children want to read. Just as a thought I as a mom, have never liked these A.R.Goals, in some school systems. One of the schools that my children use to attend, actually made punishments if you did not meet your A.R.Goal. Therefore, my children began to hate to read. As where my six year old, did not attend that school, and she loves to be read to all the time. As a school teacher, teaching children literature is so important, but doing it so that they take with them the material you have shared, and being thrilled to use it. Such as the family units, and tribes carried onto their children.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI also agree that I have always enjoyed the fairy tales growing up as well. As I have used several tales to my children to get a point across while trying to teach them the right ways of life.
Interested that after I posted I went back and was reading blogs and noticed you talked about A.R.goals as well. That in which you stated is very correct as well. My own children have wanted to read certain books but didn't have the time because it didn't meet their requirements of their A.R. goal.
Randi J
ReplyDeleteChapter two was very informative. I didn’t even imagine there being a time where children’s literature just wasn’t that important. One of the milestones in the development of children’s literature, which I think is still very important, is the oral tradition. I always admire my grandparents when they tell stories of their childhood. It is even more impressive to hear my great grandparents talking about the dust bowl and other eras they have done through that I am learning about. Something that I learned that I had no idea was how long ago these stories were actually made. And how many and many generations of people have been telling the same fairytale stories, and how some day I will be sharing the same stories with my children. In one way or another I agree with all the authors mentioned in this chapter. The Puritans for example wanted children’s reading to be focused on religion and moral values; which is very important, but I also believe that John Locke belief is very important as well, along with remembering what Jean-Jacques Rousseau had believed. I also believe that family is very important. Having a stable, loving, home can be success for any child. The understanding of being respectful, kind and caring to your family and other people, along with accepting people and the way you are, makes you and this world a better place.
Maria, I agree with you when you stated that there are pieces of literature that kids can relate to and give them comfort in a situation.
ReplyDeleteRandi,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post as it took me back to memories of my grandparents telling me stories as well. I agree with many of your statements in your blog about having a stable life for your family, etc.
Chapter 2 was full of lots of useful information. This would all be great to share with some fourth grade and beyond students. They really enjoy history. I liked to read about how stories were written for children as somewhat of an instruction manual for life. The adults thought they could form children by what they read. They new at this point that reading could be a treendous influence on a child's life. I always love to think about how they are just words and it is amazing how they can take you away and make you feel emotion. The old saying words can never hurt me. But words are powerful. It was awesome to read about the early stories for children. Most of them have become Disney movies. Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella for instance. It was a nice piece of history to learn that the first Mother Goose stories including these and were not nursery rhymes as we think of them today. I enjoyed the fact that John Locke thought we needed to lead childern on their journey yet Rosseau thought we need to only accompany them. This could be one reason literature began to change to entertain children.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was in college years ago I took English Literature and fell in love. I was never much of a reader before that time. I had a wonderful teacher and was able to read many many different genres I would have never picked up. I found out I enjoyed a grahic novel and Shakespearre made sence. I have tried my hardest to make sure my children are interested in reading and set them an example of how fun it can be.
ReplyDeleteThis was such an interesting chapter. I didn't know that most childrens books started out as stories for adults. I was amazed by what used to be considered childrens books. Although they are considered classics some of the books listed had mature story lines. I never would have read books such as Robinson Crusoe, Alice in Wonderland, and The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn to name a few. I did like finding out how childrens books awards came to be. As a child I would find books off of these lists to read. Hearing the history behind the authors brings their personal stories to life. This chapter is full of history but also great ideas on books to read. After reading this chapter I am glad at the way childrens books have evolved to be age appropriate and not geared towards small adults as original childrens books were.
ReplyDeleteTrisha M, I love your thought that adults could form children by what they read. I do agreee that this could be true. And as a parent I think that it is my responsibility to provide them with age appropriate material and not too mature reading. Books are a great learning experience.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2 really opened my eyes to just how much children’s literature has changed from it’s beginning until now. I really never gave the history of literature that much thought before, but found it fascinating in how it came about. It really made me sad to think that an early belief was that children’s literature was unnecessary and that children weren’t allowed to be children and instead were considered to be little adults. The development of the hornbooks, battledores, and chapbooks were important in children’s literature as it made books affordable to more people, but still the intent of the book’s were not developed for children. The titles of some of the first books were very entertaining and long, and that was amusing. Another thing I found interesting was the role that John Locke and Rousseau played in the changing of views of how children should be treated and educated, and this is when books started to be developed specifically for children. Books were no longer to just to teach morals and educate they could also be for fun and enjoyment. This chapter mentioned many books I remember from my past as well as many I wish had been brought to my attention when I was a child., but I guess it’s not too late to find new treasures..
ReplyDeleteso I know I posted before on this chapter and was going back to read some new repsonses and I don't see my post so I am going to do it again...
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this chapter and found the history of how it all began very interesting. I never realized that the stories we all loved growing up started out as adult stories and have been around for ages. I always thought that the stories were new ones that someone came up with. Very interesting!
Also I agree with Shadra! I have never heard of a hornbook before and thought that was pretty cool!!
Laurie: I thought your post made very good points and is very similar to what I was thinking. Especially, how boring it sounded to be a Puritan and to have to read during that time.I am also wondering if it was the changes in society helped influence literature or if the changes in literature influence society. I guess it would have to be a little of both for it to happen though.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I agree with pretty much everyone else who spoke of all of the classic titles that were mentioned. I guess I never thought how important all of these earlier books really are. I feel kind of bad for not reading many of them because they were pretty much the groundbreaking point of literature.
I thought that chapter 2 was interesting to read because of all of the history. I don't think people actually think about where books began nor the thought of not having books. If it wasn't for the past we wouldn't have the resources or freedom of reading that we do today.
Also, I too thought the hornbook was pretty interesting. I never had heard that before!
Jason R.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was very interesting how literature was started. I never realized who was involved with a lot of the classic literature. I also never really didn’t know who the Brothers Grim were. I had heard of the movie that was out, but I didn’t know of the impact that they had on literature.
I think learning some of the history of literature, it makes me reflect on how much I missed out on when I was younger. I feel a little guilty as well, because my son has missed out on some of those things as well because I didn’t know them.
It was really interesting to find out that in the beginning books were not made for children. I think that we all have grown up with schools, and you have to read for education purposes as well as reading for pleasure. Back in the early ages books were only for adults and children didn’t have what we have today. It’s hard to imagine a society without children’s books. I guess it’s kind of like the young kids today trying to imagine what it would have been like without t.v., video games, and cell phones.
It would be interesting to see what types of imaginations kids had back then. I didn’t like reading very much until I became an adult, but I would think life without any kind of books for kids would be horrible.
Jason R.
ReplyDeleteTrisha M.:
I agree that the history of literature would be good to teach to kids. I think sometimes knowing what you have an opportunity to have, compared to what others had, makes you appreciate it more. I don't know what age to teach that to would be best, but I do think that the kids would find it interesting as well.
During this chapter I often thought back to when I was a child and just how much has changed in children's literature since then. The books available to day and insightful to a child's life. They are made to teach and entertain them. The beginning times of history the books were strictly to persuade them to be like the adults wanted them to. My favorite book as a child was Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. I fell in love with them and read them several times. My 10 year old daughter loves to read Magis Treehouse and many other series. I am glad to see that times have changed and children are including as people too. It was nice to see through the chapter that olders milestones in children's literature are still being told and read. Such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
ReplyDeleteChapter 2: The History of Children’s Literature
ReplyDeleteTaren K.
Although I shouldn’t have been surprised by the fact that in early times children’s books were not written for their enjoyment but to improve their manners and their minds, I was still in shock. The Puritans considered fairy tales that we all know and love today to be corrupting and only allowed children to read books that would mold their morals. How can Cinderella and Snow White be corrupting? Knowing what literature and books mean to children today I wouldn’t have been able to be a child back then, told to only read what would improve my manners.
Today, books are an important tool for sculpting children’s minds. Yes, they provide instruction on how to have good hygiene, how to follow the rules at home and school, how to be a team player and good friend but they also give a child the freedom to use their imagination in as many ways as possible. In my opinion that is one of the most important roles books have in today’s society. With the Internet, TV and video games that kids are glued to after school today they have very little use for their minds to wonder, think and interpret what they are taking in through their eyes. Reading allows them to open their minds and put pictures in their heads through what they read. Although authors give very good descriptions about the characters and the events that take place in their books they also leave wiggle room for an active imagination to run wild.
I’ve always loved to read and started reading chapter books at a very early age so I don’t really remember if I was interested in illustrated books or not. However, I think that having early childhood books with illustrations is another very important tool for children. My niece and nephew love to have books read to them and having the pictures there for them to see what is happening along with hearing what is happening is an important part of taking in and processing what the book is about. I was reading a book to my niece one day about baby farm animals and seeing her face light up with each new baby she laid eyes on was very rewarding and fun for me. I bet we read that book two or three times throughout the day and when I saw her a week later on our actual farm she could point out what animal was what just because she remembered their picture and name from the book I had read to her only a few times the week prior. How can a 1 year old remember and absorb so much information into their little minds and keep it there? It amazed me how smart she was and showed me once again how much literature can impact and sculpt a child’s mind.
Children’s Literature has come a long ways over the years and one thing that really stands out is that books that were written years ago about the perfect family with a mother, father, son and daughter has evolved to suit today’s society that not all families are perfect and that not all kids are raised by both parents. These books are showing children that is ok to be a part of these families and that they are just as loved as a child with both parents in the home. Books aren’t trying to mold manners anymore. They are teaching children that live is full of things that aren’t always fair but that there is always a way to overcome and make good out of every situation.
Peder -
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely harder now to find something, none the less a book that a children truly enjoys! With all of the gadgets we have in our technology now, books seem to be at the bottom of the pole when it comes to children. It is so refreshing for me when I see anyone read a book!
Chapter two was a rather interesting read. To think that there is such detailed information about childrens literature and how it has developed! Reading how books are censored and how some then are banned now was also interesting. It just shows how the media has greatly changed over the years. My favorite section out of this chapter was Standards for Evaluating Young Adult Literature. I loved that they stated on page 64, "Books should have the power to allow readers to place themselves in the role of the characters, to emphasize with the protagonists and antagonists, and to understand points of view that may be different from their own." I could not agree with this statement more! I also loved reading how the roles of the child and family has changed so much over the years.
ReplyDeleteTerra M
ReplyDeleteIt’s amazing how we can forget that history is how it all started! Literature is none the less when it comes to history. As I think of some of the stories I know and have heard, a lot came from what I learned from my parents, grandparents and teachers growing up. So many of our stories are passed on from generation to generation through sharing. It amazes me that such stories as; Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella were published way back in the 17th century! Those Mother Goose Tales are wonderful and we still tell them to our children.
One of the fascinating things I find the most interesting in this chapter is the discussion on illustrations. The work that went into most of the pictures was astounding and even more so when it came to color. They didn’t have color printers during the era, so it all had to be hand-colored; it’s hard to fathom the reality of what they went through to illustrate a book. So many milestones have occurred from the 15th century to present.
It’s so amazing to me that early books showed such significance of family and adult respect. We have veered so far from that thought in the present day world. What if more of our books focused on this type of structure, would we see the diverse problems we see today with lack of respect, family structure, etc?????
Never before did I really care or think about the history of literature….however, after reading this chapter, I’ve come to rethink and appreciate the importance it has.
Terra M
ReplyDeleteDanica…
I totally agree with you, it’s so great that literature has evolved over the years! Like you, I can’t imagine as a child reading some of the books back then. I think that we are so lucky to live in a generation that has evolved with technology. We have such wonderful genres of literature to enjoy, share and pass on to our children.
Chapter 2 was very interesting, especially finding out when some of our fairy tales came about. I guess I really never thought about what time period they came from. I agree with John Locke. He says that, “children who could read should be provided with easy, pleasant books suited to their capacities- books that encourage them to read and be rewarded for their reading efforts.” I think challenging them is more to than easy.
ReplyDeleteUp till now, I never paid attention to the award winners of the books. For example, when our assignment for reading the 22 books; it said to read Newberry Award Winning Book, etc. I thought Newberry was the actual author and I was trying to find a book written by him.
I think that some kids believe too much in fairy tales, for example: Cinderella. They are at an age that they don’t understand what fairy tales and fiction means. Besides that, they are very good stories.
When looking at the authors on page 63, I didn’t recognize a lot of them. You can tell that I don’t know authors. Even though I have heard of Mark Twain, I haven’t read of any of his books. I know he’s very famous, I just never have felt like reading any of his books.
The changes of the Child and the Family through the years are very interesting. In the 1800’s, religion was a large part of life, but as the year’s moves into decades, religion isn’t a large part of life. Morals also have change.
I agree with Maria C. I also like history, like her I didn’t know the history of books. It’s amazing how the milestones began within the 1480’s. As soon as I get the chance, I will be looking up more information on the books and authors in this chapter. I also agree with her regarding Lock and Rousseau. How can we as adults get the generation of children now to understand the importance of literature?