Week 6
Hello once again! This is week was by far, my favorite, and the most enjoyable chapter in our books. It was all about the magnificence that I call ~poetry~. Now I know what the vast majority of people reading are thinking. "Poetry? Yuck, I hate poetry." Or something to that effect. But let me entice you with what poetry really is.

Truly poetry is feeling; the feelings, the thoughts, the words, that one cannot find to say aloud. It is the very essence of a person't soul. To quote the poet Robert Frost, "Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words." Sure, this may seem dramatic, but so is poetry. It isn't just all love and daisies. Poetry can contain betrayal, murder, death, war, adventure, history, not to mention anything else you can think of at this moment. For example,

...Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath, Then her finger moved in the moonlight, Her musket shattered the moonlight, Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him - with her death... Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky, With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high! Blood-red were his spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat, When they shot him down on the highway, Down like a dog on the highway, And he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat...

Those are two excerpts from Noyes's The Highwayman. This happens to be one of my favorites.

Now besides death and love, poetry can have many subject matters. Nature is a popular one, I'm sure you have all heard the line "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" and emotions or virtues. My favorite poem by my favorite poet is based on a virtue, let me recite it for you:

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. - And sweetest in the gale is heard and sore must be the storm that could abash the little bird that kept so many warm. - I heard it in the chilliest land and on the strangest sea, yet never, in extremity, it asked a crumb of me. --By Emily Dickinson

I have to say that is a wonderful poem. Especially when tragedy strikes our lives in some way, I just think of keeping hope, because like the poem says it is a little bird that keeps us warm, it fights away sorrow, and never asks anything of us in return. I have loved this poem since I was twelve years old and I am now twenty. Not long to some, but for me, it seems like it.

One way people do not realize they are reading poetry is through children's rhymes. Nursery rhymes, lullabies- these are forms of poetry. Most of us have heard the song Hush Little Baby, Don't Say a Word, at some point in our childhood. Hey you didn't even realize you were enjoying poetry. I tried to think back and remember what my favorite childhood poem was, it is very obscure, my mother found it who knows where, but I still have it in a book that I read every Halloween, even though I am now grown-up.

There are ten ghosts in the pantry, there are nine upon the stairs, there are eight ghosts in the attic, there are seven on the chairs, there are six within the kitchen, there are five along the hall, there are four upon the ceiling, there are three upon the wall, There are two ghosts on the carpet, Doing things that ghosts will do, There is one ghost right behind me Who is oh so quiet.....BOO!!!

Wasn't that fun? It's great for kids when you recite it to them and recite it quietly. Then when you reach the "boo" at the end, yell loudly and see how high they jump.

Well, I have reached the end of my post. I apologize for not discussing the chapter contents, but I feel that when it comes to poetry, a book cannot convey the love and conviction that one who is as passionate about poetry as I can convey. I hope I have encouraged you to get out there and read some poetry. If there is a certain subject matter you prefer and would like to read poetry about, a well educated librarian should be well able to assist you. Poetry has as many topics as fiction. As for now I leave you with this-

"Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar."
- Percy Bysshe Shelley

"Poetry is not the record of an event: it is an event."
- Robert Lowell

Harry Potter
In coordination with chapter 7 involving modern literature we were asked to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I have to say that when I first got the book I wasn't really interested in it. The illustrations on the front cover seemed to childish for me at my oh so grown up age of 16. I received the book as a birthday present from my brother, who had heard great things about the story. The book sat on my shelf for several months, before I picked it up one day when I was bored. I began to read and was quickly pulled into the magic and wonder that was Harry's world.

For anyone out there who hasn't read Harry Potter, this is the basic plot: Once upon a time there is a tiny little baby left on the doorstep of his aunt and uncle's house in the middle of the night when the baby's parents are killed. The boy grows up to be Harry Potter, the mistreated nephew of two horribly mean Englanders. Strange things had always happened to Harry all his life, but no one could explain them, and his aunt and uncle certainly wouldn't discuss them nor Harry's parents. Then the day came when Harry received his wonderful news- he had been accepted to Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he is the most famous person of the wizarding world! Stunned, he is whisked away by a half-giant named Hagrid, who becomes his first ever friend. He enters a world he never knew existed- a world of flying brooms, magic potions, and people who can transform at will into animals. He soon befriends two other students at the school, Ron and Hermione (pronounced Her-my-oh-knee) as well as two enemies, spoiled Draco Malfoy and greasy Professor Snape the Potions Master. Harry must face many obstacles at school, not only from classes and bullies, but also from a great evil that lurks within Hogwarts' itself.

This story truly is for any age from birth to adulthood. It teaches the value of friendship, loyalty, love, and using your head. And for anyone skeptical of reading this book because of religious reasons or other personal feelings, don't be. This book is no more "evil" or harmful than any of the fairy tales we've all enjoyed as kids. In fact, Harry Potter is much like a modern day Cinderella, only everyone can do magic instead of just the fairy godmother! Believe me when I say, this book will absolutely excite the imagination.

Week 5
Once again, hello to all! This is week five of literature for children and adolescents! This week we studied chapter 7: modern fantasy. And here we go...

Fantasy is something we have all used to escape the harsh reality of the world. Fantasy stories are fabulous because they allow us to travel to places and meet people and creatures we can only visit in our wildest dreams. By altering a few characteristics of everyday reality, authors easily create the fantastic. First, one must suspend disbelief. What does that mean? You may ask... Well this is when the reader willingly accepts the impossible in order to read, and enjoy, the story. A person must do this with characters, setting, and plot. Once this has been achieved, the reader can thoroughly immerse themselves in a world that could never truly exist.

Modern fantasy is quite like traditional literature in the fact that they involve supernatural beings, amazing adventures, and magic. However, where most of traditional literature is based in fact, modern fantasy is far from truth.

Modern fantasy has several subclasses including the following: literary folktales- traditional tales where good is rewarded and evil punished. They usually begin with "once upon a time" and end with "happily ever after" in order to replicate traditional folktales. Religious/ethical allegories are the strongest link between traditional and modern lit. They reflect the religions prominent in that part of the world at the time. Mythical quests and conflicts are probably most common and popular. They involve adventures to search for lost or stolen objects of value or power and the battle to overcome evil.

Of course within these stories you must have characters. The most common types of fantastical characters are "articulate animals", animals who act and behave in a human manner. "Toys", which is quite self-explanatory are toys who come to life and behave like people. "Preposterous characters and situations" are exaggerations of people and events and tongue-twisting language. "Little people" involves characters who are small gnomes, trolls, fairies, or other small people usually with some magical ability. "Spirits" are tales of ghosts or goblins, and they can be either friendly or frightening. "Time warps" allow us to travel through time and discover what places, whether far away or at home, looked like hundreds or thousands of years ago. And finally "science fiction." Science fiction, which relies on hypothesized scientific advancements and imagined technology, mainly creates worlds where science interacts with every aspect of everyday life. Most science fiction also involves space travel, far away galaxies, and creatures from other planets.

My picks of favorite books of modern fantasy include Winnie the Pooh, any of the Harry Potter series (but it's best to read them in order), No Flying in the House (this is an old one, but it's worth the time to track it down, it's about a tiny talking dog), Blood and Chocolate (for those who like werewolf tales), Silver Kiss (Vampires), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (no not the movie!), and the Chronicles of Narnia (also please read in order).

Well that's it for now, but if you have any questions about the books I have listed in this or any post feel free to leave me a message. Have a good day!

Week 4
Good day to all! This is the fourth week of Literature and I will tell you what has been happening in the wide world of children's lit.

This week we discussed chapter 6 in our textbooks. This chapter focused on traditional literature. Traditional literature includes folktales, tales that are timeless and may or may not have happened. Folktales commonly tell tales of an animal or person's adventures, include supernatural foes and aids, and the theme of good triumphs over evil. Fables are short tales where animals are personified and teach a lesson through their actions. Myths, which are accepted on faith, are tales of history but not proven to be true. An example of this would be the myths of the Greek gods, they are told as history, but it was never proven the gods existed. Legends usually involve human characters and are generally set in a time less remote. They are considered to be true by the story teller and the audience, and embroider historical facts.

All of these stories contain one common thing- values. Traditional literature was set up to teach children values such as understanding the world, identifying struggles, and enjoying life.

We also learned the characteristics of each of the types of traditional literatures in order to authenticate them. Plots, characterization, setting, style, and motifs. As well as the differences in these when it comes to different countries.

Here is my list of books and/or stories to consider when it comes to traditional literature.

Any tales about King Arthur, tales about Robin Hood, The Three Little Pigs (a definite given!), Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, any of the Grimm Bros. tales (but be sure to read them before your child, some of them can get quite graphic, unlike the Disney versions).

More next week! See ya soon!

Newbery Honor Book
The Newbery Award/Honor book I chose to read for this semester is Because of Winn-Dixie. The book was a fabulous family story and can be enjoyed by children and into adulthood.

The story begins as India Opal Buloni enters a Winn-Dixie only to find a mutt terrorizing the produce section. The dog slides into Opal (as she is called) and wins her heart by smiling, yes smiling at her. Before the manager can call the pound to retrieve the mangy mutt, Opal steps up and claims him as her own to keep him out of trouble. After all, who could let something bad happen to a dog that smiles? Opal tells the manager the dog's name is Winn-Dixie, and he allows her to leave with her new pet. Opal tells the dog everything about her on their walk home, including that her mother left her when Opal was a baby, and that her father is a preacher who just moved them to this new town, and she has no friends.
Her father falls in love with Winn-Dixie just as quickly as Opal did, and he allows Opal to bring her new friend into church with her. While in church one Sunday, Opal prays to God that she will make some more friends besides Winn-Dixie so she won't feel so lonely. Little does she know that with the help of God and Winn-Dixie, her prayers are about to come very true.
It's up to you to read the rest of the story and see how it ends. Read it with family, you will all enjoy.

Week 3

Hello again Lit fans! This week I read chapters 4 and 5 in our Literature book, and they definitely had a lot to say.

Chapter 4 discussed illustrations in childrens' books. There are many aspects to consider when analyzing an illustration in a children's book. Color is the most important aspect of a picture, if you ask me. While it only says it is extremely important in our book, I think it is the most important. Color is the definite deciding factor of mood and energy of an illustration. A color alone can alter how one feels when one is exposed to it long enough. Line is second in importance. The motion and direction of a line can change the feeling of a picture. A simple straight line can simply mean unmoving, boring, or dead, making the line wavy or curvy can give life and energy. Next are shapes, which are formed from colors and lines. Shapes can be complex or simple, based upon the complexity or simplicity of a story, they should match. Texture, although with illustrations isn't noticeable when touched, can convey to a child how an object should feel. The roughness of tree bark, the smooth fur of a cat, all can be imagined from texture. I also read about the types of artistic media- pen & ink, watercolors/acrylics/pastels/ oils, woodcuts, and collage. The types of art- representational, impressionistic, expressionistic, and abstract. Some books with ~fantastic~ illustrations are as follows: The Owl and the Pussycat, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where the Wild Things Are, Puss in Boots, and Mama Says There Aren't Any Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Demons, Monsters, or Fiends.

Chapter 5 was all about picture books. Picture books tell stories through pictures (as one would assume by the name). They can have text, little text, or no text at all; the pictures present content. Mother Goose rhymes are the most popular of early literature, and it's easy to see why. With their quick, easy rhymes, and silly content, people of all ages can enjoy Mother Goose. Children can proudly show they have memorized them, and adults can remember learning them when they were children. They have lasted for years and years, and many copies have been done because of the appeal. Toy books, alphabet books, counting books, concept books, wordless books, and easy-to-read books are also mentioned in this chapter. The alphabet books, wordless, counting, and easy-to-read books are fairly self-explanatory in what they are, but for the rest I shall briefly explain. Toy books are just what they are- toys. They make reading a fun game for children by using pop up pages, flaps, and plastic pieces to make the child eager to see the next page. Concept books are used for developing basic concepts such as prepositions, antonyms, and synonyms. Great examples of picture books are obviously Mother Goose, and the best pop-up book I owned as a child- A Visit to the Haunted House. This is such a cute book about two kids who follow their lost ball into a haunted house and find much more. The illustrations and pop-up pictures will have kids wanting to read it over and over.

Week 2

For chapter 2, I enjoyed reading about the progession of children's literature. It has been through so many phases. First, oral tradition, written for education, none at all, written for entertainment. It's amazing how some of the stories have carried through so many centuries- Aesop's Fables for example.

For chapter 3, I was able to learn how to criticize children's lit, so when I have a kid of my own I can determine what my kid should read. I also learned the different points of making a story (plot, setting, etc.), some of which I already knew, but was able to get more indepth with them. For chapter 3 reading, I didn't read a new book, but would like to recommend several books listed in the chapter I have already read before.
Tuck Everlasting is a wonderful book. The movie was also good, but as with any movie based on a novel, it wasn't quite as good. It was a beautiful story that I suggest you read with a box of tissues nearby.
Harriet the Spy is the same as Tuck Everlasting when it comes to the movie. This was so much better as a book. It was one of my favorites for a looooong time and inspired me to be a neighborhood spy.
Island of the Blue Dolphins is the third book I recommend. I have said it a hundred times, and stick to it wholeheartedly. This is such a fabulous book for 12 and up, I just love it and I know anyone who reads it will too!

That's all till next week!

Week 1

When we are born, we are are like clay. Fresh, pliable, ready to be molded into the individuals we will be for the rest of our lives. We learn by our senses, by our surroundings, and most importantly by those who are around us at any time.

I have noticed this fact as I watch my two year old cousin grow. I was there the day he was born and held him only two hours after his birth. It's amazing, not as amazing as having a child personally, but still amazing.

He is developing his personality from what he sees. His father plays with him very "rough and tumble" so my little cousin believes this is how a little boy should act. He stomps, throws, pounds, and kicks any inanimate object in sight. Also my uncle has a tendency to lose his temper and yell, so little cousin thinks when he doesn't get his way, that it is alright to yell and get angry.

The most important thing that I have noticed is that his speech has slowly developed. It is such a wonder how one day I see him and all he can do is coo, and then the next, he's saying words. He listens to what the adults in his life say and he has been mimicking us. Just a few weeks ago, I was yelling to my cat, and I said "hey you!" Then my little cousin looked at the cat and repeated that, although it sounded more like "Hey-ooo."

This brings me to my books of the week. The first would be the Dr. Seuss book, Red Fish, Blue Fish. This is an excellent book for children, because although it is silly (which kids like)it shows children how to count and to recognize their colors. The book uses rhymes to keep the child's attention and to easily teach speech and phonics. The second book I highly recommend is Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. Once again, the repetitive sounds of the poems help the kids to learn sounds and rhythms easily. I am a huge fan of poetry, and it is wonderful for children to learn to appreciate it at a young age.

That's all for now lit fans, more next week!