Week 9
Sadly this is my last entry for Literature for Children and Adolescents. I know you are all tearing up right now, but you can make it, life will go on. Anywho for my last entry, week 9- Multicultural literature. Now in case there are people who do not know what this refers to, it refers to literature about and written by those not Caucasian.

African American literature has its beginnings in oral tradition. It includes folklore which is told in both poetry and contemporary stories. It wasn't until 1828 that the first collection of African stories were published in French for Europeans by the French Commandant of Senegal. The stories that were discussed in chapter 11 expressed some of the greatest values of humanity: love of beauty, humor, imagination, courage, work, and perseverance.

Latino Literature is also called Hispanic literature but Latino is more commonly used because it is considered more respectful. Although the Latinos make up the largest minority group in the United States, there are fewer books written about them than other minorities. The books that are written depict people of Mexican or Puerto Rican heritage and these books go out of print faster than books on other cultures. The cultural areas for Latino literature comes from Mexico, South America, Central America, Cuba, and American Southwest. Its folklore has roots in the pre-Spanish cultures of the Aztec, Incans, and the Mayans.

Asian American literature has very few highly recommended books for children, although the stories from many Asian countries reflect great creativity and traditional values. Some of the Asian countries which have provided us with fantastic literature are China, Japan, and Vietnam. One of the popular ways to tell a story in Japan was kamishibai. This was done by a man who had around four stories which he told using illustrated cards and a boxholder that resembled a stage. The front of the box was open and the cards were pulled sequentially from the box. Once a card was pulled, the text of the story written on the back of the card was read.

Now for my personal favorite (sorry I'm biased)- Native American or Indian Literature. Many Native American stories are written by Native Americans themselves, other stories are written by those who have extensive knowledge about the Native culture. Many of the stories also have beautiful illustrations. Unfortunately, there are not enough stories out there with Native American main characters. Native literature shows that the Natives had tales long before settlers ever touched this soil. They had great oral traditions which many of have been lost. Most of their history is speculative and written by Europeans, so it is mostly incorrect. Their traditional literature is an excellent way to identify and understand tribal traditional values and beliefs.

Sadly many of these minorities are greatly stereotyped. African Americans are depicted as physically unattractive, dependent upon whites for any good they hope to acquire, and are required to select life goals that benefit black people. Native Americans are shown as cruel and savage, and inferior, childlike, and helpless. I only hope that more people will open their minds and read literature about other cultures. Maybe that will help discourage the stereotypes that have done such harm to so many cultures.

My recommendations for multicultural literature would be any of the Brer Rabbit stories retold by Joel Chandler Harris. These stories are written in heavy dialect, so take your time reading and enjoying them. I read about the "tar baby" and that is my favorite of the stories. Brer Rabbit uses his wit to outsmart the other creatures and even uses trickery on them; it makes for a very amusing tale. A Native American story that I loved as a child was The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. This is the story of a young Plains Indian boy who try as he might, could not do the things the other boys could do. The tribe's shaman assures the boy that he has a special gift, and the boy realizes that he wishes to paint. But, he wishes to paint the sky and he cannot find the colors to match the beauty of the sky. One night a voice directs him to a special place where he discovers paintbrushes filled with the colors of the sky (at dawn and dusk). I hope you enjoy these as much as I have.

It's been fun you literature fans, and now we must say goodbye. Keep reading and keep dreaming. Where would we be without dreams? In a very depressing place, that's where. Stay true.

Little House on the Prairie
Ok, so in coordination with week 8- Historical fiction, we were asked to read Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote the book based on her own experiences of growing up on the frontier. Before I tell you about my personal feelings on the book I will give a brief summary of the book.

Based on the time period of the 1870s, Little House on the Prairie is about Laura Ingalls and her family- Pa, Ma, Mary, and baby Carrie. They begin the book by leaving their home in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, and traveling to the vast prairie in Indian Territory. They settle near the Verdigris River and begin to build home there. Pa gets logs and builds the family a house with a chimney, a stable, a well, and furniture. He also hunts for their food every day and Ma cooks it up. She is a hard working woman, who has meals ready, dishes and clothes washed, and all the other household chores done during the day and still has time to spend with her family. The Ingalls family makes friends with a bachelor down the river, Mr. Edwards, who helps Pa with building the Ingalls home in exchange for help from Pa. Mr. Scott who lives across the prairie helps Pa build his well, in exchange for help. The family also encounters Indians, who are quiet and serious, and scare the family out of several nights sleep. Wolves roam around the house, and frighten the family and their horses. The Ingalls have to deal with many tough issues of living on the prairie, such as prairie fires, fever 'n' ague, and harsh weather. The family manages to overcome all obstacles because they stick together and rely on each other and their neighbors.

I have to say out of all the books we have read this semester, this has been my least favorite. For starters, the frontier period is not my favorite period of history. I find the Middle ages and early 20th century more interesting. The second thing that was distasteful to me was the way the Ingalls and their neighbors talked about the Indians. I, myself, am obviously Caucasian, but I do have Creek ancestry and take great pride in it. When I look in history books to see how white men talk about the "savage Indians" and how they were treated, it angers me. They were here centuries before the white man, yet for some arrogant reason, they came in and pushed the Indians west off their land and forced them onto reservations, and then have the audacity to say the Indians were savage because they attacked the white settlements! Do we white people not attack those who try to harm us? Hello 9/11? I feel that out of ALL the cultures and races of people mistreated through history, the Indians were treated the WORST, and have yet to receive anything to make it up to them. This is my blog, so I feel I have a right to rant and rave about this. That is the main reason I did not like Little House on the Prairie.

If there are those of you who enjoy reading about the frontier period, and see nothing wrong with the atrocious way the Indians were treated, then you may enjoy this book. As for myself, I will not be reading another of Mrs. Wilder's series.

See you next week!

Week 8
Hello once more! This is Week 8 of Literature for Children and Adolescents. This week is... Historical Fiction!! I know history sounds boring, it does for me too, but a lot of these stories are really neat! The trick is finding the time period that interests you most.

Historical fiction is good because it allows children to see what it was like to live in another time period, but through another child's eyes. This allows the child to better relate to the time period they are reading about, whether it is twenty years ago or two hundred.

It is very important when an author is writing historical fiction that the characters and setting are true to the time period. Otherwise, the reader doesn't gain belief in the story and loses interest. Also if these aspects are regarded, they could greatly mislead the reader about what occurred during the time period.

For books on ancient times until the Middle Ages some of the themes include- loyalty is noble, love is stronger than hate and prevails through trouble, people can overcome handicaps and they do not lessen their humanity, and courage is more important that physical strength. For books on changes in the Old World and discovery of the New World some themes include- Greed can be a destructive motivational force, moral dilemmas must be faced and solved, people must work together to survive, land is important, and war creates tragedy. Books about the Salem Witch Trials include these themes- prejudiced persecution is destuctive and frightening, people seek freedom from persecution, moral obligations require some to defend the rights of others. Books about the American Revolution include the themes- freedom is worth fighting for, and strong beliefs require strong commitments. Books on the early expansion of the U.S. include some of these themes- friendship and faith are important, people long for freedom and their own land, to achieve dreams people withstand great hardships, strong family bonds help survival. Books on the Civil War (or War Between the States) include some of these themes- prejudice and hatred are very destructive, moral obligations must be met even when faced with death or loss of freedom, people should take pride in their accomplishments. Books on the frontier include- families can survive by working together, people need each other, without spiritual hope people may lose their will to live. Books on the early 20th century include- monetary wealth doesn't create a rich life, there's a bond between those who experience injustice, people will strive for survival. Finally books on WWII include- people seek freedom from religious and political persecution, prejudice and hate are destructive, moral obligation and personal conscience are strong forces, and family love and loyalty help people to deal with great hardships.

My favorite historical fiction books are Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. This is about a young frontier girl who lives in the time when there is great mistrust between the western settlers and the Indians. Caddie is friends with the neighboring Indian tribe, must to the dislike of her parents and her neighbors, but also the Indian tribe isn't very fond of the white settlers either. So when her community is attacked by Indians, and the settlers immediately think it is the tribe which Caddie is friends with, she is caught in the middle. Does she stand by her family and neighbors or does she warn her Indian friends they are in danger of being attacked in retaliation? This book is great because it shows the courage this very young girl has to have in a harsh new land where friends are few. Another favorite is Briar Rose by Jane Yolen. This is a tale of young Rebecca, who grew up listening to her "Gemma" tell a tale of sleeping beauty. When Rebecca grows up, she realizes the tale might not have been just a tale after all. This story of Sleeping beauty is ingeniously intwined into the Holocaust and keeps you dying to get to the next page. This book is for teens!! Also take caution parents, although I HIGHLY recommend this book, it does contain homosexuality. If you do not condone this, then this book is not for your teen.

Until next week, I leave you with this: Remember what you do today and learn from it, for tomorrow, today will be history and it is not wise to repeat history.

Week 7
Salutations! This is a late entry for week 7. However, it will still be a good one. For this week, we learned about Contemporary Realistic Fiction.

Contemporary realistic fiction is a story that is not necessarily true, but it could have happened. Although the words realistic and fiction seem to contradict one another, they really don't here, they actually compliment one another. Whereas some nonfiction stories bore some children, and fantasy bores others, this type of fiction is more in the middle of both enabling more children to enjoy. This type of story allows children to identify with the characters, who are going through many of the same type of real problems and situations. Children like to read about people they identify with. It helps the kids to know they are not alone in their problems or with experiencing certain feelings or emotions.

Many realistic fiction stories deal with very controversial issues and when you or your child are selecting a realistic fiction book, make sure you approve of the issue and that is something age-appropriate for your kiddo. Some of the topics these books contain are Sexism- the discrimination of a person based on sex (gender), which has been directed more towards women throughout history; Sexuality- the feelings one has about sex, whether premarital or extramarital, sexual preferences, and sexual development; Violence; Profanity (foul language); Family problems- these contain things such as divorce, abuse, foster homes, single parenting, and/or abandonment; and Drugs.

Popular subjects for R.F. besides controversial issues include family life, growing up, survival (in cities as well as nature, animals, mysteries, sports, humor, and death.

One thing to be avoided when reading R.F. is stereotyping. According to our textbook, here are some guidelines to follow when looking to avoid stereotypes: 1)materials should balance males and females when they contribute to society and in the jobs they perform. 2)materials should recognize both share basically the same emotions, personality traits, and capabilities. 3)materials should present a range of historical references of women, including those who have contributed to society- whether well known or not. Also historical books should contain coverage of the roles of women of the past. 4) materials should mention references to legal, economic, and social issues related to women, where appropriate.

Okay, now my picks of the week...If you have a young child especially one around the age of 10 Because of Winn-Dixie, or the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. I've mentioned Because of Winn-Dixie in my Newbery Award post, but the Ramona series is great. The series focuses on the young Ramona Quimby, an 8 year old girl who is in all ways the definition of inquisitive and mischievous. These books not only help your child relate to the character going through the things your child is, but also keep them laughing. Another book series which I have found fabulous in all ways is more for the age group of 14 or 15 and up. The confessions of Georgia Nicholson are about Georgia, a 14 year old British girl who leads a life of complete hilariousness. If it's not her insane parents, wacky friends, or her giant wild cat Angus, it's boys, school, or bullies. Every turn for her is laughable melodrama which I love. The books contain a lot of British slang, but the author is lovely enough to include a dictionary in the back of the book. I recommend you immediately get these books. The first is entitled Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging. Do beware if you detest profanity-these books contain mild language.

That's all folks! Join me next time!

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.