Genres in Children's Literature, LaTrobe University, Lecture 3: Picture Books for Older Readers

Genres in Children's Literature is a course taught by David Beagley at Australia's La Trobe University. Lectures from the Spring 2012 semester are available for download on iTunes U. As I listen to the lectures, I am recording my reflections and responses here on my blog. This post focuses on Lecture 3: Picture Books for Older Readers.

This lecture was of special interest to me because it talked about the developmental differences between small kids and teenagers, and how this has translated over the years in the world of children’s literature. The questions I am asked most often at the reference desk all revolve around these developmental differences. “Is my child old enough for...?” “Is this appropriate for a child reading at this grade level?” “Don’t you think a fifth grader should outgrow reading...” Often what I struggle with is this idea many parents have that they should always be reaching for more and more mature material, so their child can read above grade level or exceed the expectations of his or her teachers. I hear parents telling their kids every day that this or that book is babyish, or that this or that book has too many pictures to be considered “real.” What Beagley said in this lecture, though, is that there are picture books for older readers that are perfectly sophisticated and not just appropriate for older kids, but also actually inappropriate for the younger ones.

I think what I liked best in this lecture was Beagley’s statement that reading is an intellectual activity where the reader interprets what happens, and that reading is very much about cracking the author or illustrator’s “code” for understanding a given story. I have a tendency to share picture books in just one way, no matter the age of the kids. Hearing Beagley say that books for older kids have different story structures that actually demand more from their readers makes me reconsider how I present books to kids at different levels. Older kids might engage more with certain books if I give them the opportunity to deconstruct what the author has created and actually understand how it works. In general, I also look forward to writing some more picture book reviews  where I really consider not just words and pictures, but also color, layout, size, and all the other choices authors make in shaping their stories.

Want to listen along? Click here. Read about David Beagley here. Read my previous lecture responses here.

Flannel Friday: The Man in the Moon

I'll be traveling to different branches within my system to do a moon story time during the month of July, and I'll be trying to incorporate the Dream Big - Read theme into the majority of my own story times as well, so I have created a silver moon out of felt, and collected some rhymes and songs to use with it.

First up is Mrs. Moon, a song I "wrote" based on my baby lap time favorite, Mr. Sun.

Oh, Mrs. Moon, Moon, Mrs. Silver Moon

Please shine down on me.

Oh, Mrs. Moon, Moon, Mrs. Silver Moon

Hiding behind a tree

These little children are asking you

To please come out so we can play with you.

Oh, Mrs. Moon, Moon, Mrs. Silver Moon,

Please shine down on me. 

Next is a song I remembered from my days working in nursery school. It's from a CD by Rick Charette called A Little Peace and Quiet. The name of the song is Mr. Man in the Moon. I don't want to violate copyright, so here's a link to the lyrics. (Scroll down; it's toward the bottom.) The tune is harder to find, but I think it would work just as well as a rhyme if you don't have the music. 

I also really like this little nursery rhyme, which I might use with shaker eggs at baby lap time, or with a stick puppet version of the moon. 

The man in the moon,
Looked out of the moon,
Looked out of the moon and said:
It's time for all children on the Earth,
To think about getting to bed!

Finally, here are two more rhymes from Preschool Express, both of which were written by Jean Warren:

Silver Moon

Down at the lake, late at night.
I saw a path of silver light.

I looked in the sky and what did I see?
A silver moon winking at me.

Man in the Moon

Man in the moon,

Man in the moon,
Shining in the night.
What a happy face you have,
Big, round and white.

Since my moon is gray/silver, this last one might not work for me right now, but I really like the way it rhymes, so I might make a white moon just so I can still use it.

Want to make your own moon? You might not need my help, since I kept it really simple, but what I did was trace the bottom of a round Chinese food container (the ones that look like this) onto a piece of gray felt. Then I cut it out and drew a face using permanent marker. My plan is to attach Velcro to a pair of old mittens so I can stick the puppet onto my hand if I need to; otherwise, it will just stick to the flannel board. Easy peasy.

(For a more complicated man in the moon puppet I didn't have the patience to try, visit this blog, entitled ...imagine childhood.)

This week's Flannel Friday host is Shawn at Read, Rhyme & Sing! For more information on Flannel Friday, visit the official website.

6 Middle Grade Novels About the Beach

	Junonia by Kevin Henkes During her family's yearly winter vacation, everything has changed for Alice except her lifelong desire to find a rare junonia shell.
	Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis Lexie is horrified when her father brings his new girlfriend and her two sons on their summer beach vacation.
	Daisy Dawson at the Beach by Steve Voake Daisy, who can talk to animals, makes friends with two rabbits and a crab and saves a dolphin on her trip to the beach.
	A Million Miles from Boston by Karen Day Lucy must share her favorite vacation spot with her dad's new girlfriend and a mean boy she knows from school.
	The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall The three youngest Penderwicks spend their summer in Maine with Aunt Claire, where Jane finds love, Batty discovers musical talent, and Skye finds out just how difficult it is to be in charge.
	Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli This novel in verse focuses on Sophie, who struggles to find her place at the family summerhouse, where her older cousin is too cool to hang out with her, and the adults seem unhappy.

Baby/Toddler Story Time, 6/19/12

I found out today that one of my favorite nannies is moving away with the family she works for! She's a wonderful nanny, and I'm so glad the family is taking her along for the kids' sake, but I am so going to miss her! 

This story time sort of had a boxes theme - at least in terms of the books. Everyone seemed pretty engaged and most of the adults managed to keep quiet through the stories.


Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Rhyme: Wiggle Fingers

Book: Sitting In My Box by Dee Lillegard, illustrated by Jon Agee (1992)
A little one was crying and then exiting the room through the first half of this book, so the group never got as into it as they might have otherwise. This was a find, though. The exact kind of book I love for toddlers.

Song with Puppets: I'm a Little Monkey

 

Book: Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell (2007)
This one always goes over well, but I think the nannies might be sick of it, since I read it not that long ago. It wasn't the huge hit it usually is.

Song: Shake My Sillies Out

Song: Head and Shoulders, Baby
This is a new one we're trying. I like it a lot - it has simple motions, but a new tune we don't use for anything else.

Book: Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Jane Cabrera (2008)
I've discovered that if I sing one book, I can manage to sneak four books into story time. This is a huge improvement over when I used to read just two. The surprise ending of this one is also just perfect, even if there are a few too many animals to sing about before then. 


Song: The Wheels on the Bus

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Book: The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli (2007)
Leslie Patricelli can do no wrong as far as my story times are concerned. I don't think the adults got the "joke" - that a box is sometimes more exciting for toddlers than the gift it contains - but the kids seemed to enjoy the different adventures the baby and puppy have in the box.

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Song: Moon Moon Moon 

Song: ABCs

Song: Chickadee

Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This

On Friday, I will do my first story time with the ukulele. I am not sure yet which song I will do, but I have to break the ice sometime! Fingers crossed that all goes well!