Where The Wild Things Are

This was so much more interesting than actually reading the book....it has sound effects and everything!

End of the Semester!!

This has been my favorite class this semester! I didn't realize there was so much to learn about children's literature! Now when I read children's literature or any kind of literature for that matter, I read it in a whole new light. I have learned critical reading skills and feel as if there is so much more to the story when I do so. Also, most of the books that we've read are ones that I have already and I learned so much more about them by taking this class. There have also been books that I have not read but have always wanted to. Come to think of it, I don't know why I never did, I just didn't. I have enjoyed this class immensely! I just hope other English classes are as much fun!

The Bad Beginning

• By Daniel Handler AKA Lemony Snicket
  
• The last name Baudelaire is a reference to Charles Baudelaire, a French poet. An excerpt from his poem "Le Voyage", from Les Fleurs du Mal, appears in The End.
• Mr. Poe's surname, Poe, and the names of his children, Edgar and Albert, are obvious allusions to Edgar Allan Poe.
• Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire share their names with Claus and Sunny von Bülow, who were involved in a famous court case of the 1980s; the district attorney who defended Claus was named Violet.
• Violet Baudelaire is also possibly a reference to a famous crime; she shares her given name with Violet Sharpe, a suspect of the Lindbergh kidnapping.
• Beatrice is likely a reference to Beatrice Portinari, the unrequited love of Dante Alighieri.

from: wikipedia

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

As I mentioned in my previous entry, Seuss's works are very entertaining for children and allow the readers to use their imaginations. The Cat in the Hat is not any different. When reading this book it is clearly a story back in a different time. First of all, the two young characters are left home alone. It would not be considered wise nor safe to do these things this day in age. They also let a stranger come into their home who also encourages the children to do things they know isn't quite good behavior.
Often times children have powerful emotional urges that they sometimes suppress and at other times do not. These urges are strongly represented in the characters Thing 1 and Thing 2. They demonstrate people's nature of wanting to break away from everyday social restrictions and just be free.
The fish serves as the conscience while all of the mischief is about. It constantly reminds the children that their behavior isn't quite right and their mother would not approve.
In the end, after the house is clean and all of the mischief is done with, the children debate on whether to tell their mother of their adventure. Seuss leaves this open for the readers to think about and determine for themselves what the right thing is to do. This allows us to think about the value in good behavior, obedience and honesty.

Anne of Green Gables

Written by Lucy Maud Montgomery, this piece of fiction is for readers of all ages, but in recent decades has been considered a children's book. Montgomery found her inspiration for the book in a newspaper article describing a couple that were mistakenly sent an orphan girl instead of a boy, yet decided to keep her. Montgomery also drew upon her own childhood experiences in rural Prince Edward Island. One thing that I was not aware of about this book is that it was actually one of many in a series about the main character Anne.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss (clip)

funny poetry

I can relate to the following poem because I am an aunt of two nieces and three nephews. I read it and thought it was too cute!


Dear Aunt Francis:

Thank you for the finger paints.
I like your gift so much!
I’ve painted everything in sight.
I’ve got the artist’s touch.

I’ve painted murals on the walls,
I’ve painted my dog, Rover,
Mom’s exercycle, Dad’s new shoes.
I’ve still got paint left over.

And here’s good news, Aunt Francis.
Mom says that I can stay
at your house any time I want
and finger-paint all day!

See you real soon,

Your loving nephew,

Vincent

The Tale of Peter Rabbit 1/2

The Tale of Peter Rabbit 2/2

Peter Rabbit

This is where the exploration of the text begins. The point is to use your fantasy to uncover hidden layers in the text. This is done by focussing on certain elements of the story in order to see if some of these elements fit in with other contexts. The contexts we then reveal, become new stories—as if having discovered a story within the story. But that's exactly what we have done!


Let's illustrate. This tale is about a little rabbit-boy whose choice of actions is restricted: "don't enter the garden". But this is exactly what Peter wants to do. The trespassing is very exciting, and also rewarding, should he get a chance to nibble at Mr. McGregors vegetables. A typical 5 year-old will no doubt identify himself with Peter. Just like Peter, the average 5 year-old get to learn about himself by exploring and trying to master the world despite all explicit and implicit restrictions limiting his or hers exploration. In fact the child can only be fully aware of (internalize) the laws and regulations by actually breaking them! To develop maturity involves being familiar with the existing limits to one's actions. And to reach such a familiarity, the limits must be broken. Or must they? Let the children discuss this!


At least Peter himself breaks several rules: he enters the garden (violation of the law of private property), he gorges himself (violation of the law of temperance), he defies "the law of the jungle" as he opposes Mr. McGregor, who has the power to kill him (a power Peter knows very well that Mr. McGregor had used before, i.e. when he killed Peter's father—isn't it likely that Mr. McGregor would use his power again, and to the same purpose?).


Hence Peter risks his life to try out the limits and thereby to find out more about himself as a human being (or rather, as a rabbit!). Now, this can be said to represent a developmental narrative in the story.

The Giver Book Trailer

This is someone else's take on the book but I thought it was a very good representation of the book.

The Giver

The Giver is a novel written by Lois Lowry and published on April 16, 1993. It is set in a future society which is at first presented as a utopian society and gradually appears more and more dystopian; therefore, it could be considered anti-utopian. The novel follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. Jonas' society has eliminated pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan which has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives. Jonas is selected to inherit the position of "Receiver of Memory," the person who stores all the memories of the time before Sameness, in case they are ever needed to aid in decisions that others lack the experience to make. As Jonas receives the memories from his predecessor—the "Giver"—he discovers how shallow his community's life has become.

From: Wikipedia

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

The repetition and colorful illustrations in this classic picture book by Bill Martin Jr, make it a favorite of many children. On each page, we meet a new animal who helps us discover which creature will show up next. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see? I see a redbird looking at me...". This pattern is repeated over and over, until the pre-reader can join in with the reader, easily predicting the next lines. Giggles and raised eyebrows will accompany the story as the animals become stranger and stranger (a purple cat!?). There is also a sequel called Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? It was a favorite of mine as well!