The First Chapters of The Secret Garden

After having read a few of the chapters from The Secret Garden, I must say, I am thoroughly impressed. I thought it would be slow and boring, or at least more than it is. Although the book is easy to read and understand, the lanugauge is still eloquent. Frances Hodgson Burnett does a wonderful job of using sytanx to create the story and plot line. It is a children's book, but it can be read like an adult's book because of the langauge. Another thing that struck me as interesting was the character development at such an early stage in the book. Only about 15 chapters in, Mary and the other characters have begun to change and show differences from the beginning of the book. So far, The Secret Garden has been a joy to read and I can't wait to finish it. I wonder if it will turn out the same way as the movies!

I just found out that I got a job at a daycare in my hometown for this summer.  I am really excited but also a little nervous.  I am not an education major and Children's literature is not required for my major, but I just really enjoy being around kids and helping them learn.  Plus, I love to read kids books and they bring back great memories.  Anyway, I really think some of the things I have learned in Children's literature will help me understand more about the way kids think and the parts of the book that influence the way it is read the most.  I doubt I will be reading any of them the hobbit, but our study of picture books will defiantly help!  I also believe this class will help me be a great mother someday!

Dr. Seuss!

I didn't make it to class on Friday, so I did a little research on Dr.  Seuss.  His real name is actually Theador Seuss Geisel, which I find very interesting for some reason.  He was born in Massatusets in 1902, also something I thought was a little weird.  I guess I never realized how old he and his works were.  In college he wrote for the school newspaper, but got thrown out of his extra-curricular because he threw a drinking party during prohibition.  Typical college student, I guess.  His first book, To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was written on his return trip from Europe and was inspired by the noise the engine of the ship made.  All of the things I found out about Dr. Seuss made me laugh, just like his books!  

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

This weekend I finished my last outside reading book!  I read the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, for the third time.  I really can't get enough of the J.K. Rowling's books!  They are so cleverly written and planned out that it is hard to believe she began her story on a paper napkin while waitressing to make her living.  This book is obviously not as well written as the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, but it still has an amazing plot.  On of my favorite parts of the book is the chapter when Harry buys his school supplies in Diagon Alley.  The descriptions almost make it possible to go to Diagon Alley and have a stroll through the magic village!  

Reaction to Peter Rabbit

During our discussion of Beatrix Potter's Tale of Peter Rabbit I found a few things very intriguing.  First of all, I really enjoyed reading the book.  I know the story but I don't specifically remember reading it during my childhood.  What Dr. Robinson said about the layout of text and illustrations caught my attention.  I tend to wonder if Potter really thought all that through or just happened to get lucky :)  Either way, it is fantastic and fun to read.  One thing does strike me as odd, though.  Mother Rabbit so casually talks about father "having an accident" in the garden, and then getting put into a pie by Mrs. McGreagor.  To me it is very sad and it seems like something Peter should have taken into account before he went into the garden, but obviously he didn't.  Other than that, the story is great!

Last HOSTS Session :(

Next week is the last session of HOSTS (Helping One Student to Succeed) and I am really going to miss my two kids!  Over the past nine weeks I have gotten to know and help two first graders, Isaiah and Macey.  Each of them have made significant improvements in their reading level and spelling skills.  At first Isaiah didn't want to read or play games at all.  As I see them first thing Monday mornings, this is understandable.  Now he comes in smiling and ready to work almost every week!  Macey has also overcome obstacles and now enjoys reading longer and more challenging books.  All the students seem to have made progress and friends.  I will defiantly be taking part in HOSTS next year!

J.K. Rowling Sues

I read on www.cnn.com today that J.K. Rowling is suing RDR books, the publisher of a book that she claims violates copyright laws.  Steven Vander Ark wrote "Harry Potter Lexicon," an encyclopedia on the series.  Before writing the book he founded a website dedicated to Harry Potter and his fans.  Before suing, Rowling says she enjoyed the website and what it had to say.  

I find this whole situation a little disappointing.  No matter what anyone does, they will never be able to recreate the stories Rowling was able to write.  I do think that it is her right to sue for copyright infringement, but I'm not sure she will win.  She claims that some of the ideas in Ark's book are just hers rearranged.  A judge will soon decide who is correct.  

Short Attention Spans

Today at the mall I saw Clifford the Big Red Dog! I also saw a man doing magic tricks and people trying to sell some awesome new toy. I noticed how easily children's attention is caught by things like these, but if they are not very interested, they quickly loose attention. People who write for children must take into account young people's short attention span. Whether picture books or novels, they have to be interesting and stay interesting. Most picture books use the illustrations to carry the story, while longer books are often divided up into chapters to hold attention for a certian length of time. Even games and lessons for kids make sure that they will hold attention and not be too long. This is an important part of children's literature.

Picture Books!

Illustrations have such an impact on children's literature.  They are all unique, interesting, and fun.  My favorite thing about children's literature is the pictures.  Also, it seems like the most interesting part to the kids when someone is reading to them.  However, it wasn't always this way.  Until the later part of the nineteenth century, illustrations in books were for teaching morals and lessons.  Then artists began drawing for purpose, and the industry took off.  Now there are thousands and thousands of picture books for kids.  The New York Times does a top ten list of children's books every year and there are numerous awards for drawings.  I love the pictures and how well each one goes with the words.  Illustrations are so important to the subject of children's literature!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The last picture book I chose for outside reading is The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle.

  I already read one of his books for outside reading, so I decided to compare this one.  Both books have a kind of step by step format.  Each page reveals the next "step" in the story.  This sounds weird, but in The Very Hungry Caterpillar the caterpillar eats a little more each day until he turns into a butterfly.  In The Grouchy Ladybug the ladybug asks a different person to fight him every day.  I think this concept is important for both of these books, and it makes them easy to understand for children.  My favorite part of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is when he finally turns into a beautiful butterfly.  My mom used to have a felt board with each piece of the story that we could arrange and make fit.  She would read us the story while we put each part in place.  I really enjoyed reading this book again!

Reaction to The Giver by Louis Lowry

Over the weekend I read all of The Giver by Lois Lowry.  I couldn't put it down, but not because it was so good, just because it was so different from anything I had ever read before.  Honestly, I didn't like it at all.  The characters are developed and the plot is interesting, it is just too weird.  And once again, I don't really understand how this can be considered a children's book.  The pain Jonas has to endure just doesn't seem right.  Not only is he in intense pain so that everyone else can avoid all pain, he is intentionally given that pain.  The ideas in this book are very selfish of the community.  They pick a child to endure pain for them.  All of this, combined with not having the ability to love until after he becomes the Giver, is too weird for me.  I enjoy books with a happier tone!

The Joy of Summer

Summer is on its way, floating in on breathless clouds

Children are playing and listening to the sounds

Of hot windless, endless days and cool, perfect nights.

Every flower smiles at the blue sky above

Open and happy and willing to love

The sun for its life-giving joy and warming rays.

Rivers shimmer with golden, flowing trickles 

The heat is getting heavier and tickles

Each shoulder caught in the blazing, amazing day.

By July it has arrived, deep, easy,  and plentiful

The summer is here, full and wonderful

And the crickets chirp the pleasant music of happiness.

Fireflies twinkle and float by on the breeze

In a night filled with laughter of ease

From friends together sitting, sipping lemonade.  

Splashing can be heard from the pool at noon

The kids are swimming in an oasis, but will soon

Be ready for a night of movies and staying up till dawn.

Yes, summer is here and now almost over

Thoughts of the coming fall will make sober

The happiness and joy only Summer can bring.   

The Oxcart Man

One of my favorite books when I was a child was The Oxcart Man, by Donald Hall.  In fact, I asked my mother to read the book to me every day for months.  The fabulous illustrations are by Barbara Cooney.  In the book, the Oxcart man and his family live their lives around the seasons.  Their days are spend making things, planting, and harvesting.  Everyday they prepare for the day when the father, the Oxcart man, will go to market and sell what they have made and bring home what they need for the next year.  The pictures in this book are important.  I think they are the biggest aspect of this book.  Each page is filled with old-style illustrations that show great detail.  They carry the story through to the end.  To this day, if asked, I might tell someone my favorite picture book is The Oxcart Man.  

The Languages of Tolkien

While doing some research on Tolkien's languages, I found out some interesting things.  Apparently, Tolkien began inventing his own languages at a very young age, and at the age of twelve began the Elvish language found in The Hobbit.  There are two branches of Elvish (Eldarin), the Quenya dialect and the Sindarin dialect.  Estimates of the words Tolkien made up range from 10,000 to 60,000.  There are also 13 other langauges spoken in his books, Westron being the most common.  It is what is "translated" into English (or German or French).  All common people except for elves can speak Westron.  Another interesting fact about the Elves is they did not just write down their langauges, they used Runes.  Runes are an ancient form of writing.   It is beyond my understanding as to how one person can have such a fascinating mind to make up 15 languages and their dialects.  Tolkien was an amazing writer, but obviously had other talents as well!