All About Teaching >> Teaching by Subject >> A peer role model's books!
A peer role model's books!
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| Posted 7 months ago bobblehead says ...
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| Posted 7 months ago You guys are merciless - I think Swordbird should "flip you the bird." |
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| Posted 7 months ago johnslat says ...
I think he did. I don't know what got into me. I really have nothing against swordbird. I do have a question about tweety. Would anyone object if I ran him over with a lawn mower and made shredded tweet?
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| Posted 7 months ago Sylvester might - |
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| Posted 7 months ago Dear John, I don't like those cynics who wasted the space of this teachers' forum. I'm glad that you came to this thread again. I know you've been teaching English for years and years and have worldwide teaching experiences. Woudl you please talk about what makes up of a good children's book? What element in a children's book is more important, entertainment or morals? What do think about the significance of fairytales? |
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| Posted 7 months ago Dear swordbird, I wouldn't call them cynics (cynics don't usually last long as teachers) - just mischievous pranksters (who usually DO last a long time as teachers.) A good children's book - hmm. Well, as with ANY book, the most important thing, in my opinion, is to have interesting characters that kids can identify with. Then, the plot is also crucial; it has to hold the children's interest. The style is also critical - the author can't "talk down" to the readers or patronize them. I'd say those three are the most important. I think entertainment takes priority over didacticism. Although many children's books do try to teach morality/ethics, unless the book is entertaining to begin with, few, if any, children will read it - or at least get very far into it. Fairy tales - ah well, probably the person who said it best on that subject was Bruno Bettelheim in his seminal work, "The Uses of Enchantment." Here are a couple of sites that discuss the book, but you can find many more by googling.
http://www.cs.siu.edu/~kfong/research/fairytales.html http://www.pixiepalace.com/booksmain/non-fiction/bruno-bettelheim/
or, if your so inclined, you can purchase it on Amazon; there are very good used copies from as little as $2.39 - $4.00 (plus postage, of course.)
http://www.amazon.com/Uses-Enchantment-Meaning-Importance-Fairy/dp/...
It's a superb book, well worth reading. |
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| Posted 7 months ago Do you believe that this topic had over 12320 views? Wow. Children are the living messages we will send into a time we will not see. – John W. Whitehead |
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| Posted 7 months ago Of course, Swordbird, dhastings, bobblehead and I probably account for about 12,000 of those. But you've got to admit, this topic has legs. It just won't die. |
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| Posted 7 months ago The power of a good headline. :) Children are the living messages we will send into a time we will not see. – John W. Whitehead |
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| Posted 7 months ago Dear John, Thank you for your recommendation. I've just read Bettelheim's The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. It's a wonderful book, full of wisdom and philosophy. Bettelheim (1976) thinks that children's books should first be interesting and then they must stimulate children's imagination. Of all genres of children's literature, fairytales are the best to develop children's imagination and help them understand "the inner problems of human being" and learn to solve them. Although the world of fairytales is different from that of the reality, it is a magical mirror in which children can see themselves and it is a carrier of important messages that help children relieve "preconscious and unconscious pressures". (John, here I'm not so clear about the meaning of the second part of the sentence; does it mean that there are some hidden problems in children's minds and fairytales point to those problems and make them explicit in an acceptable, simple way?) Bettelheim says, "While it entertains the child, the fairy tale enlightens him about himself, and fosters his personality development." (p. 12). In other words, fairytales create joy but go beyond joy.
Tolkien discusses the underlying common lines of fairytales --- "recovery from deep despair, escape from some great danger, but, most of all consolation" (p.143). The ending is often happy and sometimes brings tears of joy. The ending sentences like "The hero will live happily ever after." are never boring because they give young readers confidence that the future is bright and there are lots of good things ahead of them.
After reading it, I'd like to connect some of its points with Swordbird and Sword Quest. The two books are in nature fairytales. Why do so many children (and old people) love them? Swordbird originates from the little author's dream. As Bettelheim says, fairytales contain some dreamlike features. A child's dream is definitely appealing to her peers. In Bettelheim's words, it pinpoints children's unconscious minds. In Swordbird, the good vs. evil fairytale, the inner state of the mind is explored by images and actions. Slave birds' escape, Miltin's death, Aska's selflessness and Turnatt's evilness are impressively portrayed. Flying is good: it's freedom; it’s joy. In Sword Quest, the fairytale focuses on the journey --- the quest for the magical sword. The young readers can imagine themselves as the hero and follow his quest to fulfill their wishes and dreams.
The Swordbird series represent a child's imagination and they can stimulate other kids' imagination too. John, I hope that you can find the books in the library, read them and offer your comments if you have time. By the way, I really like your point of view about what a good children's book is!
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| Posted 6 months ago I think that teen authors actually help the book industries. One major reason I read Swordbird was because I looked at the back (unconscious habit of mine) and saw a kid. It excited me to see that a teen had successfully published a novel. Even if a kid doesn’t read the book, learning that it’s written by a 14-16 year-old will impact them in some way. –Gurion Omegaon |
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| Posted 6 months ago Kind of like Christopher Paolini: How many 15-year-old boys do know have written a best-selling book for tweens and teens, had his movie turned into a major motion picture, and earned a six-figure income before the age of 21? Not many...but this is the life of Christopher Paolini, who started writingEragonat the age of 15.
http://adolescent-culture.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_author_of_er...
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| Posted 6 months ago Nancy Yi Fan has written an article about Christopher Paolini's the Inheritance cycle. This essay was published in a book entitled "Secrets of the Dragon Riders". The article has 16 pages. For the copyright reason I can only find the first 8 pages and paste them below.
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| Posted 6 months ago birds are not as evil and the sequel to the birds, now that was torture. |
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| Posted 6 months ago Swordbird, For a more in-depth psychological view of how 'stories-myths-and legends' mold feminine thought, read "Women Who Run With The Wolves"... Clarissa Pinkola, Dr. I love fantasy for children, and for the child that lives within every adult. I've been working on a novel for 6 years, with a collaborator. It has become a fun retreat from 'professionalism' and 'the proper way that things work'...it has become an avenue of enlightment...sometimes when I'm in the groove, writing along, with hours passing unnoticed, I feel a sense of grace...as if I were doing my true work, satisfying my need to create and express. Don't let 'em fool ya, the other teachers here know what the gift of reading and writing is all about...their taste just runs to less 'imaginary realms'....ignore them, peek in the door where that light is shining ~ see there, the armoir among the trees...just take a wee-little-peek...see the key? |
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| Posted 6 months ago Why do I feel manipulated? It's almost parallel to the feeling I get when I'm told that a "reality TV show" is, in reality, reality. I read the words of a "14 year old" and I feel like a naive consumer that is told to believe that the author is a gifted middle schooler. What better way to sell books to this population? |
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| Posted 6 months ago Dear dhastings, So, do you mean that you don't think Paolini actually wrote Eragon (and the sequels?)
Regards, John |
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| Posted 6 months ago Wow, swordbird must get some kick backs from the sale of the book. The word "ladilla" come to mind (spanish for >>>) |
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| Posted 6 months ago MagPro85 says ...
I agree. He's a master marketeer and we give his posts too much play....but it's fun! (for me anyhow) |
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| Posted 6 months ago kick backs??? how is a dime a word from the publisher? do you mind id I barrow some money? |
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| Posted 6 months ago Mr. Crisp~ whooooa! Which publisher pays a dime a word...."enquiring minds want to know!"
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| Posted 6 months ago That is what I am saying, I would like that my self as much as has been published of the book on this discussion I beleive they need to look at it aswell. |
