I laughed out loud on a number of occasions at John Green's Mental Floss video. So fun to know some of those things about books that I have read and reread a zillion times over the years.
Why do we share literature with children?
- It's fun. We will engage in things if they are fun. Fun matters.
- It helps children acquire language. Reading 20 minutes everyday makes a huge difference.
- It develops empathy. Empathy is stronger than sympathy. Empathy can be developed through books. You don't actually have to go through the experience to develop empathy.
- It creates lifelong readers. Unconscientious delight.
- Series Readers - reading books in a series
- Serial Readers - reading books by the same author or reading books in the same genre that you enjoy
- Reading ladders - gives readers a place to start
- Reading autobiographically - reading about characters like us
- Windows as mirrors - can you see yourself in a book
- Reading vicariously - reading as a window, reading about other people's experiences. Books that may deal with tough consequences and not necessarily have to experience those consequences themselves.
- Cultural, sports
- Reading about kids who are different than we are
- Reading for Philosophical speculation - how they feel about things ethically, religiously, who am I, why does the world act this way?
- Reading for aesthetic experiences - just reading for the joy of reading
- Develops imagination - children need a chance to imagine and ask "what would happen if....?"
- It can transmit culture. Transmitting diverse cultures.
Division of Young People's Literature
- Children's Literature - 0-8 years old
- wordless picture books
- regular picture books
- easy readers
- illustrated chapter books
- early chapter books
- short novel, very little illustration
- Middle Grade/Tweens - 8 - 12 years old
- graphic novels - Roller Girl
- chapter books - George, Raymie Nightingale
- But what about Middle School? ages 11-13
- Usually 6th, 7th and 8th grade
- This is not a division of young people's literature - not a category
- deal with tougher issues, more targeted for the upper age
- books like Drama - romance
- Lilly and Dunkin - 8th grade character
- Ok for now
- These student have a hard time finding things they like but they aren't quite ready to read YA books. It can be a challenge.
- Young Adult - 13 - 18 years old
- need to look at the subject - language, subject matter, etc.
- may not be for middle schoolers
- There is a big difference between a 13 year old and 18 year old
- New Adult - 18 - 30 years old
- started in 2009
- appealed more to an adult audience
- typically deal with first college experiences, first major relationship, living away from home for the first time
- late teen and early 20s, dealing with adult issues usually without parents in the picture
Reflection
I am an elementary librarian so it's been a long time since I've read any Young Adult books. It's all I can do to stay on top of reading what my students are reading but this is definitely expanding my view. I am a person who feels things very deeply AND for a long period of time. You might say I have an over-active empathy meter. As a tween, I cried for weeks after reading Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. Still to this day, it is hard for me to watch shows, movies or read books where children, pets (or anyone actually) is treated poorly, abused, injured, etc. especially at the hands of an adult who should know better. I will readily admit that reading the books that I have read so far this semester have been very difficult for me to read. I put myself into the shoes of the main character too easily. I remember when I was reading Harry Potter on the treader mill in my younger days and Dumbledore was killed....I started crying right there in the middle of 24 hour fitness. Maybe reading 25 YA books over a fast and furious summer will toughen me up and thicken my skin.
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