I have tutored too many students who feel uncomfortable writing in their own language. By the fourth grade, they have stopped wanting to write anything because everything they write receives a grade. The two year old who once begged for a crayon has become the nine year old who is tired of failing. When I tell them that words can be fun, they roll their eyes and begin working on the twenty-five sentences sent home for them to copy twice as homework.
Parents always ask me what they can do to help their kids care about English; I suggest making words and writing fun. Science has discovered that we tend to recall better what we've learned while laughing. Research has also pointed to a direct correlation between reading comprehension and writing ability. In other words, teach your children to love writing, and they will learn to love reading. Luckily, children always have something they want to say.
You can make writing and words fun for your kids, as well as yourself. Here are four simple games that can help you begin:
Story-Story Grow:
In this game, everyone starts with a blank piece of paper. Everyone writes a sentence on their page, and then passes it to another player. Meanwhile, a different player passes you their paper and you add a sentence to make their story grow. If there are only two of you, you pass the same story back and forth. Essentially, you keep passing stories and adding sentences until someone calls for final pass. At this point, your job is to complete the story passed to you. Once done, you can have fun reading the stories to each other. Sometimes they are silly; sometimes they are wonderful. This game works well in groups of two and in groups of twenty. It works wonderfully with fourth graders who have forgotten the fun of writing. You can play it with your kids; you can play it with your friends; you can play it with your e-mail writing buddies. If players don't know how to start the first sentence, you can always begin with a prompt. Something like, "The most amazing thing I ever saw was..." This game nourishes creativity, understanding, problem solving, and writing skills.
One Word Story:
In this game, everyone works on the same story. The first player writes a word. The next player adds a second word in order to make the sentence grow. Each player in turn adds a new word. However, no word can be repeated. Your goal is to see how long your story can become without repeating a word. If you are working with children, simply point out the repeat and ask them to try again. Come to think of it, do the same thing while playing with adults. This game promotes vocabulary development, team building, creativity, and fun.
The Rhyming Game:
In this game, everyone tries to have a realistic conversation while managing to rhyme the last word of his or her own sentence with the last word of the previous sentence. In other words, if some asks, "How was your day?" you could respond with, "I ran into Bill, he said hay." You are not allowed to respond unless you can rhyme the last word of your response to the last word spoken. If the rhyme dies out, then the last person to speak can say something else and trigger a new word to rhyme. You can play the Rhyming Game anywhere and at any time. Some of my most amusing games have happened while cooking dinner. This game develops listening, patience, rhyming, word play, vocabulary, and roll on the floor laughter.
The License Plate Game:
In this game, you save your sanity while in traffic. Players get points by spotting license plates with letters that can form words. You get more points if you can make more than one word. So 34CRN54 becomes one point for corn, a second point for Cornwall, and a third point for Cornwallis. Not to mention, crane, acorn, crown, croon, cairn; you get the idea. In this game, you can add any letters you want, but you must keep the license plate letters in order. The license plate game promotes creativity, bonding, imagination, vocabulary, and interesting drives home with your kids. Not to mention that the point keeper learns record keeping and math.
When we make learning fun, learning comes naturally. Kids are sponges, often soaking up facts unexpected and alarming. Learn to play word games with your kids, and they may learn to love words. I know that I owe my love of writing to my mother's love of words. Make a habit of playing these games with your kids, and they may learn to love words from you.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Romance Novels
Romantic stories are one of the best selling genres. They are mostly written and read by women. If a man reads romance novels, he's not likely to admit it. The first ones were written by celebrated 19th century authors, such as Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice) and Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre). Emily Bronte wrote the wonderfully Gothic Wuthering Heights. These novels were of course, considered to be literary classics whereas most modern offerings are not.
The modern romantic book, as published by Mills and Boon etc., is pretty formulaic. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl and boy gets girl again. There is nearly always a happy ending and there are no graphic descriptions of bedroom scenes. The protagonists tend to be middle or upper class. There are often doctor and nurse scenarios and men have chiseled jaws and muscular arms. Historical romance is also popular, with opportunities for a lot of genteel courtship and brave fiancées marching to war in their neatly pressed uniforms. It's easy to poke fun but these romance novels give pleasure to thousands of people. Fans want a bit of harmless escapism at the end of a busy day.
The English writer, Barbara Cartland was probably the most prolific of all the romance novels scribes. She famously dictated thousands of words a day, with her little dog on her lap. She only dressed in pink and prided herself on chaste heroines. We shall never see her kind again.
More recent novelists have tried to keep the genre alive but brought it into line with contemporary values. This has been dubbed chick lit and its leading light is the Bridget Jones books. She is a character for a modern generation, an independent career woman but one who freely admits to wanting a man in her life. There are shades of the Pride and Prejudice story in there, which brings romance novels full circle. It's probably what Jane Austen would be writing, were she alive today.
Fans don't seem to mind that they can guess what's coming. They find it comforting in an unsettled world. The setting and time period probably don't matter very much. It's the relationship between the man and woman (it's always a man and woman) that counts. Modern standards of behavior have changed significantly but there is still a demand for old-fashioned romance novels with clearly defined plots. Mr. Darcy is alive and well.
The modern romantic book, as published by Mills and Boon etc., is pretty formulaic. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl and boy gets girl again. There is nearly always a happy ending and there are no graphic descriptions of bedroom scenes. The protagonists tend to be middle or upper class. There are often doctor and nurse scenarios and men have chiseled jaws and muscular arms. Historical romance is also popular, with opportunities for a lot of genteel courtship and brave fiancées marching to war in their neatly pressed uniforms. It's easy to poke fun but these romance novels give pleasure to thousands of people. Fans want a bit of harmless escapism at the end of a busy day.
The English writer, Barbara Cartland was probably the most prolific of all the romance novels scribes. She famously dictated thousands of words a day, with her little dog on her lap. She only dressed in pink and prided herself on chaste heroines. We shall never see her kind again.
More recent novelists have tried to keep the genre alive but brought it into line with contemporary values. This has been dubbed chick lit and its leading light is the Bridget Jones books. She is a character for a modern generation, an independent career woman but one who freely admits to wanting a man in her life. There are shades of the Pride and Prejudice story in there, which brings romance novels full circle. It's probably what Jane Austen would be writing, were she alive today.
Fans don't seem to mind that they can guess what's coming. They find it comforting in an unsettled world. The setting and time period probably don't matter very much. It's the relationship between the man and woman (it's always a man and woman) that counts. Modern standards of behavior have changed significantly but there is still a demand for old-fashioned romance novels with clearly defined plots. Mr. Darcy is alive and well.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Literary Guild
You find that you're nowhere near the friends and share your literature tastes. It's been a Stone Age since you've been in school and you don’t have access to a hip librarian or brick-and-mortar bookstore or informative publications like the New York Times Book Review. But it dined the oldest of quality literature. So what do you do?
A really great way to find excellent books to read is to look at book club recommendations. Of course, you might want to nose around a little too get an idea as to which book club profile fits your tastes first, so the following are a few descriptions of the clubs and the kinds of recommendations they put forth, whether direct suggestions or indirect tips:
MAIL ORDER BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS
When I was a kid, Mom—a voracious reader—belonged to a mail-order book club. Later, when I was old enough to have my own account, I joined with her. I don't remember exactly which club that initial one was, but these are the most popular:
Book-of-the-Month-Club
Quality Paperback Books
The Literary Guild
Each mail-order set up is unique, but does have a common, tedious trend: they send you a notification of the recommended title (based on the information you signed up with about your reading habits) and or whichever bookends the hat at the time. If you get the card first and do not refuse the offer, you get the book…and have to pay for it. If the books are automatically sent to you, you have to return it within a relatively short period of time after getting it or you will be charged. This is the main complaint of these clubs, though a close second complaint is the title listings aren’t all that inspiring. These aren't always the current bestsellers and they're obviously inventory that they want to clear out.
TV BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS
On TV there to television shows that discuss books that I can think of. Charlie Rose’s author interviews and Oprah’s Book Club. Both are, in my case, American offerings, the former showing only on public broadcasting, but 214 of them throughout the country.
Charlie Rose runs the gamut by covering just about any kind of literature. The authors that he usually speaks are contemporary fiction and nonfiction writers. A few of the authors that I've seen on these very shows include such literary luminaries as the embarrassingly liberal Maureen Dowd, action man Tom Clancy, James Risen, Toni Morrison, and Seamus Heany.
Oprah is a horse of a different color. She generally interviews authors, too, but her book club goes a bit further, she is an avid reader and because of that she finds the authors of books she loves, which is of course completely understandable. She first introduces the book and then panels a book discussion session on the book. If you find, as I did, that Oprah's recommendations mirror the kinds of work that you enjoy reading, or what you once read and agree is a must-read, then it only makes sense to follow her recommendations in the future. She has been dead-on about such titles as Wally Lamb’s She’s Come Undone; Kaye Gibson’s Ellen Foster; and, of course, all (or most) of Toni Morrison’s works—books that you must read, as Morrison is one of the most prolific authors of our century.
INTERNET BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS
The Internet is a great place to find niche books sites. That is, if you are an adolescent seeking highly recommended books, you will find TeenInk.com to be a wonderful destination for locating the best books for your age group. If you are Christian who enjoys reading fiction, you will find like-minded individuals on FocusonFiction.net to be most helpful in listing and detailing the best books for Christian fiction lovers.
And single genre sites and top 100 book list sites serve do pretty much the same thing. These include the following:
Nextbook.org – a gateway to Jewish literature (comprehensive archive)
Storycode.com – book recommendations made by way of a unique search tool
Random House’s List of 100 Best novels [of all time] – at http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.html
These are more than a half to keep you happily reading for many, many years to come.
A really great way to find excellent books to read is to look at book club recommendations. Of course, you might want to nose around a little too get an idea as to which book club profile fits your tastes first, so the following are a few descriptions of the clubs and the kinds of recommendations they put forth, whether direct suggestions or indirect tips:
MAIL ORDER BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS
When I was a kid, Mom—a voracious reader—belonged to a mail-order book club. Later, when I was old enough to have my own account, I joined with her. I don't remember exactly which club that initial one was, but these are the most popular:
Book-of-the-Month-Club
Quality Paperback Books
The Literary Guild
Each mail-order set up is unique, but does have a common, tedious trend: they send you a notification of the recommended title (based on the information you signed up with about your reading habits) and or whichever bookends the hat at the time. If you get the card first and do not refuse the offer, you get the book…and have to pay for it. If the books are automatically sent to you, you have to return it within a relatively short period of time after getting it or you will be charged. This is the main complaint of these clubs, though a close second complaint is the title listings aren’t all that inspiring. These aren't always the current bestsellers and they're obviously inventory that they want to clear out.
TV BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS
On TV there to television shows that discuss books that I can think of. Charlie Rose’s author interviews and Oprah’s Book Club. Both are, in my case, American offerings, the former showing only on public broadcasting, but 214 of them throughout the country.
Charlie Rose runs the gamut by covering just about any kind of literature. The authors that he usually speaks are contemporary fiction and nonfiction writers. A few of the authors that I've seen on these very shows include such literary luminaries as the embarrassingly liberal Maureen Dowd, action man Tom Clancy, James Risen, Toni Morrison, and Seamus Heany.
Oprah is a horse of a different color. She generally interviews authors, too, but her book club goes a bit further, she is an avid reader and because of that she finds the authors of books she loves, which is of course completely understandable. She first introduces the book and then panels a book discussion session on the book. If you find, as I did, that Oprah's recommendations mirror the kinds of work that you enjoy reading, or what you once read and agree is a must-read, then it only makes sense to follow her recommendations in the future. She has been dead-on about such titles as Wally Lamb’s She’s Come Undone; Kaye Gibson’s Ellen Foster; and, of course, all (or most) of Toni Morrison’s works—books that you must read, as Morrison is one of the most prolific authors of our century.
INTERNET BOOK CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS
The Internet is a great place to find niche books sites. That is, if you are an adolescent seeking highly recommended books, you will find TeenInk.com to be a wonderful destination for locating the best books for your age group. If you are Christian who enjoys reading fiction, you will find like-minded individuals on FocusonFiction.net to be most helpful in listing and detailing the best books for Christian fiction lovers.
And single genre sites and top 100 book list sites serve do pretty much the same thing. These include the following:
Nextbook.org – a gateway to Jewish literature (comprehensive archive)
Storycode.com – book recommendations made by way of a unique search tool
Random House’s List of 100 Best novels [of all time] – at http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100bestnovels.html
These are more than a half to keep you happily reading for many, many years to come.
Mark Twain books
As an undergraduate and then a graduate student majoring in contemporary literature, I had the opportunity to read a number of Mark Twain books and short stories, including The Tragedy of Puddin’head Wilson and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Next, as a college English instructor, I would include a lengthy classroom discussion of banned books, among them the work often removed from school library shelves and omitted from the lower grade curricula—The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and/or Huckleberry Finn. Then, just recently, I was called to help a student read one of the lesser known or less often academically included Mark Twain books: The Mysterious Stranger.
What a literary delight! The Mysterious Stranger was evidently the last of the Mark Twain books and is supposedly unfinished. Granted, the ending does not give readers closure, per se, other than to offer the “cop-out” dues ex machine solution of all of the events and the visit by Satan having been a DREAM. But the subtext, the underlying themes, and the traditional and classic Twain humor are irrefutably wonderful. There is an implication of doubling—a device Twain perfects in numerous books—and concepts regarding power, hypocrisy, and the most metaphysical of all, free will and choosing.
Other Mark Twain books are equally involved and involving, are engaging narratives with subtle morality lessons, and still other Mark Twain books, which are STILL misunderstood, point the basest of human qualities and goals…such as friendship, love, justice, and fate.
I would be, however, hard pressed to recommend just one or two Mark Twain books, and will instead give you a short reading list so you and/or yours can decide for yourselves. While my list is incomplete, though, keep in mind you can go to a number of sites online where you can not only get a summary and/or a brief critiques but where you can find the full online text of many if not most of Mark Twain’s books.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The American Claimant
A Burlesque Autobiography
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Carnival of Crime in CT
Curious Republic of Gondour
A Dog's Tale
A Double-Barreled Detective
Extracts from Adam's Diary
Following the Equator
The Gilded Age
How to Tell a Story and Others
The Innocents Abroad
Life on the Mississippi
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg and other Stories
The Mysterious Stranger
The Prince and the Pauper
Roughing It
The Stolen White Elephant
The $30,000 Bequest
Tom Sawyer Abroad
Tom Sawyer, Detective
A Tramp Abroad
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson
What a literary delight! The Mysterious Stranger was evidently the last of the Mark Twain books and is supposedly unfinished. Granted, the ending does not give readers closure, per se, other than to offer the “cop-out” dues ex machine solution of all of the events and the visit by Satan having been a DREAM. But the subtext, the underlying themes, and the traditional and classic Twain humor are irrefutably wonderful. There is an implication of doubling—a device Twain perfects in numerous books—and concepts regarding power, hypocrisy, and the most metaphysical of all, free will and choosing.
Other Mark Twain books are equally involved and involving, are engaging narratives with subtle morality lessons, and still other Mark Twain books, which are STILL misunderstood, point the basest of human qualities and goals…such as friendship, love, justice, and fate.
I would be, however, hard pressed to recommend just one or two Mark Twain books, and will instead give you a short reading list so you and/or yours can decide for yourselves. While my list is incomplete, though, keep in mind you can go to a number of sites online where you can not only get a summary and/or a brief critiques but where you can find the full online text of many if not most of Mark Twain’s books.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The American Claimant
A Burlesque Autobiography
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Carnival of Crime in CT
Curious Republic of Gondour
A Dog's Tale
A Double-Barreled Detective
Extracts from Adam's Diary
Following the Equator
The Gilded Age
How to Tell a Story and Others
The Innocents Abroad
Life on the Mississippi
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg and other Stories
The Mysterious Stranger
The Prince and the Pauper
Roughing It
The Stolen White Elephant
The $30,000 Bequest
Tom Sawyer Abroad
Tom Sawyer, Detective
A Tramp Abroad
The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Literature On The Law Of Attraction
The Law of Attraction is not a newly revealed secret, it was taught by a very humble man of God more than 2000 years ago. "Jesus Taught It, Too: The Early Roots of the Law of Attraction," by Philip Harris presents a compelling argument that the Law of Attraction is not a modern paradigm shift. Harris portrays the teachings of Jesus and his followers as a mindset that requires knowing one's inner meaning that comes from the heart. Jesus, referenced in multiple scriptural references, espoused the firm belief that faith is based on knowing...not hoping.
Harris' in-depth research of Biblical scripture and history offers unique perspectives and well-founded premises to support his discussion of Jesus' simple message. According to Harris, Jesus taught that we live in a unified universe, free of judgment, in which we are seeking our individual spirituality.
Organized religion is a man-made institution that teaches the faithful about the dogma of good, evil, sin and a punitive God. The New Age movement is not truly new, according to Harris. Since the early 1800's the movement has taught the power of positive thinking and positive affirmations and has included such followers as Alcott, Emerson and Thoreau. Man has sought to analyze spiritual thought and seek their inner Christ through visualization since the Apostles first sat at the foot of their Master.
"Jesus Taught It, Too..." explores the concept that a true meditative state is found only when you are free of emotional, spiritual, and physical baggage. Through the recognition that God is not exclusionary you can reap physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional wealth. Doubt will ensure failure.
"Jesus Taught It, Too..." presents complex theocratic beliefs in simple, straight-forward language. The Law of Attraction addresses the powerful influence of positive thinking in the acquisition of physical and material needs. Jesus taught that by applying these same principals to one's spiritual life, one's physical and material needs will be met as a natural result of their application. Harris challenges the reader to "believe in the best with an inner conviction...and it will manifest in your life." This book's intriguing but down-to-earth message will appeal to any reader seeking to broaden their spiritual horizon.
Harris' in-depth research of Biblical scripture and history offers unique perspectives and well-founded premises to support his discussion of Jesus' simple message. According to Harris, Jesus taught that we live in a unified universe, free of judgment, in which we are seeking our individual spirituality.
Organized religion is a man-made institution that teaches the faithful about the dogma of good, evil, sin and a punitive God. The New Age movement is not truly new, according to Harris. Since the early 1800's the movement has taught the power of positive thinking and positive affirmations and has included such followers as Alcott, Emerson and Thoreau. Man has sought to analyze spiritual thought and seek their inner Christ through visualization since the Apostles first sat at the foot of their Master.
"Jesus Taught It, Too..." explores the concept that a true meditative state is found only when you are free of emotional, spiritual, and physical baggage. Through the recognition that God is not exclusionary you can reap physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional wealth. Doubt will ensure failure.
"Jesus Taught It, Too..." presents complex theocratic beliefs in simple, straight-forward language. The Law of Attraction addresses the powerful influence of positive thinking in the acquisition of physical and material needs. Jesus taught that by applying these same principals to one's spiritual life, one's physical and material needs will be met as a natural result of their application. Harris challenges the reader to "believe in the best with an inner conviction...and it will manifest in your life." This book's intriguing but down-to-earth message will appeal to any reader seeking to broaden their spiritual horizon.
Recommending The Right Book Reviews And Litearture
There seems to be a lot of competition for advanced fighter aircraft in the world, as the military arms business is alive and well. Most modernized nations can attribute a significant part of the GDP to the selling of weapons, aircraft, warships, etc. The Russians are in partnership with a few nations to help with the logistics of building fighter aircraft. The Russians then sell these aircraft to anyone who will buy them. The Chinese are selling long-range guided missiles, capable of delivering nuclear weapons across continents.
In the European Union, they sell the modern Euro Fighters amongst several popular late model aircraft. The USA sells F-15s, F-18s, F-16s and now has a available the JSF stealth fighter, which is available to our close allies. Now comes the question, are nation-states who are serious about military defense buying these new aircraft to appease trading partners and form alliances or are they buying them because they are the best available piece of hardware?
This is an interesting question as some nations are buying modernized Su-37 aircraft, which by all accounts is much inferior to the JSF aircraft made in the USA. Many countries without significant funds buy the inferior aircraft to save money, yet in reality, they are no match for the JSF. In fact, the stealth aircraft is almost impossible to detect and most likely would have already launched its payload prior to being seen, therefore killing its multiple inferior targets, before they even knew what hit them.
One question which was recently raised by the Online Think Tank is; why would any nation want to buy aircraft that makes them a sitting duck? Is it out of ego, that their military leadership or politicians can say look - we have the most number of fighter aircraft? Is it out of the need to buy weapons to stay on a nation's good list or are they buying the aircraft to defend their people? Only one answer would satisfy a true military strategist, the answer is buy the most advanced aircraft so you can win in battle if that time arises - we chose the JSF. Sincerely, Lance.
In the European Union, they sell the modern Euro Fighters amongst several popular late model aircraft. The USA sells F-15s, F-18s, F-16s and now has a available the JSF stealth fighter, which is available to our close allies. Now comes the question, are nation-states who are serious about military defense buying these new aircraft to appease trading partners and form alliances or are they buying them because they are the best available piece of hardware?
This is an interesting question as some nations are buying modernized Su-37 aircraft, which by all accounts is much inferior to the JSF aircraft made in the USA. Many countries without significant funds buy the inferior aircraft to save money, yet in reality, they are no match for the JSF. In fact, the stealth aircraft is almost impossible to detect and most likely would have already launched its payload prior to being seen, therefore killing its multiple inferior targets, before they even knew what hit them.
One question which was recently raised by the Online Think Tank is; why would any nation want to buy aircraft that makes them a sitting duck? Is it out of ego, that their military leadership or politicians can say look - we have the most number of fighter aircraft? Is it out of the need to buy weapons to stay on a nation's good list or are they buying the aircraft to defend their people? Only one answer would satisfy a true military strategist, the answer is buy the most advanced aircraft so you can win in battle if that time arises - we chose the JSF. Sincerely, Lance.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Literature For Advanced And Higher Studies
A bachelor degree student who studies literature learns to think creatively and critically. You interrogate texts not because you have nothing better to do but because literature affords you powerful glimpses of lived experiences and philosophy in action.
When you study literature, you are also studying philosophy, human psychology, sociology, history, culture, race, sexuality and gender, religion and other aspects of the human experience all at the same time.
The term 'English literature' strikes people with awe and wonderment as they automatically associate someone who studies it with bookishness and intensity. People think that bachelor degree students of literature are not only too serious (nerds or geeks) for their own good, but also rather out of touch with reality. People fail to note that literature is not just Shakespeare, but encompasses such a broad range of writing. You spend hours reading lots of books, including material that is sometimes really old and really quaint and yet you are not all Shakespeare fans nor do you all end up teaching.
Literature is no longer studied merely for its textual richness alone, but for its relationship to gender and sexual issues (feminism), political and social aspects (post modernism), philosophical possibilities and its historical value (historicism).
Bachelor degree students have not only to read what is in between the lines, but what the text leaves out or unsaid in order to grasp what is said. Of course, there will be tools to assist in this sort of textual interrogation.
While studying literature alone cannot get you a job directly, studying it makes you a better person and a much more dynamic individual. These are qualities which you need in whatever job you do.
Literature opens your eyes to other lives and teaches you not to be judgmental about other people's way of living, which can greatly help you if your job requires that you travel or work with foreigners.
Literature also teaches you humility and courage, understanding and grace, while it gives you insights into the dynamics of good and evil, love and hate. So, whether you are a director of a major international company or an events manager, a traveling marketing manager or a communications engineer, literature is a helpful way of knowing and comprehending your world to make you a better person and a better worker.
So what do you need in order to succeed in literature? Basically, an inquisitive disposition and a love for ambiguity as literature does not provide straight answers to the problems posed by the text.
Everything about this course is subjective and based on interpretation. However, tools of the trade will enable some guidelines and assistance as to how far you can interrogate a piece of writing. Moreover, you must love reading as to study literature requires a lot of your time as well as energy for writing. Last but not least, if you want to experience the power of written word, be moved by the rhythm of a poem, be amazed by the wonder of your world, then literature is definitely for you.
Definition Of Childrens Literature
It may seem strange to think that there is some question as to what constitutes a children's book for many after all this would seem like a question with an obvious answer. A children's book was after all created for children. However Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain one of the books considered to be classical children's literature was originally intended for adults and as indeed received some past censorship because of how interpret it was considered for children. The Grimm's fairy tales also where written initially for adults, yet they where bought for children. This situation of children taking over what was supposed to be an book for adults has led to many problems. After all society then complains that the story was not appropriate for children, and so attacks to book. Further the book not being appropriate for children perhaps does cause some social problems. Yet we still seem to consider many such books as children's literature.
Why is it books written for adults become children's books? Or at least books read by children. Although it is perhaps impossible to state all the reasons for this situation, I would forward three theories on ways in which this can occur.
The first reason is that a book offers a fantastic reality, an imaginative story, children like such stories and so for whatever reason it is presumed that such imaginativeness is in the realm of children's literature. This could for example be the case with Gulliver's Travels and of course the Grimm's Fairy Tales. In many ways I would argue it's sad that if a story is fun and imaginative it is automatically pushed off into the realm of children. Not that children's literature is lesser, indeed this imaginativeness has helped in many ways to make it superior to that created for adults. Rather it is sad that adults do not presume that such creative genius is worth more of their time.
Another reason which a book might become children's literature is that it is about a child, for some reason a child character makes people automatically assume a child should read it, as if they are the only ones who can relate to a child. This is a ridiculous notion of course, we where all children and besides of which all such books where written by intelligent adults.
The final reason I will propose is that many books and works of art intended for adults become children's as a means of expanding their reach or extending their life. This is why for example one will find the works of Jane Austen in the children's literature section at the book store with a little charm.
This still does not answer the question of what is children's literature. Part of the problem here may be that we have not yet truly defined the question, broad questions have broad answers. The question may be what should parents have their children read, or what should educators and those studying children's literature study in order to learn about the impact of literature on children? In the case of the first question the answer is in regards to the parents beliefs and their kids reaction to things. If a parent does not believe their kid should be exposed to something then it does not constitute children's literature for that kid. This definition of course makes the whole field of children's books very difficult as there are so many differing views on what is acceptable for children to read.
However this problem would beg the question, is the purpose of the definition to help people study children's literature or to help parents decide which books their kids can read? In the case of the purpose for study children's literature would constitute all books which children regularly read. After all the purpose of study is to determine what is acceptable to read and what impact such readings have on children, as will as ways to make future books better. For this purpose to be effective all books which children read must be included. Part of the difficulty of course with determining what constitutes children's literature is that there is some debate as to what children are.
After all different cultures have at times believed many different things about children. However I would point out that this in and of itself is exactly the point, childhood is viewed as different by different cultures. It is then a cultural definition, one which our society can answer and change. Certainly it is difficult for people to accept this idea, and for many the idea that the culture determines someone's role is tantamount to prejudice, however when it comes to defining a state and an impact we are indeed looking at cultural variables. One cannot for example assume that a picture book based on the Impressionist style, and with Swedish Motifs would have the same impact on Americans as it does Japanese or Swedes. It is culture which determines the role literature plays in our lives so it is through a cultures definitions of something that that thing should be defined. Further accepting one cultures definition of what defines children and not another's is prejudice.
In American culture this definition of child has been constructed in a way as Minors to the age of 18, however not all of these ages are considered children per say, they are teenagers, pre-teens, Elementary, Preschool, Toddlers and more. However as a society we have defined these groups and so a wish to understand their demographic must begin with the societies definitions of them. Arguing that a culture is wrong is often a mute point, just as literature is a social construct many of the emotions and impact surrounding it are too.
Children's literature then according to my definition and the definition which will be found throughout this site is literature which impacts directly through reading a fairly decent percentage of the population which is considered children by the culture it is from. Or in the case of cross-cultural analysis such impacts will extend to ages determined by the culture with the oldest children or the largest definition of them. Why? Because in many cases especially historical ones children where considered adults fairly young, yet if we want to compare differences in impact between 8 year olds we must study both sets of 8 year olds. It is important to stress that this is not a means to push one cultures definition on another it is merely a research construct intended to help study literature, so that we can better understand its impact.
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