Yesterday in class, January 28th, we discussed Hansel and Gretel from the many different types of stories we read in our Classic Fairy Tales novel by Maria Tatar. I thoroughly enjoy the class discussions because Dr. Robinson, along with some of the students, point out things from the fairy tales that I would have never noticed on my own. A comment from yesterdays discussion that sticks out in my head was one that the girl sitting next to me made. She asked Dr. Robinson if the numbers 3 or 7 had a significant meaning behind them because they were used so frequently in fairy tales. Dr Robinson did not have a direct answer for this because no one knows the real answer, but the student pointed out that the numbers could be directly related with religion. The number 7 could represent the 7 deadly sins and the number 3 could represent the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, which are common symbols of Christianity. I found this point to be very interesting because before this class I never related religion to children's literature. The class discussion really help to me open my eyes to the deeper meaning of children's literature, and to begin thinking outside the box.
When we were first assigned these blogs I was dreading them because i am not a creative person at all. After writing my first blog I realized that it is not about having the coolest looking blog, or even the most creative, but it is about writing down your reflections, experiences and feelings about children's literature. These blogs are beginning to help me better reflect on the things I learn in class, and outside of class.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD8L5alZ-e8
<:AtomicElement>
Above is a link that will take you to a you tube clip of someone reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. If you have never read this story before, I suggest you do. As a child this was one of my favorite stories. I used to read it all the time. It was one of the first books I read on my own. Re-reading the book I noticed that the mouse is a very selfish mouse. He was never satisfied. First, he wanted a cookie and that seem harmless because who doesn't want a cookie? After he gets the cookie he then demands milk, a straw to drink the milk with, a napkin to wipe his face with, and then a mirror to check if he has a milk moustache. When he looks in the mirror he notices he needs a haircut, which requires scissors. Then he needs a broom to clean up the hair, and he continues sweeping until he has swept the entire house. Sweeping the floors makes the mouse want to wash the floors. The excess amount of the cleaning tires the mouse out so he needs a bed to sleep in with pillows and blankets, and he requires a story be read to him. Having the story read to him is not enough though, he must see all of the pictures. The pictures excite the mouse and make him want to draw his own pictures, which means he needs paper and colors. After drawing the picture the mouse needs a pen to sign it with and scotch tape to put it on the refrigerator. After hanging his picture the mouse takes a step back and admires his artwork hanging on the fridge. Looking at the fridge makes the mouse thirsty, so he asks for a glass of milk. The story is a vicious circle, the mouse starts off wanting a cookie and ends up wanting milk, which leads the reader to believe he will then want a cookie to go with the milk. The mouse is a great representation of people in general. It is human nature to always want more. Nothing is ever enough because there is so much to be had. If you are living in poverty wanting more may just mean you want an extra piece of bread at dinner. Being rich may mean that every year you must upgrade your car to have the top of the line vehicle. Whatever the circumstances may be, people are never satisfied with what they have, and they always long for more.
<:AtomicElement>
Above is a link that will take you to a you tube clip of someone reading If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. If you have never read this story before, I suggest you do. As a child this was one of my favorite stories. I used to read it all the time. It was one of the first books I read on my own. Re-reading the book I noticed that the mouse is a very selfish mouse. He was never satisfied. First, he wanted a cookie and that seem harmless because who doesn't want a cookie? After he gets the cookie he then demands milk, a straw to drink the milk with, a napkin to wipe his face with, and then a mirror to check if he has a milk moustache. When he looks in the mirror he notices he needs a haircut, which requires scissors. Then he needs a broom to clean up the hair, and he continues sweeping until he has swept the entire house. Sweeping the floors makes the mouse want to wash the floors. The excess amount of the cleaning tires the mouse out so he needs a bed to sleep in with pillows and blankets, and he requires a story be read to him. Having the story read to him is not enough though, he must see all of the pictures. The pictures excite the mouse and make him want to draw his own pictures, which means he needs paper and colors. After drawing the picture the mouse needs a pen to sign it with and scotch tape to put it on the refrigerator. After hanging his picture the mouse takes a step back and admires his artwork hanging on the fridge. Looking at the fridge makes the mouse thirsty, so he asks for a glass of milk. The story is a vicious circle, the mouse starts off wanting a cookie and ends up wanting milk, which leads the reader to believe he will then want a cookie to go with the milk. The mouse is a great representation of people in general. It is human nature to always want more. Nothing is ever enough because there is so much to be had. If you are living in poverty wanting more may just mean you want an extra piece of bread at dinner. Being rich may mean that every year you must upgrade your car to have the top of the line vehicle. Whatever the circumstances may be, people are never satisfied with what they have, and they always long for more.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Growing up-the dark side
Being young and naive brings pleasure when you read
Growing up and gaining wit doesn’t mean you have to quit
Reading books give you knowledge
I study children’s literature everyday while I’m in college
I used to read children’s books and fantasize
Now in my English class all we do is analyze
When did children’s books become dark and perverse?
Is it just me or did the meaning of children’s books get reversed?
Maybe being young and naive isn’t such a bad thing
Being old and wise brings about the dark side to what was once such an enjoyable thing
Why do people feel the need to pull the evil side out of children’s novels?
Can’t they just enjoy them, as if they were reading them with rose colored goggles?
Don’t wish away your youthful bliss
Once you grow up it is your childhood you will miss
Nothing is what it seems once you open your eyes
Everything you read will hold a different surprise
Growing up and gaining wit doesn’t mean you have to quit
Reading books give you knowledge
I study children’s literature everyday while I’m in college
I used to read children’s books and fantasize
Now in my English class all we do is analyze
When did children’s books become dark and perverse?
Is it just me or did the meaning of children’s books get reversed?
Maybe being young and naive isn’t such a bad thing
Being old and wise brings about the dark side to what was once such an enjoyable thing
Why do people feel the need to pull the evil side out of children’s novels?
Can’t they just enjoy them, as if they were reading them with rose colored goggles?
Don’t wish away your youthful bliss
Once you grow up it is your childhood you will miss
Nothing is what it seems once you open your eyes
Everything you read will hold a different surprise
Outside Reading Books
Book 1: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Author: Laura Numeroff
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: Januray 27, 2008
Book 2: What Do You Say When a Monkey Acts This Way
Author: Jane Belk Moncure
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: March 23, 2008
Book 3: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: April 3, 2008
Book 4: Green Eggs and Ham
Author: Dr. Seuss
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: April 9, 2008
Book 5: Hop on Pop
Author: Dr.Seuss
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: April 9, 2008
Book 6: Freckle Juice
Author: Judy Blume
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 12, 2008
Book 7: A Dog Called Kitty
Author: Bill Wallace
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 17,2008
Book 8: Holes
Author: Louis Sachar
Picture Book:no
Posting Date: April 20, 2008
Book 9: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C.S. Lewis
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 24, 2008
Book 10: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 27, 2008
Author: Laura Numeroff
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: Januray 27, 2008
Book 2: What Do You Say When a Monkey Acts This Way
Author: Jane Belk Moncure
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: March 23, 2008
Book 3: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Author: Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: April 3, 2008
Book 4: Green Eggs and Ham
Author: Dr. Seuss
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: April 9, 2008
Book 5: Hop on Pop
Author: Dr.Seuss
Picture Book: yes
Posting Date: April 9, 2008
Book 6: Freckle Juice
Author: Judy Blume
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 12, 2008
Book 7: A Dog Called Kitty
Author: Bill Wallace
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 17,2008
Book 8: Holes
Author: Louis Sachar
Picture Book:no
Posting Date: April 20, 2008
Book 9: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew
Author: C.S. Lewis
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 24, 2008
Book 10: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: C.S. Lewis
Picture Book: no
Posting Date: April 27, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Children's Literature-through the eyes of an adult
When i was a child, every night before i went to bed my mom and dad would read me children's stories from my favorite story books. To me these stories were just fun to listen to before i went to sleep. When my parents read them they used funny voices and movements to make the stories even more enjoyable. As a child we are all innocents and do not look into the depth of anything, everything is very surface. As we grow and mature we begin to analyze more and see the deeper side to things, such as children's literature. For example, when i was younger i was familiar with the fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood". In my eyes this was a story about a little girl who went to visit her grandma while she was sick, but instead encounters a wolf who eats LRRH but then she is saved by a woodsmen. When i went back and read LRRH as a more mature adult i began to analyze it more, and see the more perverse side of the tale. In my eyes the wolve symoblizes a male predator, out to attack a young girl. He invites her into bed with him, showing his hormonal male instincts. He ties a rope to her ankle when she has to use the restroom, showing his need to control someone weaker than him. Also, he stalks her in the woods, showing his need to seek out his prey before he "attacks". As a child, one would never notice the perverse side to the innocent tale of LRRH. Reading childrens literature as an adult shines a bright light on the many different depths of childrens readings.
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