I registered for Children's Literature because I thought it to be an easy class. After a quarter of analyzing grammar and reading Oedipus Rex, I was exhausted. I wanted to take a course that would count as a literature credit on my transcript, but would allow me to have a break in the process. I saw the reading list and imagined breezing through the quarter with little effort. I had never been especially interested in children's literature as an adult, but I thought I would enjoy a revisit to my childhood. I was not settled on wanting to become a teacher, but I decided the class would be interesting to me as a sister, a foster sister, and perhaps a mother one day.
On the first day of class my feelings changed. I was immediately overwhelmed. What is a Think Piece? I have to attend a conference? No grades until the end? A project and a portfolio? I almost considered dropping the class during the first session. This did not sound like the easy class I had been hoping for, and I did not want to pour so much time into a subject I was hardly interested in.
When I paired up with Dana to read about Briar Fox and Briar Rabbit, my feelings changed. I was drawn into the story immediately. The language captivated me, for I had never read something that required one to read aloud in order to understand the words. I had seen Song of the South many times as a little girl, and these Uncle Remus Tales were a bit like comfort food. By the end of the first class I knew I was going to stay and that I was going to greatly enjoy the quarter.
I had never read The Wizard of Oz, nor had I seen the popular movie. I am thankful for the latter as I did not have any preconceived notions about the book. I chose to read Oz with my sister, an experience that I will always cherish. Her enthusiasm about the book was contagious. As I neared the last few chapters, I was unable to put the book down. Oz was the perfect way to start out the quarter. I was able to shed my analytical cap from the previous quarter and enjoy the book. I did not realize as I was reading and discussing how much I was learning until I wrote my first Think Piece. The learning came to me through my enjoyment, something I once believed to be impossible but now hold to as one of the most valuable things to take away from this quarter.
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, while engaging, was my least favorite book of the quarter. I found myself lost in the large amounts of description. This insight helped me learn about myself as a reader. While I appreciate some description to gain a sense of surroundings in the story, I prefer to allow my imagination do the rest. I was surprised at how negatively many of my classmates reacted to the book. I did not hate it by any means. It was at that time I realized how much criticism our group as a whole had. I was disappointed at first, for I had just shed that critical mind while reading Oz. As we moved through the quarter, though, I began to see the benefit of the discussions we were having because of this. I do not have a critical spirit by nature, so the thoughts of others brought to light things I never would have considered. I was able to do my reading apart from that, though. I read and took from each book what I wanted to take from it, and I came to class to hear the opinions of my classmates.
I had no expectations as I began to read Hattie Big Sky, but when I reached the end of the first chapter I was pulled back into my childhood. Growing up I loved reading stories of girls on the wide open prairie. Hattie's story resonated with me through every page. I also felt as if our class were engaged as a whole-from Thomas' letters to Erich's drawings. The Moodle discussions of this book were lively and interactive. Hattie was not just a book reading; it was an entire experience of learning. I believe this was capped off by the conference, but the majority of my enjoyment of the book was because of my interaction with my classmates.
Bud, Not Buddy came at a unique time in my life. I read the first section of the book the night our four month old foster child was taken from our home to be placed back in a bad situation. I could not help but be emotionally attached to Bud and his story. I kept imagining our little girl several years older and finding a place of love and acceptance in her life. The emphasis on music and rhythm is an interesting aspect of literature that I had not yet explored. The book did indeed have a rhythm of its own. I especially enjoyed the authors' use of Bud's “rules.” As a young reader I loved lists, as I still do. Christopher Paul Curtis wrote the story with a palatable energy. As I read I forgot that the story was written by an adult, but rather truly believed that Bud himself was telling his story. I cannot remember another time in which I forgot about the author in such a real way. I was completely wrapped up in Bud.
If I had to choose a favorite book from the quarter, I would choose First Light. I was an engaged reader from the moment I saw the cover. I have long been interested in alternative societies, especially a world that exists below the ice. Rebecca Stead's use of parallel storytelling between Peter and Thea always kept me turning the page and reading on chapter after chapter. Perhaps my favorite part of the book was the matriarchal society that Gracehope was. It is not often in literature, especially children's literature, that one sees a society completely ruled by women, where men are not required. The message of feminism was strong without being pervasive. Not all young readers may pick up on the theme, but for those who do, I can imagine it being an encouraging message. It was for me as a young woman. Also fascinating about the book was the information about global warming and its effects on Greenland. Rebecca Stead is a masterful writer who wove all these elements together to create an engaging story without preaching her agenda.
The Line was a delight for me to read, especially knowing that Teri Hall was in the Moodle as well as planning a visit with our class. The best part about reading the book was knowing that I could ask the author anything I had thoughts or questions about. It is rare that a reader is afforded such an opportunity. The Line brings up some very poignant questions, things that are relevant to life today. Our class discussion about the book went places I had never connected. I realized that making connections and going new places should be a part of the reading process. The author pours herself into a book, but the reader has to be the one to take something out of it.
The readings were only a portion of the class. My reflections on my think pieces, Moodling, and the conference can be found elsewhere in this portfolio.
I started out this quarter unaware of the field of children's literature. I assumed children's books lacked depth and intellectual qualities. My assumptions were immediately proven to be false. Children's literature is brimming with scholarship, community, and truly great writing. When I read children's books I am able to place myself in each story and not worry about expectations. I do not feel as if I must read them critically, but instead I learn incredible lessons about myself and the world around me through my enjoyment of the books.
This class has opened the door of children's literature to me. I have found my passion, my inspiration, and my field. My studies of children's literature will not stop after this class. I am going on to study children's literature this spring, and I hope to study children's literature in a Master's program in the future.
A.A. Milne, from the mouth of his beloved Winnie the Pooh, spoke a profound thought that resonates with me when I reflect on this course.
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called."
Because of this class and my new discovery of children's literature, I have just begun that moment, but like Pooh, I do not know what it is called.
0 comments:
Post a Comment