CCBC-Net Archives
Children's books
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Megan Schliesman <mjschlie>
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 13:21:18 -0500
Melody Allen wrote: "I think the truly child?ntered books touch on the developmental issues that are central to a child's life - the need for love and security, curiosity about the world and movement away from family toward independent exploration, a sense of accomplishment and competence (think of Goodnight Moon, Curious George, Ira Sleeps Over). Another criteria to me is books that know how to incorporate childlike play - such as Sheep in a Jeep for play with language and all of Peggy Rathman's books..."
We are building a list of things we look for in "true picture books," keeping younger children in mind. I'd like to invite CCBC-NET subscribers to share books they have used with preschoolers in one way or another that have been successful in either solo or group settings. In considering such books, perhaps we can add other criteria to our list of what makes a good picture book. So, what books have you found younger children to love, and why do you think they love them?
At the same time, we have begun asking who are some picture books written for. The question "Who is the audience for this book?" is one that often comes up at the CCBC's monthly book discussions. Sometimes the response is unanimous: "preschoolers," or "children age 5-9, "but sometimes there is quite a difference of opinion, and sometimes the unanimous response is
"adults" or "no child we can think of."
What I find so difficult to consider when I'm looking at a book that has primarily adult appeal is that some - or perhaps many - adults will buy it because they like it and think it will be wonderful for some child in their lives and both the child and the adult are going to be frustrated when there is no connection. Picture books written with adults in mind are no way to encourage a love of books and reading in children. Who is at fault? Not necessarily the adult, who may not think about books and children in a way that goes beyond personal taste. The author? The publisher? Is it simply that the book should be marketed differently, to adulls for adults? If it's a well-written book, it deserves to find an audience that will appreciate it, and this may even include some children.
To me, promotion of the books is a big issue here. Perhaps part of the difficulty is that it seems books with more adult than child appeal sometimes receive so much promotion, while books with great child appeal get lost. If I were simply a consumer of children's books in the commercial market and not someone who is exposed to the broad scope of publishing for children, I would miss so many excellent books. Those of us who are librarians and educators have an inside line that parents and other consumers do not.
Megan Schliesman Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison schliesman at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 08 Aug 1996 01:21:18 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 1996 13:21:18 -0500
Melody Allen wrote: "I think the truly child?ntered books touch on the developmental issues that are central to a child's life - the need for love and security, curiosity about the world and movement away from family toward independent exploration, a sense of accomplishment and competence (think of Goodnight Moon, Curious George, Ira Sleeps Over). Another criteria to me is books that know how to incorporate childlike play - such as Sheep in a Jeep for play with language and all of Peggy Rathman's books..."
We are building a list of things we look for in "true picture books," keeping younger children in mind. I'd like to invite CCBC-NET subscribers to share books they have used with preschoolers in one way or another that have been successful in either solo or group settings. In considering such books, perhaps we can add other criteria to our list of what makes a good picture book. So, what books have you found younger children to love, and why do you think they love them?
At the same time, we have begun asking who are some picture books written for. The question "Who is the audience for this book?" is one that often comes up at the CCBC's monthly book discussions. Sometimes the response is unanimous: "preschoolers," or "children age 5-9, "but sometimes there is quite a difference of opinion, and sometimes the unanimous response is
"adults" or "no child we can think of."
What I find so difficult to consider when I'm looking at a book that has primarily adult appeal is that some - or perhaps many - adults will buy it because they like it and think it will be wonderful for some child in their lives and both the child and the adult are going to be frustrated when there is no connection. Picture books written with adults in mind are no way to encourage a love of books and reading in children. Who is at fault? Not necessarily the adult, who may not think about books and children in a way that goes beyond personal taste. The author? The publisher? Is it simply that the book should be marketed differently, to adulls for adults? If it's a well-written book, it deserves to find an audience that will appreciate it, and this may even include some children.
To me, promotion of the books is a big issue here. Perhaps part of the difficulty is that it seems books with more adult than child appeal sometimes receive so much promotion, while books with great child appeal get lost. If I were simply a consumer of children's books in the commercial market and not someone who is exposed to the broad scope of publishing for children, I would miss so many excellent books. Those of us who are librarians and educators have an inside line that parents and other consumers do not.
Megan Schliesman Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison schliesman at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 08 Aug 1996 01:21:18 PM CDT
