From: Megan McGuire <mmcguire>
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 20:02:06 -0500

Hello,
        I'd like to make an observation about trends in children's picture books. I believe that many of the newer books tend to give the children long overdue credit that wasn't demonstrated in ealrier picture books. Children often have a better developed, more sophisticated sense of humor than many people realize. Maybe this is more of a reflection on me than my students, but when I ask children to look for the less obvious humor that the author or illustrator has incorporated in to a picture book they can often find things I miss. They are also able to appreciate sentiment at a deeper level than some adults realize. When I read the book, Train to Somewhere, by Eve Bunting to a mixed group of 1-4th grade students they all empathized deeply with the little girl who kept hoping to see her mother waiting for her at each stop. Many, including me, had lumps in their throats as she found and accepted her new adoptive parents. I was reviewing this book for my school district and I explained this to the children and asked them if they thought that I should recommend this book to other librarians and they enthusiastically said, "YES!" Megan McGuire
Received on Fri 02 Aug 1996 08:02:06 PM CDT