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Picture Books for Older Readers
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From: Junko Yokota <jyok>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 1997 13:55:07 -0600
The picture books listed by KT are from our discussion last month of historical fiction and literature about World War II. War is a topic that should be of concern to all ages, but in particular, the older students who are able to reflect in a more mature way, the issues related to war.
I remember the distressed feeling I had during the Gulf War when I overheard elementary school children tallying up the planes, missiles, bombings, and casualties as if they were discussing their latest round of video and computer games. I wanted these children understand the human toll of war.
When I was a school librarian, I read two picture books about war to a group of sixth graders: FAITHFUL ELEPHANTS and HIROSHIMA NO PIKA. Their silence while I read lead to a reflection about war, followed with comments like, "I didn't think about the children." "I didn't realize that animals had to die, too." "The cover (of FAITHFUL ELEPHANTS) is misleading -- it looks like circus elephants. I don't think this should be in the picture book section of the library. I don't want my little sister in second grade to read that book until she's older."
As a school librarian for over 1200 students in 6 - 12 classes per grade level, I had limited time with each class. I found that picture books could serve to whet the appetites of students in wanting to know more about certain topics. I also found that I had time to read aloud picture books of sensitive issues, have a common experience that served as the basis for a thoughtful discussion.
* An interesting note to those who study children's literature in translation: check out the different "English translations." Based on the same original Japanese text, the British version and the American version are quite different.
Received on Wed 05 Nov 1997 01:55:07 PM CST
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 1997 13:55:07 -0600
The picture books listed by KT are from our discussion last month of historical fiction and literature about World War II. War is a topic that should be of concern to all ages, but in particular, the older students who are able to reflect in a more mature way, the issues related to war.
I remember the distressed feeling I had during the Gulf War when I overheard elementary school children tallying up the planes, missiles, bombings, and casualties as if they were discussing their latest round of video and computer games. I wanted these children understand the human toll of war.
When I was a school librarian, I read two picture books about war to a group of sixth graders: FAITHFUL ELEPHANTS and HIROSHIMA NO PIKA. Their silence while I read lead to a reflection about war, followed with comments like, "I didn't think about the children." "I didn't realize that animals had to die, too." "The cover (of FAITHFUL ELEPHANTS) is misleading -- it looks like circus elephants. I don't think this should be in the picture book section of the library. I don't want my little sister in second grade to read that book until she's older."
As a school librarian for over 1200 students in 6 - 12 classes per grade level, I had limited time with each class. I found that picture books could serve to whet the appetites of students in wanting to know more about certain topics. I also found that I had time to read aloud picture books of sensitive issues, have a common experience that served as the basis for a thoughtful discussion.
* An interesting note to those who study children's literature in translation: check out the different "English translations." Based on the same original Japanese text, the British version and the American version are quite different.
Received on Wed 05 Nov 1997 01:55:07 PM CST
