From: Edna Brabham <ebrabham>
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 97 17:38:08 PST

Eleanor, I am interested in doing research on this very topic. I used Call Me Anihighto by Pam Conrad for my dissertation research. The meteor, Ahnighito, thinks and talks to readers. Some of the teachers who read this book objected to the anthropomophism, but the 1st and 3rd graders liked this book much better than the other book (George's Everglades) I used for looking at the effect of teachers' reading aloud styles on vocabulary acquisition and comprehension. They also learned more words and did better on the comprehension tests, but I don't know that it was because Ahnighito talked to them. I do, however, think that younger readers are better able to connect with information if it is presented in conversational formats. I had 1st graders who were very quick to point out that meteors can not really think and talk. Perhaps anthropomorphism is a good test of reality and make?lieve for children at an age where they are sorting out these things!

I am interested in whether you use the big A in your books.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Edna Brabham Department of Curriculum & Teaching Auburn University, AL 36830
(334) 844g93
Received on Tue 11 Nov 1997 07:38:08 PM CST