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Russell Freedman: children's responses
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From: linda greengrass <bogus_at_does.not.exist.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 08:36:03 -0400
Actually, I do think it's the format, but for different reasons. When children choose Children of the Wild West, the are indeed often selecting for recreational purposes. When they are looking for biography, often they are fulfilling an assignment requirement. The concern, therefore, becomes whether or not the teacher will accept this book as an age appropriate choice for a biography. All too often teachers are unfamiliar with the content and judge solely on appearance. The librarian has to make it a point to "educate" teachers about the value of non-traditional formats. Children, when "permitted" to select the books, love them.
Linda Greengrass Acting Director of Library Services Bank Street College of Education 610 West 112th St New York, NY 10025 lindag at bnkst.edu
Several people have made eloquent, thoughtful comments about Russell Freedman's biographies over the past week and a half. Thank you all so much for those well-reasoned contributions.
Ginny Kruse raised a question about sharing Freedman's books with children and I'd like to respond and ask for other reponses. I myself am a huge fan of Freedman's bios (especially "The Wright Brothers") and used to promote them all the time to children at the public library. I was always disappointed, however, that there were rarely any takers
(except for parents who overheard me talking about the books). I should mention that the I only had trouble with Freedman's biographies (even when kids were specifically looking for books about Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt) and it happened whether I'd promote one as the best book on the subject they were researching or as a recommended biography or as recreational reading.
I never had any trouble finding readers for "Children of the Wild West,"
"Cowboys of the Wild West," or "Immigrant Kids" so I don't think it was the format that was turning kids off. Perhaps it was just that most kids aren't interested in the people Freedman has chosen as subjects? What do you think? Have other people had a similar experience or have you found a way to "sell" Freedman's bios to kids?
Kathleen Horning (horning at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison
Received on Thu 09 Apr 1998 07:36:03 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 1998 08:36:03 -0400
Actually, I do think it's the format, but for different reasons. When children choose Children of the Wild West, the are indeed often selecting for recreational purposes. When they are looking for biography, often they are fulfilling an assignment requirement. The concern, therefore, becomes whether or not the teacher will accept this book as an age appropriate choice for a biography. All too often teachers are unfamiliar with the content and judge solely on appearance. The librarian has to make it a point to "educate" teachers about the value of non-traditional formats. Children, when "permitted" to select the books, love them.
Linda Greengrass Acting Director of Library Services Bank Street College of Education 610 West 112th St New York, NY 10025 lindag at bnkst.edu
Several people have made eloquent, thoughtful comments about Russell Freedman's biographies over the past week and a half. Thank you all so much for those well-reasoned contributions.
Ginny Kruse raised a question about sharing Freedman's books with children and I'd like to respond and ask for other reponses. I myself am a huge fan of Freedman's bios (especially "The Wright Brothers") and used to promote them all the time to children at the public library. I was always disappointed, however, that there were rarely any takers
(except for parents who overheard me talking about the books). I should mention that the I only had trouble with Freedman's biographies (even when kids were specifically looking for books about Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt) and it happened whether I'd promote one as the best book on the subject they were researching or as a recommended biography or as recreational reading.
I never had any trouble finding readers for "Children of the Wild West,"
"Cowboys of the Wild West," or "Immigrant Kids" so I don't think it was the format that was turning kids off. Perhaps it was just that most kids aren't interested in the people Freedman has chosen as subjects? What do you think? Have other people had a similar experience or have you found a way to "sell" Freedman's bios to kids?
Kathleen Horning (horning at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education UW-Madison
Received on Thu 09 Apr 1998 07:36:03 AM CDT
