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Reading Aloud Bud and other books
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From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 06:05:22 +0000
lhendr at unm.edu writes:
I so agree with you, Linnea, about how reading books aloud to children
influence's one's own responses. I'm currently reading aloud Alice in Wonderland to my fourth graders. It may well be the twentieth time I've read it aloud to a class. And again, as every year, I am delighted at their enjoyment of the work, one people seem to feel is no longer for children (despite constantly new editions.) I suspect that one mark of a classic children's book is whether an adult can enjoy reading it aloud year after year. Such a book must have wonderful language as, after a few readings, the plot is going to be awfully familar (to the adult reader, if not to the child listeners.)
Such a book for me has been Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham63. I've read it yearly since it was first published. I love the language and the kid voices. These read alouds, for example, helped me see the point of "Ready, aim fire!" At first it annoyed me, but the kids really appreciated the repetition so I began to as well. I now love every bit of that book and can't wait to read aloud Bud, Not Buddy. I'm also a fan of the sort of picaresque novel Bud, Not Buddy is. (Both of Curtis's works have something about them that remind me of Gary Paulsen's Harris and Me.)
My class recently did a study of Cinderella. I encourage my students to think hard about what makes a Cinderella tale and where they see it in the various stories they know. This year our chart, in addition to the usual Perrault, Grimm, Steptoe, and variants from other cultures (mostly retold for American children) includes Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Charlotte's Web. (Wilbur's parents die, he goes from an ordinary pig to a very special one, has Charlotte as a fairy godmother, a death deadline, and so forth.)
After listening to Gail Carson Levine talk I noticed that Dave at Night was full of Cinderella motifs so read it aloud to see what my kids thought. They ended up writing her letters trying to convince her that it was indeed a Cinderella story. I can't wait to begin Bud, Not Buddy and see what unexpected connections they make. Not to mention I want to hear their laughter and pleasure for the humor and language. I'm sure I'll view the book differently once I've read it to them. I can't wait! (This is why I love teaching fourth grade after so many years. Each group of kids has a unique response to books, ideas, themes, etc.)
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY
Received on Fri 28 Jan 2000 12:05:22 AM CST
Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 06:05:22 +0000
lhendr at unm.edu writes:
I so agree with you, Linnea, about how reading books aloud to children
influence's one's own responses. I'm currently reading aloud Alice in Wonderland to my fourth graders. It may well be the twentieth time I've read it aloud to a class. And again, as every year, I am delighted at their enjoyment of the work, one people seem to feel is no longer for children (despite constantly new editions.) I suspect that one mark of a classic children's book is whether an adult can enjoy reading it aloud year after year. Such a book must have wonderful language as, after a few readings, the plot is going to be awfully familar (to the adult reader, if not to the child listeners.)
Such a book for me has been Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham63. I've read it yearly since it was first published. I love the language and the kid voices. These read alouds, for example, helped me see the point of "Ready, aim fire!" At first it annoyed me, but the kids really appreciated the repetition so I began to as well. I now love every bit of that book and can't wait to read aloud Bud, Not Buddy. I'm also a fan of the sort of picaresque novel Bud, Not Buddy is. (Both of Curtis's works have something about them that remind me of Gary Paulsen's Harris and Me.)
My class recently did a study of Cinderella. I encourage my students to think hard about what makes a Cinderella tale and where they see it in the various stories they know. This year our chart, in addition to the usual Perrault, Grimm, Steptoe, and variants from other cultures (mostly retold for American children) includes Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Charlotte's Web. (Wilbur's parents die, he goes from an ordinary pig to a very special one, has Charlotte as a fairy godmother, a death deadline, and so forth.)
After listening to Gail Carson Levine talk I noticed that Dave at Night was full of Cinderella motifs so read it aloud to see what my kids thought. They ended up writing her letters trying to convince her that it was indeed a Cinderella story. I can't wait to begin Bud, Not Buddy and see what unexpected connections they make. Not to mention I want to hear their laughter and pleasure for the humor and language. I'm sure I'll view the book differently once I've read it to them. I can't wait! (This is why I love teaching fourth grade after so many years. Each group of kids has a unique response to books, ideas, themes, etc.)
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY
Received on Fri 28 Jan 2000 12:05:22 AM CST
