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Amber and Essie
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From: WMMayes at aol.com <WMMayes>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 10:42:49 EDT
Dean- I guess I am still not clear about the subject we are trying to define. You seem to be saying that certain subject matter renders a book ineligible to be a bridge book. I think the determination is readability. Surely AMBER is within the readability range of the other titles we have discussed? The category seems to have rather fluid boundaries. You offered a pretty good definition, but do we have a widely accepted understanding of that term yet? Other titles (besides Mildred Taylor's) have been mentioned in this discussion that push the envelope of your definition. I maintain that there are some places where AMBER could fit nicely alongside the established titles in the "transition to reading" category. I think there is an overlap between Easy-to Read, Bridge, and Chapter books that makes for a hard and fast definition of the terms.
I was certainly not meaning to condescend to you or your school, which you know I love. If anything, I was going in the opposite direction (what would that word be?) in my observation. An inner-city public school might be a place where Amber & Essie would be recognizable schoolmates, more than at a private school.
Here's a comment I am concerned about:
"I think part of what makes a "bridge" book is intention, of the author and publisher."
So, are these books more of a function of marketing than art? Focusing the package, the text, and the subject matter to fit a particular narrow focus? Don't some publishers have guidelines for writers in this category? I know they do for Early Readers. Does anyone think that this is a rather limiting approach? Or is it a necessity of the age we are trying to reach?
Walter the Giant Storyteller, AKA Walter M. Mayes www.walterthegiant.com
VALERIE & WALTER'S BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: A LIVELY, OPINIONATED GUIDE by Valerie V. Lewis & Walter M. Mayes Newly revised and updated edition in preparation now
WALTER THE GIANT STORYTELLER'S GIANT BOOK OF GIANT STORIES, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley coming from Walker Books in Fall of 2003
PMB #323 2261 Market Street San Francisco, CA 9411400
phone 415p540 fax 415C744 email WMMayes at aol.com
"Love, Food, Shelter, Clothing...Books!"
Received on Tue 09 Oct 2001 09:42:49 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 10:42:49 EDT
Dean- I guess I am still not clear about the subject we are trying to define. You seem to be saying that certain subject matter renders a book ineligible to be a bridge book. I think the determination is readability. Surely AMBER is within the readability range of the other titles we have discussed? The category seems to have rather fluid boundaries. You offered a pretty good definition, but do we have a widely accepted understanding of that term yet? Other titles (besides Mildred Taylor's) have been mentioned in this discussion that push the envelope of your definition. I maintain that there are some places where AMBER could fit nicely alongside the established titles in the "transition to reading" category. I think there is an overlap between Easy-to Read, Bridge, and Chapter books that makes for a hard and fast definition of the terms.
I was certainly not meaning to condescend to you or your school, which you know I love. If anything, I was going in the opposite direction (what would that word be?) in my observation. An inner-city public school might be a place where Amber & Essie would be recognizable schoolmates, more than at a private school.
Here's a comment I am concerned about:
"I think part of what makes a "bridge" book is intention, of the author and publisher."
So, are these books more of a function of marketing than art? Focusing the package, the text, and the subject matter to fit a particular narrow focus? Don't some publishers have guidelines for writers in this category? I know they do for Early Readers. Does anyone think that this is a rather limiting approach? Or is it a necessity of the age we are trying to reach?
Walter the Giant Storyteller, AKA Walter M. Mayes www.walterthegiant.com
VALERIE & WALTER'S BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: A LIVELY, OPINIONATED GUIDE by Valerie V. Lewis & Walter M. Mayes Newly revised and updated edition in preparation now
WALTER THE GIANT STORYTELLER'S GIANT BOOK OF GIANT STORIES, illustrated by Kevin O'Malley coming from Walker Books in Fall of 2003
PMB #323 2261 Market Street San Francisco, CA 9411400
phone 415p540 fax 415C744 email WMMayes at aol.com
"Love, Food, Shelter, Clothing...Books!"
Received on Tue 09 Oct 2001 09:42:49 AM CDT
