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Amber and Essie
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From: Dean Schneider <schneiderd>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 07:54:55 -0500
Walter (and everyone else):
I'm not denying Amber was Brave, Essie Was Smart its audience. As I said, I think it's one of the great new books of the year. I love the poetry and the art. I followed the progress of that book since its early manuscript days and eagerly awaited its publication. I guess it depends what we are discussing. Are we discussing any books accessible to young readers, or are we discussing the books that are being called "Bridge" books? If we're trying to focus on Bridge books -- those early chapter books with a limited vocabulary, that are easy to understand, that have a fair amount of action, plot, and predictability, and have the intention of providing reading experiences that eventually move readers onto another level of reading -then I still don't see it in that category. If we're discussing any excellent books to share with young kids, then sure, I'll share Amber and Essie with any kids I can find.
My previous posting was a reaction to two books mentioned as possible Bridge books. The other one mentioned was Mildred Taylor's The Friendship. Even Jim Trelease, the guru of reading aloud, recommends it as a book for 4th grade and up. I guess that "denies its audience" to younger kids, but Trelease warns readers about how the Logan children witness "searing cruelty" and racial epithets. I don't think it's sheltering children too much to save certain books for later. And though you condescended to my school a bit there in your comment, Walter, we do teach Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Road to Memphis in 6th and 7th grade here, and many other excellent books; we're not totally unaware of the real world....
I think part of what makes a "bridge" book is intention, of the author and publisher. Not simply putting a good book out there in the marketplace, but out there in a child's hands, probably in school, with the intention of nudging along reading skills and interest in reading. And when a child is done with lots of books like that one, there are more books waiting for him or her in that bigger world of children's literature of all kinds.
Dean Schneider Ensworth School Nashville, Tennessee schneiderd at ensworth.com
Received on Tue 09 Oct 2001 07:54:55 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 07:54:55 -0500
Walter (and everyone else):
I'm not denying Amber was Brave, Essie Was Smart its audience. As I said, I think it's one of the great new books of the year. I love the poetry and the art. I followed the progress of that book since its early manuscript days and eagerly awaited its publication. I guess it depends what we are discussing. Are we discussing any books accessible to young readers, or are we discussing the books that are being called "Bridge" books? If we're trying to focus on Bridge books -- those early chapter books with a limited vocabulary, that are easy to understand, that have a fair amount of action, plot, and predictability, and have the intention of providing reading experiences that eventually move readers onto another level of reading -then I still don't see it in that category. If we're discussing any excellent books to share with young kids, then sure, I'll share Amber and Essie with any kids I can find.
My previous posting was a reaction to two books mentioned as possible Bridge books. The other one mentioned was Mildred Taylor's The Friendship. Even Jim Trelease, the guru of reading aloud, recommends it as a book for 4th grade and up. I guess that "denies its audience" to younger kids, but Trelease warns readers about how the Logan children witness "searing cruelty" and racial epithets. I don't think it's sheltering children too much to save certain books for later. And though you condescended to my school a bit there in your comment, Walter, we do teach Mildred Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Road to Memphis in 6th and 7th grade here, and many other excellent books; we're not totally unaware of the real world....
I think part of what makes a "bridge" book is intention, of the author and publisher. Not simply putting a good book out there in the marketplace, but out there in a child's hands, probably in school, with the intention of nudging along reading skills and interest in reading. And when a child is done with lots of books like that one, there are more books waiting for him or her in that bigger world of children's literature of all kinds.
Dean Schneider Ensworth School Nashville, Tennessee schneiderd at ensworth.com
Received on Tue 09 Oct 2001 07:54:55 AM CDT
