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From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 11:01:43 -0500
Walter Mayes wrote:
"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?"
I think this is a really interesting question. I notice that Johanna Hurwitz's wonderful Russell and Elisa ( which are very good transitional books that children love) books are being republished as The Riverside Kids. Now, these books look much more like a series for early chapter book readers than they did in their earlier incarnation. BUT, they always had some of the hallmarks of a transitional book: white space, clear plot, predictability and the like. So, why change?
**********************************
For any teachers or librarians of grades 2-3 (ages 7) who use class sets of chapter books to teach reading, language arts, social studies, science and math, what are some of the titles you find work well with your readers? Here we are, in the 5th week of school, and we have read our first group chapter book. It is not one I have mentioned before, either.
It is Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop. It is part of our social studies curriculum and all the second graders read it, no matter their reading level. It is fast-paced, somewhat predictable, has watercolor illustrations on each double-page spread, uses a large typeface and has resting room for the eyes. It is a good one to start with, though it is not the first chapter book most of my students have read, because they read in so many other contexts.My students LOVE "true books" and this is a good first one. It used to be part of the Carolrhoda Series of biographies.
What are some titles that are good enough that your schools will spend the money for multiple copies? Just wondering.
Robin
Received on Tue 09 Oct 2001 11:01:43 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 11:01:43 -0500
Walter Mayes wrote:
"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?"
I think this is a really interesting question. I notice that Johanna Hurwitz's wonderful Russell and Elisa ( which are very good transitional books that children love) books are being republished as The Riverside Kids. Now, these books look much more like a series for early chapter book readers than they did in their earlier incarnation. BUT, they always had some of the hallmarks of a transitional book: white space, clear plot, predictability and the like. So, why change?
**********************************
For any teachers or librarians of grades 2-3 (ages 7) who use class sets of chapter books to teach reading, language arts, social studies, science and math, what are some of the titles you find work well with your readers? Here we are, in the 5th week of school, and we have read our first group chapter book. It is not one I have mentioned before, either.
It is Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter and Connie Roop. It is part of our social studies curriculum and all the second graders read it, no matter their reading level. It is fast-paced, somewhat predictable, has watercolor illustrations on each double-page spread, uses a large typeface and has resting room for the eyes. It is a good one to start with, though it is not the first chapter book most of my students have read, because they read in so many other contexts.My students LOVE "true books" and this is a good first one. It used to be part of the Carolrhoda Series of biographies.
What are some titles that are good enough that your schools will spend the money for multiple copies? Just wondering.
Robin
Received on Tue 09 Oct 2001 11:01:43 AM CDT
