From: Christine Hill <chill>
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:33:42 -0400

I think Ellen's comments on back matter that's on a higher reading level than the text and Lisa's remarks on the sidebars in Snowflake Bentley are actually examples of the same thing: text layering. Meaning that a book can be read and enjoyed by different age levels at different times when the text has layers of varying difficulty. Everyone has probably noticed that the sidebars in SB contain more challenging concepts and vocabulary. Thus the main text can be used as a read-aloud for grades as low as K-1, but older grades can expand on the enjoyment they had as younger children by reading the sidebars themselves. Back matter that's more challenging than the main text functions the same way. The main text is accessible to lower grades, while upper grades can read and enjoy both. I personally love books that work this way. I also love fairrosa's suggestion regarding creative back matter and urge publishers to take up the challenge. Christine M. Hill Willingboro Public Library One Salem Road Willingboro NJ 08046 chill at willingboro.org My new book! Ten Hispanic American Authors, Enslow, 2002
Received on Wed 10 Apr 2002 11:33:42 AM CDT