From: Pat Austin <paustin>
Date: Fri, 03 May 2002 12:17:25 -0500

I read Arlene Sardine to several classes -- 4th graders, 8th graders, and 11th graders -- to see what they thought about it. Most found it quite amusing, although puzzling. I don't think they saw it as a parody particularly in the sense that you're seeing it, but they did laugh out loud.

I read it to these different levels to explore how a book like that exemplifies reader response theory. I saw the book as a ploy for vegetarianism
(and later found out that Raschka is NOT a vegetarian, but in fact likes sardines). Some kids saw the book as an informational book, literally giving facts (in a funny way) about how a sardine comes to be a sardine (that was particularly the case with kids whose families fished all the time); other kids saw the life cycle theme that I think was Rashcka's intention. A great book.

Pat Austin

"Monica R. Edinger" wrote:
Received on Fri 03 May 2002 12:17:25 PM CDT