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Barbro Lindgren and Eva Eriksson
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From: Martha Weston <Martha>
Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002 10:38:12 -0700
Julie Corsaro has mentioned the "Sam" books ("Max," in the original Swedish) by Barbro Lindgren, illustrated by Eva Eriksson. These include
"Sam's Teddy Bear," "Sam's Cookie," and "Sam's Potty." When my daughter was 12 months old, "Sam's Teddy Bear" was the first book she really "got." Before that, she basically related to my attempts to read to her by rapidly turning, tearing or chewing the pages. But she sat perfectly still as I read about Sam standing up in his crib and kissing, biting and finally throwing Teddy Bear into the potty. Her sharp intake of breath when Teddy Bear's head stuck in the chamber pot, and her obvious relief when Doggy pulled him out, let me know she was tracking her first story.
Besides great funny stories about things every kid can relate to, it's the illustrations in these books I want to mention. As I recall, in "Sam's Teddy Bear," all the action takes place not only in Sam's bedroom, but with the same view of Sam's crib on each page. So although there is plenty of action going on, the scene never shifts to another room or even another view of the same room. I think this was key to my daughter "getting" the story. She could make the connection that this was the same adventure as the one happening on the previous page, and the concept of a story being told in the words and pictures was clear for the first time.
These books are short (24 pages, I think,) funny, and beautifully illustrated, and all have plenty of conflict and resolution. The stories are really cute without being remotely saccharine and twenty plus years ago, the topics of toys falling in toilets, fights with a dog over a cookie and straining to use a potty were a lot more unusual than they are today.
Meg Kavanagh wrote:
I agree. And what about board books that are reprinted (larger format) but with text or art still shortened to "fit?" Recently when I went to buy a copy of one of my all time favorite board books, Rosemary Wells' "Max's Toys, " all I could find was a new (larger trim size) version with the last page of art missing. In the original version, this is the satisfying conclusion to Max's book-long quest to have Ruby's doll Emily -- the only toy he wants. In this new version we are cheated out of the moment when Max catches and hugs Emily.
Martha Weston
Martha Weston
Received on Fri 09 Aug 2002 12:38:12 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002 10:38:12 -0700
Julie Corsaro has mentioned the "Sam" books ("Max," in the original Swedish) by Barbro Lindgren, illustrated by Eva Eriksson. These include
"Sam's Teddy Bear," "Sam's Cookie," and "Sam's Potty." When my daughter was 12 months old, "Sam's Teddy Bear" was the first book she really "got." Before that, she basically related to my attempts to read to her by rapidly turning, tearing or chewing the pages. But she sat perfectly still as I read about Sam standing up in his crib and kissing, biting and finally throwing Teddy Bear into the potty. Her sharp intake of breath when Teddy Bear's head stuck in the chamber pot, and her obvious relief when Doggy pulled him out, let me know she was tracking her first story.
Besides great funny stories about things every kid can relate to, it's the illustrations in these books I want to mention. As I recall, in "Sam's Teddy Bear," all the action takes place not only in Sam's bedroom, but with the same view of Sam's crib on each page. So although there is plenty of action going on, the scene never shifts to another room or even another view of the same room. I think this was key to my daughter "getting" the story. She could make the connection that this was the same adventure as the one happening on the previous page, and the concept of a story being told in the words and pictures was clear for the first time.
These books are short (24 pages, I think,) funny, and beautifully illustrated, and all have plenty of conflict and resolution. The stories are really cute without being remotely saccharine and twenty plus years ago, the topics of toys falling in toilets, fights with a dog over a cookie and straining to use a potty were a lot more unusual than they are today.
Meg Kavanagh wrote:
I agree. And what about board books that are reprinted (larger format) but with text or art still shortened to "fit?" Recently when I went to buy a copy of one of my all time favorite board books, Rosemary Wells' "Max's Toys, " all I could find was a new (larger trim size) version with the last page of art missing. In the original version, this is the satisfying conclusion to Max's book-long quest to have Ruby's doll Emily -- the only toy he wants. In this new version we are cheated out of the moment when Max catches and hugs Emily.
Martha Weston
Martha Weston
Received on Fri 09 Aug 2002 12:38:12 PM CDT
