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From: bschaller at theriver.com <bschaller>
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 03:28:04 -0000 (GMT)
This subject of series books has come at a very opportune time for me. I am finishing up a course on Children's Lit and my understanding of a formula book is one that you can name the formula for. For example, with the Clifford books, Emily Elizabeth starts off by introducing herself and Clifford to the reader. Then she tells us something about Clifford - maybeseverall things he likes to do. Then she often tells a story about Clifford where he is able to help or save one or more people. In other stories, she tells a series of events that Clifford did. In the end, she says something about what a special dog Clifford is. Interestingly, the Clifford books based on the PBS tv series don't follow this formula. Another way I think of series or formula books is that they can be written by ghost writers. In fact, I've been working with a group of fifth graders. We studied some of the Clifford books and figured out the formula. (Well, maybe mostly I did and they agreed with me.) Then they each wrote a Clfford story following the formula. Our professor also told us that there are different levels of formula books. Some series books follow a very tight formula and other series books follow a looser formula.
In my mind, a formula book has the same main characters and they really don't change much from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. Therefore, they can be read in any order.
I appreciate being able to read what everyone has to say about series books.
Becky Schaller School Media Specialist Berwyn, Illinois
************
> From: Anne Oelke <cflibrary at cf.k12.wi.us>
> At 01:33 PM 11/29/2005, marilyn smith wrote:
> I'm not sure I can define "formula" series well. It seems to be one of
> those "I know it when I see (read) it" situations. Certainly I think Cam
> Jansen, Junie B. Jones, Magic Tree House, Henry & Mudge are all formula.
> I
> don't think Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books or Harry Potter or
> Lord of the Rings are formula. My inclination is that the Ramona books
> are
> not--but I think I'd need to reread them to be sure. What defines formula
> in your mind? Is it the same characters? Does it need to have a simlar
> storyline or plot?
>
>
>
> Library Media Specialist, pK-12
> Cambria-Friesland School District
> 410 E. Edgewater St.
> Cambria, WI 53923-1000
> mailto:cflibrary at cf.k12.wi.us
Received on Wed 30 Nov 2005 09:28:04 PM CST
Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 03:28:04 -0000 (GMT)
This subject of series books has come at a very opportune time for me. I am finishing up a course on Children's Lit and my understanding of a formula book is one that you can name the formula for. For example, with the Clifford books, Emily Elizabeth starts off by introducing herself and Clifford to the reader. Then she tells us something about Clifford - maybeseverall things he likes to do. Then she often tells a story about Clifford where he is able to help or save one or more people. In other stories, she tells a series of events that Clifford did. In the end, she says something about what a special dog Clifford is. Interestingly, the Clifford books based on the PBS tv series don't follow this formula. Another way I think of series or formula books is that they can be written by ghost writers. In fact, I've been working with a group of fifth graders. We studied some of the Clifford books and figured out the formula. (Well, maybe mostly I did and they agreed with me.) Then they each wrote a Clfford story following the formula. Our professor also told us that there are different levels of formula books. Some series books follow a very tight formula and other series books follow a looser formula.
In my mind, a formula book has the same main characters and they really don't change much from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. Therefore, they can be read in any order.
I appreciate being able to read what everyone has to say about series books.
Becky Schaller School Media Specialist Berwyn, Illinois
************
> From: Anne Oelke <cflibrary at cf.k12.wi.us>
> At 01:33 PM 11/29/2005, marilyn smith wrote:
> I'm not sure I can define "formula" series well. It seems to be one of
> those "I know it when I see (read) it" situations. Certainly I think Cam
> Jansen, Junie B. Jones, Magic Tree House, Henry & Mudge are all formula.
> I
> don't think Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books or Harry Potter or
> Lord of the Rings are formula. My inclination is that the Ramona books
> are
> not--but I think I'd need to reread them to be sure. What defines formula
> in your mind? Is it the same characters? Does it need to have a simlar
> storyline or plot?
>
>
>
> Library Media Specialist, pK-12
> Cambria-Friesland School District
> 410 E. Edgewater St.
> Cambria, WI 53923-1000
> mailto:cflibrary at cf.k12.wi.us
Received on Wed 30 Nov 2005 09:28:04 PM CST
