From: James Elliott <j_c_elliott>
Date: Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:06:36 -0400

Interesting take. In some cases it helps to have the main character narrating ... for example, "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" -- I can't imagine reading these without the dialect and 'logic' from the main character!

On the other hand, I totally agree that there are places where this hinders the flow of the story, or perhaps leaves the reader without the 'full picture' of a story that a third person narrative adds to the story, for example, being able to go from character to character (e.g., "View from Saturday").

So, my opinion? Like any good librarian, Both!

Jim Elliott Somewhere in the barrens of North Florida.


>From: Linda Stanek <lkstanek1290 at yahoo.com>
>To: CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] just the story
>Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2006 06:57:41 -0700 (PDT)
>
>Hi everyone,
>
> I am a children's author (first book coming out next summer). The trend
>in publishing is to have all children's books written from the main
>character's point of view, and as such, editors insist that all the writing
>should sound as if it came from a child's mouth. This sometimes means
>poetic or insightful prose (including narrative) gets the ax for simpler
>words and thoughts. This is especially true for anything written in first
>person, but carries over into third person as well.
>
> I wonder what you think about this trend, and how you think it might
>affect children's literature in the long run, including if you feel this
>kind of "child like" prose is more effective with the reluctant reader.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Linda Stanek
>
>
Received on Wed 09 Aug 2006 09:06:36 AM CDT