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[CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
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From: Nancy Silverrod <nsilverrod>
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:35:57 -0700
I have to say that I always HATED classroom reads --having to wait until the next day or the next week to find out what happened next was just too much for me, and I always went to the library to check out the book and finish it ahead of time. What I did like were the school librarians who saved new books for me that they thought I'd especially like. The best year was when one of them was on the Newbery Committee and had such a constant flow of books.
I say, know your books and know your readers, and you'll do a good job of matching them up.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4417 nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
-----Original Message----- From: Barthelmess, Thom [mailto:Thomas.Barthelmess at ci.austin.tx.us] Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 1:53 PM To: Nancy Silverrod; ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: RE: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
I did read "The Pull of the Ocean," and quite enjoyed it. It is indeed somber in its tone, atmospheric and elegiac.
As to your question about suitability, I don't remember anything that struck me as "dangerous" about it. I wouldn't worry about offering it to a 3rd or 4th grader and having it scar them. I will qualify my position, and confess that I tend to have a pretty high regard for kids' ability to manage their own reading and stop if they find themselves out of their comfort zone.
That said, I suspect that there are not many upper-elementary kids with a literary palate sophisticated enough to really appreciate the book. The plot is rather obtuse, and it strikes me as more a novel of immersion than of progression. Absolutely there will be younger kids to whom it sings, but the book will find a readier audience with older kids, I imagine.
Ultimately, I suppose that my answer to your question depends upon the sort of suitability you're wondering about. Would "The Pull of the Ocean" be a suitable addition to a collection in a school library serving upper elementary kids? My answer would be yes
(caveat again - I'm not a school librarian, and might be the sort who would have his principal in a frequent tizzy if I were, collection wise). Would "The Pull of the Ocean" be a suitable book to read aloud to a class of 3rd graders, or a good 4th grade book club selection? My answer there would be no. It wouldn't inflict any damage, but I don't think it would work very well, either.
I hope that this helps, and that my $.02 in no way discourage anyone from seeking out a quiet, lovely, haunting read.
Thom Barthelmess Youth Services Manager Austin Public Library 800 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701 512.974.7405 - vox 512.974.7587 - fax http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Nancy Silverrod Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 3:05 PM To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
I haven't read it yet, so don't feel I should say too much, but I want to point out that most of were exposed to Grimm's fairy tales at a young age, and I can certainly remember reading "dark" or disturbing fiction starting at around 3rd or 4th grade. Works of Leon Garfield, and Susan Cooper come to mind off the top of my head.
I think we should allow young readers to explore their limits--and make their own choices about what they feel ready to read.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4417 nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Linnea Hendrickson Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 6:17 PM To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
Alas. After 2 days no one has reponded to my query about the suitability
of Pull of the Ocean" to upper elementary school aged children. Has no one yet read this book? Has anyone shared it with children of any age?
What has been its reception in France, and what age groups read it there? I reread the opening chapters last night, and again was struck by the bleakness, and the harshness and unpleasantness of the parents --
I'm leaning toward thinking this would be better for middle school on up
(ages 12+) than for elementary school students.
Maybe everyone is on spring break.
I'd love to hear others' thoughts.
Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:35:57 -0700
I have to say that I always HATED classroom reads --having to wait until the next day or the next week to find out what happened next was just too much for me, and I always went to the library to check out the book and finish it ahead of time. What I did like were the school librarians who saved new books for me that they thought I'd especially like. The best year was when one of them was on the Newbery Committee and had such a constant flow of books.
I say, know your books and know your readers, and you'll do a good job of matching them up.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4417 nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
-----Original Message----- From: Barthelmess, Thom [mailto:Thomas.Barthelmess at ci.austin.tx.us] Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 1:53 PM To: Nancy Silverrod; ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: RE: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
I did read "The Pull of the Ocean," and quite enjoyed it. It is indeed somber in its tone, atmospheric and elegiac.
As to your question about suitability, I don't remember anything that struck me as "dangerous" about it. I wouldn't worry about offering it to a 3rd or 4th grader and having it scar them. I will qualify my position, and confess that I tend to have a pretty high regard for kids' ability to manage their own reading and stop if they find themselves out of their comfort zone.
That said, I suspect that there are not many upper-elementary kids with a literary palate sophisticated enough to really appreciate the book. The plot is rather obtuse, and it strikes me as more a novel of immersion than of progression. Absolutely there will be younger kids to whom it sings, but the book will find a readier audience with older kids, I imagine.
Ultimately, I suppose that my answer to your question depends upon the sort of suitability you're wondering about. Would "The Pull of the Ocean" be a suitable addition to a collection in a school library serving upper elementary kids? My answer would be yes
(caveat again - I'm not a school librarian, and might be the sort who would have his principal in a frequent tizzy if I were, collection wise). Would "The Pull of the Ocean" be a suitable book to read aloud to a class of 3rd graders, or a good 4th grade book club selection? My answer there would be no. It wouldn't inflict any damage, but I don't think it would work very well, either.
I hope that this helps, and that my $.02 in no way discourage anyone from seeking out a quiet, lovely, haunting read.
Thom Barthelmess Youth Services Manager Austin Public Library 800 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701 512.974.7405 - vox 512.974.7587 - fax http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Nancy Silverrod Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 3:05 PM To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
I haven't read it yet, so don't feel I should say too much, but I want to point out that most of were exposed to Grimm's fairy tales at a young age, and I can certainly remember reading "dark" or disturbing fiction starting at around 3rd or 4th grade. Works of Leon Garfield, and Susan Cooper come to mind off the top of my head.
I think we should allow young readers to explore their limits--and make their own choices about what they feel ready to read.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4417 nsilverrod at sfpl.org
Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind. -James Russell Lowell, poet, editor, and diplomat (1819-1891)
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Linnea Hendrickson Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 6:17 PM To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] 2007 Batchelder Award
Alas. After 2 days no one has reponded to my query about the suitability
of Pull of the Ocean" to upper elementary school aged children. Has no one yet read this book? Has anyone shared it with children of any age?
What has been its reception in France, and what age groups read it there? I reread the opening chapters last night, and again was struck by the bleakness, and the harshness and unpleasantness of the parents --
I'm leaning toward thinking this would be better for middle school on up
(ages 12+) than for elementary school students.
Maybe everyone is on spring break.
I'd love to hear others' thoughts.
-- Linnea Linnea Hendrickson Albuquerque, NM Lhendr at unm.edu http://www.unm.edu/~lhendr _______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net _______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-netReceived on Fri 16 Mar 2007 06:35:57 PM CDT
