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RE: ccbc-net digest: January 25, 2010
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From: Steward, Celeste <csteward_at_aclibrary.org>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:59:56 -0800
Not sad really...just...different. Remember, all kids are not strong readers and some do not learn to read in the traditional manner. It happens for a variety of reasons. Learning disabilities and learning styles were unheard of when we were growing up...maybe it's just a question of thinking out the box (for teachers, parents, librarians) to entice some of today's kids to reading nonfiction. Sure, it may be a bit more work but it's so worth it.
One thing is for sure--this generation has a lot more to choose from in reading materials but they are so much more visually oriented.
"Written in Bone" and "Claudette Colvin" are beautifully packaged titles, with good quality photos and very attractive layout. This is certainly a strong ticket to whet the appetites of today's kids toward nonfiction. I think they work both as informational and as browsing materials for kids who can't quite read up to that level.
Celeste Steward Collection Development Librarian IV Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 (510)745-1586
Message-----
From: Nancy Silverrod
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:48 AM To: Maggi; CCBC-NET Subject: RE:
ccbc-net digest: January 25, 2010
I find it sad that kids aren't being encouraged to read non-fiction books that are longer, or more challenging. When I was a kid, I did read more fiction than non-fiction, but saw nothing to intimidate me in reading equally long non-fiction titles. I read biographies ravenously, and would have considered a picture book biography of less than 120 pages to be too young for me.
If we aren't challenging kids with longer books on interesting topics, why are we surprised when they score poorly on reading tests, and are unprepared for middle and high school, let alone college? In my opinion, 32-64 pages is just enough to whet the appetite and convey some basic information, but not enough to go into much depth, especially since pictures take up so much of the space in these books.
Harry Potter has taught us, and this generation of readers, that they can read books of more than 100 pages, so let's give them some good non-fiction along with the fiction.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94122-4733 nsilverrod_at_sfpl.org 415-557-4417
Our heads are round so that thoughts can change direction. -Francis Picabia, painter and poet (1879-1953)
Our memories are card indexes consulted and then returned in disorder by authorities whom we do not control. -Cyril Connolly, critic and editor (1903-1974)
A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -Chinese Proverb
Message-----
From: Maggi
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:31 AM To: CCBC-NET Subject: Re:
ccbc-net digest: January 25, 2010
Jonathan -- most nonfiction written for kids under 10 is 64 pages or less. Many books fall in the 32 page range. Reading nonfiction of this length is a challenge for anyone who is not accustomed to reading nonfiction, (which, since fiction is emphasized in schools, includes many kids). Students who read at one reading level for fiction often read several levels below in nonfiction. Also consider the size of the pages and the size of the text: one page in CC equals about two pages of text in a typical fiction book, such as When You Reach Me.
-Maggi
On Jan 26, 2010, at 9:11 AM, Hunt, Jonathan wrote:
Maggi,
You described CLAUDETTE COLVIN as somewhat long at 120 pages, and yet it's the shortest Newbery book with WHEN YOU REACH ME and HOMER P. FIGG at 200+ pages and CALPURNIA TATE and WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON at 300+ pages. I'm curious as to why would describe it as somewhat long.
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:59:56 -0800
Not sad really...just...different. Remember, all kids are not strong readers and some do not learn to read in the traditional manner. It happens for a variety of reasons. Learning disabilities and learning styles were unheard of when we were growing up...maybe it's just a question of thinking out the box (for teachers, parents, librarians) to entice some of today's kids to reading nonfiction. Sure, it may be a bit more work but it's so worth it.
One thing is for sure--this generation has a lot more to choose from in reading materials but they are so much more visually oriented.
"Written in Bone" and "Claudette Colvin" are beautifully packaged titles, with good quality photos and very attractive layout. This is certainly a strong ticket to whet the appetites of today's kids toward nonfiction. I think they work both as informational and as browsing materials for kids who can't quite read up to that level.
Celeste Steward Collection Development Librarian IV Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538 (510)745-1586
Message-----
From: Nancy Silverrod
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:48 AM To: Maggi; CCBC-NET Subject: RE:
ccbc-net digest: January 25, 2010
I find it sad that kids aren't being encouraged to read non-fiction books that are longer, or more challenging. When I was a kid, I did read more fiction than non-fiction, but saw nothing to intimidate me in reading equally long non-fiction titles. I read biographies ravenously, and would have considered a picture book biography of less than 120 pages to be too young for me.
If we aren't challenging kids with longer books on interesting topics, why are we surprised when they score poorly on reading tests, and are unprepared for middle and high school, let alone college? In my opinion, 32-64 pages is just enough to whet the appetite and convey some basic information, but not enough to go into much depth, especially since pictures take up so much of the space in these books.
Harry Potter has taught us, and this generation of readers, that they can read books of more than 100 pages, so let's give them some good non-fiction along with the fiction.
Nancy Silverrod, Librarian San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94122-4733 nsilverrod_at_sfpl.org 415-557-4417
Our heads are round so that thoughts can change direction. -Francis Picabia, painter and poet (1879-1953)
Our memories are card indexes consulted and then returned in disorder by authorities whom we do not control. -Cyril Connolly, critic and editor (1903-1974)
A closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood. -Chinese Proverb
Message-----
From: Maggi
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:31 AM To: CCBC-NET Subject: Re:
ccbc-net digest: January 25, 2010
Jonathan -- most nonfiction written for kids under 10 is 64 pages or less. Many books fall in the 32 page range. Reading nonfiction of this length is a challenge for anyone who is not accustomed to reading nonfiction, (which, since fiction is emphasized in schools, includes many kids). Students who read at one reading level for fiction often read several levels below in nonfiction. Also consider the size of the pages and the size of the text: one page in CC equals about two pages of text in a typical fiction book, such as When You Reach Me.
-Maggi
On Jan 26, 2010, at 9:11 AM, Hunt, Jonathan wrote:
Maggi,
You described CLAUDETTE COLVIN as somewhat long at 120 pages, and yet it's the shortest Newbery book with WHEN YOU REACH ME and HOMER P. FIGG at 200+ pages and CALPURNIA TATE and WHERE THE MOUNTAIN MEETS THE MOON at 300+ pages. I'm curious as to why would describe it as somewhat long.
---Received on Tue 26 Jan 2010 09:59:56 AM CST