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Re: ccbc-net digest: January 25, 2010
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From: Maggi <librarymaggi_at_gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:24:37 -0500
Wendy -- I'm not comparing Claudette Colvin to nonfiction books for kids under 10. I'm saying that my audience is 10 year olds (5th grade), and that up until now, they have probably read nonfiction books for younger readers. Now they may be ready to read something like Claudette Colvin, but from the cover, it may seem like a big jump to many of them. There is not much available between 64 pages and 128 pages -- is that an artifact of publishing?
I don't think it feels long, either. But my principal said, when she looked at it for three seconds, "Wow, that's pretty long." Which I think is indicative of how it may come off to readers who are used to shorter nonfiction. I think they would enjoy it if they would give it a try.
When I booktalked it this morning, I described it as the kind of book that is written for middle schoolers, but that they may be ready to read it because they are nearly there. I also mentioned it was one of the best books I've read, ever. I'm hoping that will catch their interest enough to look beyond the cover.
On Jan 26, 2010, at 10:41 AM, Wendy Burton wrote:
Wait, why would you compare Claudette Colvin to nonfiction books for kids under ten? The publishing information has it as 10 and up, and I'd say it's only for advanced 10-year-olds; more of a middle school book, wouldn't be out of place at high school. Now, one could make case that it FEELS somewhat long, which would make it irrelevant how long the other honors were comparison. (I didn't feel this way, though.)
Wendy burtonwl_at_yahoo.com
--- On Tue,
1/26/10, Maggi <librarymaggi_at_gmail.com> wrote:
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.
-Maggi Idzikowski Media Specialist Allen Elementary School, Ann Arbor MI librarymaggi_at_gmail.com Blogging with my 3-year-old at http://mamalibrarian.blogspot.com/
Received on Tue 26 Jan 2010 01:24:37 PM CST
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:24:37 -0500
Wendy -- I'm not comparing Claudette Colvin to nonfiction books for kids under 10. I'm saying that my audience is 10 year olds (5th grade), and that up until now, they have probably read nonfiction books for younger readers. Now they may be ready to read something like Claudette Colvin, but from the cover, it may seem like a big jump to many of them. There is not much available between 64 pages and 128 pages -- is that an artifact of publishing?
I don't think it feels long, either. But my principal said, when she looked at it for three seconds, "Wow, that's pretty long." Which I think is indicative of how it may come off to readers who are used to shorter nonfiction. I think they would enjoy it if they would give it a try.
When I booktalked it this morning, I described it as the kind of book that is written for middle schoolers, but that they may be ready to read it because they are nearly there. I also mentioned it was one of the best books I've read, ever. I'm hoping that will catch their interest enough to look beyond the cover.
On Jan 26, 2010, at 10:41 AM, Wendy Burton wrote:
Wait, why would you compare Claudette Colvin to nonfiction books for kids under ten? The publishing information has it as 10 and up, and I'd say it's only for advanced 10-year-olds; more of a middle school book, wouldn't be out of place at high school. Now, one could make case that it FEELS somewhat long, which would make it irrelevant how long the other honors were comparison. (I didn't feel this way, though.)
Wendy burtonwl_at_yahoo.com
--- On Tue,
1/26/10, Maggi <librarymaggi_at_gmail.com> wrote:
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.
-Maggi Idzikowski Media Specialist Allen Elementary School, Ann Arbor MI librarymaggi_at_gmail.com Blogging with my 3-year-old at http://mamalibrarian.blogspot.com/
Received on Tue 26 Jan 2010 01:24:37 PM CST
