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Re: Calpurnia Tate
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From: nanbcan_at_aol.com
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:18:53 -0500
I'm so glad Sally mentioned the phrase "Me and Joey..." since this has be come a pet peeve of mine. I never and I mean NEVER, see models of correct grammar in today's children's books. No matter how educated, how interes ted in writing or vocabulary these storybook children are, they can't seem to begin their sentences with "the other person and I." No wonder real children (and I even include here my 30 year old daughter with her master 's degree) can't seem to get it right! There are no models for correct gr ammar anywhere, not in popular culture such as television and movies, and not in children's literature! Sorry to be a little off-topic, but I appr eciate the opportunity to speak my mind.
Nancy Cantor, media specialist, University School of Nova Southeastern Uni versity, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Message-----
From: Sally Miller To: ccbc-net Sent: Sat, Jan 30, 2010 8:19 am Subject:
Calpurnia Tate
How many different ways of reading there are! When I am dropped into a wor ld as absorbing as that of Calpurnia, I don't need much "tension" in the way of external events. Because Calpurnia and her family became real to me, I was in no more hurry for things to happen than I would be if I were spending a quiet evening with friends. I found her vocabulary and speech patterns entirely believable, because, like Maia, I was brought up by a mother who, before I was four, taught me to say ""Am I not?" instead of "Aren't I?" To me it's much more unbelievable that parents today don't ra ise an eyebrow when one of their children tells them, "Me and Joey are goi ng to the store." But I digress. Perhaps I just suspend my di sbelief more quickly than others; I am not a good critical reader. But sin ce I loved Calpurnia Tate, even more so than When You Reach Me, which I al ways enjoyed, please allow me a frivolous note: As my mother was also fond of saying, "Everyone to their own taste, said the old lady as she kissed the
cow."
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:18:53 -0500
I'm so glad Sally mentioned the phrase "Me and Joey..." since this has be come a pet peeve of mine. I never and I mean NEVER, see models of correct grammar in today's children's books. No matter how educated, how interes ted in writing or vocabulary these storybook children are, they can't seem to begin their sentences with "the other person and I." No wonder real children (and I even include here my 30 year old daughter with her master 's degree) can't seem to get it right! There are no models for correct gr ammar anywhere, not in popular culture such as television and movies, and not in children's literature! Sorry to be a little off-topic, but I appr eciate the opportunity to speak my mind.
Nancy Cantor, media specialist, University School of Nova Southeastern Uni versity, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Message-----
From: Sally Miller To: ccbc-net Sent: Sat, Jan 30, 2010 8:19 am Subject:
Calpurnia Tate
How many different ways of reading there are! When I am dropped into a wor ld as absorbing as that of Calpurnia, I don't need much "tension" in the way of external events. Because Calpurnia and her family became real to me, I was in no more hurry for things to happen than I would be if I were spending a quiet evening with friends. I found her vocabulary and speech patterns entirely believable, because, like Maia, I was brought up by a mother who, before I was four, taught me to say ""Am I not?" instead of "Aren't I?" To me it's much more unbelievable that parents today don't ra ise an eyebrow when one of their children tells them, "Me and Joey are goi ng to the store." But I digress. Perhaps I just suspend my di sbelief more quickly than others; I am not a good critical reader. But sin ce I loved Calpurnia Tate, even more so than When You Reach Me, which I al ways enjoyed, please allow me a frivolous note: As my mother was also fond of saying, "Everyone to their own taste, said the old lady as she kissed the
cow."
---Received on Sat 30 Jan 2010 09:18:53 AM CST
