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How Much Do We Tell the Children?
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From: Megan Schliesman <schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:28:38 -0600
First, thank you to everyone who participated in the thoughtful and eye-opening discussion on social justice in children's and young adult literature. And we want to extend special thanks to Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Ann Angel, Nancy Bo Flood, and JL Powers of The Pirate Tree blog on social justice in children's and young adult literature for their facilitation these past two weeks, and their ongoing work to encourage reading, discussion, and critical thinking about this subject.
It is now time to turn our attention to the CCBC-Net topic for the second half of November: How Much Do We Tell the Children?
**We want children to believe that hope is more powerful than despair. We want them to learn about people who've accomplished extraordinary things and stand for admirable ideals. We want them to have faith in their country. There are many books for children covering topics that, if writers were completely honest, would not only inform but potentially disillusion readers. So how much truth should be shared in books for children? Science can be scary, for example (think global warming), "heroes" can and should be humanized, but to what extent should we share their very human foibles? There's no single or easy answer, but during the second half of November we invite you to share examples of books that, in your opinion, get it right when it comes to sharing hard truths in light of their intended audience.
I'll share an anecdote that led in part to our desire to explore this topic on CCBC-Net:
A couple of months ago I read the book "Gaia Warriors" by Nicola Davies. (Candlewick Press,2011) I appreciated so many things about this book: how she explains the science of global warming so clearly---great use of metaphors and comparisons; and the wide range of
people and initiatives around the world she profiles--efforts both small and large that can make a difference in the planet's future. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and depressed reading about global warming because it is overwhelming and depressing. But by showing so many ways people are trying to do something Davies successfully underscores that there are many approaches---all needed---and also, excitingly, the important
role of, and opportunities for, human creativity in trying to turn things around. It's hopeful and inspiring.
But then it all came crashing down for me when I read James Lovelock's afterword to the book. Lovelock originated the Gaia Theory. He's looking at the big picture/long terms survival of the species in his afterword, but reading it left me cold, and really depressed: "Survival is our only option, and before long, some people will find that their part of the earth is less harmed by climate change than others. Naturally, those whose land becomes desert or is flooded and can no longer provide food and water will move to where there is plenty. Because of our natures, war between these haves and have nots is inevitable. There will not be food and water enough for both. Sometimes the invaders will win, and other times the defenders; what matters is that there are survivors so that there continue to be humans on earth." Wow. I guess that's bluntly realistic. But boy is it depressing, and to me undermines what Davies has done so successfully in the rest of the book---give young readers
hope, and even agency--the CAN make a difference.
Not long afterward I happened to meet a climate researcher whose work documents global warming. I was telling him about the book--how much I liked it, but also my struggle with the afterword, and he acknowledged it's a difficult issue--one that he himself faces when it comes to his own children and talking about the work he does and the implications of his research.
So, how much do we tell the children--about global warming, about the human foibles of heroes, about the less than admirable actions of our government, and so much more? Obviously there is no right or wrong answer. So maybe one way to begin is to think about the variables we consider. For example, to me the Gaia Warriors book--up until the afterword--would be great for upper elementary and middle school. Maybe I need to rethink the audience, or my idea of what an audience of that age is ready for.
What do you think?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Fri 18 Nov 2011 11:28:38 AM CST
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:28:38 -0600
First, thank you to everyone who participated in the thoughtful and eye-opening discussion on social justice in children's and young adult literature. And we want to extend special thanks to Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Ann Angel, Nancy Bo Flood, and JL Powers of The Pirate Tree blog on social justice in children's and young adult literature for their facilitation these past two weeks, and their ongoing work to encourage reading, discussion, and critical thinking about this subject.
It is now time to turn our attention to the CCBC-Net topic for the second half of November: How Much Do We Tell the Children?
**We want children to believe that hope is more powerful than despair. We want them to learn about people who've accomplished extraordinary things and stand for admirable ideals. We want them to have faith in their country. There are many books for children covering topics that, if writers were completely honest, would not only inform but potentially disillusion readers. So how much truth should be shared in books for children? Science can be scary, for example (think global warming), "heroes" can and should be humanized, but to what extent should we share their very human foibles? There's no single or easy answer, but during the second half of November we invite you to share examples of books that, in your opinion, get it right when it comes to sharing hard truths in light of their intended audience.
I'll share an anecdote that led in part to our desire to explore this topic on CCBC-Net:
A couple of months ago I read the book "Gaia Warriors" by Nicola Davies. (Candlewick Press,2011) I appreciated so many things about this book: how she explains the science of global warming so clearly---great use of metaphors and comparisons; and the wide range of
people and initiatives around the world she profiles--efforts both small and large that can make a difference in the planet's future. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and depressed reading about global warming because it is overwhelming and depressing. But by showing so many ways people are trying to do something Davies successfully underscores that there are many approaches---all needed---and also, excitingly, the important
role of, and opportunities for, human creativity in trying to turn things around. It's hopeful and inspiring.
But then it all came crashing down for me when I read James Lovelock's afterword to the book. Lovelock originated the Gaia Theory. He's looking at the big picture/long terms survival of the species in his afterword, but reading it left me cold, and really depressed: "Survival is our only option, and before long, some people will find that their part of the earth is less harmed by climate change than others. Naturally, those whose land becomes desert or is flooded and can no longer provide food and water will move to where there is plenty. Because of our natures, war between these haves and have nots is inevitable. There will not be food and water enough for both. Sometimes the invaders will win, and other times the defenders; what matters is that there are survivors so that there continue to be humans on earth." Wow. I guess that's bluntly realistic. But boy is it depressing, and to me undermines what Davies has done so successfully in the rest of the book---give young readers
hope, and even agency--the CAN make a difference.
Not long afterward I happened to meet a climate researcher whose work documents global warming. I was telling him about the book--how much I liked it, but also my struggle with the afterword, and he acknowledged it's a difficult issue--one that he himself faces when it comes to his own children and talking about the work he does and the implications of his research.
So, how much do we tell the children--about global warming, about the human foibles of heroes, about the less than admirable actions of our government, and so much more? Obviously there is no right or wrong answer. So maybe one way to begin is to think about the variables we consider. For example, to me the Gaia Warriors book--up until the afterword--would be great for upper elementary and middle school. Maybe I need to rethink the audience, or my idea of what an audience of that age is ready for.
What do you think?
Megan
Megan Schliesman, Librarian Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 600 N. Park Street, Room 4290 Madison, WI 53706
608/262-9503 schliesman_at_education.wisc.edu
www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Fri 18 Nov 2011 11:28:38 AM CST
