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Re: beyond accuracy and engagement comes inquiry
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From: bookmarch_at_aol.com
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:39:24 -0500 (EST)
Terrific subject. And you are right, there is nothing more difficult than b alancing context and flow in all nonfiction for younger readers, of any age . This is especially so because we have, I hope, passed beyond the age of t he sidebar -- when the default solution to this problem was a thin retangle printed on top of some colored background. But I would suggest that we als o add another element to our consideration -- not just organization, visual s, narrative, and context: inquiry. That is, the challenge of nonfiction is no longer simply to present what we know to readers in an engaging fashion . We are now also attempting to spark them to begin their own research, the ir own questioning which may well lead them to challenge or question anythi ng we have to say. In a sense inquiry is the answer to context -- because o nce we inspire a young reader to want to know more, then our book does not have to claim to say everything. It just has to say enough to get him or he r into the game. For anyone who wants to read more about inquiry and NF in the elementary grades I recommend Myra Zarnowski and Susan Terkel, "Nonfict ion that Highlights Inquiry," Journal of Children's Literature v. 36, # 1 and of course last year's Horn Book special issue on Nonfiction.
Marc Aronson
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From: Megan Schliesman To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Sent: Fri, Mar 2, 2012 10:25 am Subject:
March Topic: It's Not Just the Facts
During the month of March on CCBC-Net, we're having a two-part discussion o n non-fiction: It's Not just the Facts.
First Part of Month: Non-Fiction for Younger Readers: When it comes to gre at non-fiction for children and teens, accurate information alone isnв Ђ ™t enough. We’ve think the best books incorporate everyth ing from terrific organization and compelling visual matter to a narrative that=E 2 Ђ™s hard to put down. But in the case of books for younger readers ther e is also another key question: how do you make a person or place or event that readers have most often never heard of relevant and engaging? During t he first part of March, we’ll look at creative approaches to non-fi ction in picture books. Second Part of Month: Books for Older Readers: We’ll contin ue our discussion of non-fiction by contemplating what makes a terrific non-ficti on book for older children and teens. Once again, we believe it goes beyond the facts to the feat of presenting well-researched information in a manne r that is coherent, compelling, and creative. Share your favorite non-ficti on books for older child ren and teens, and your reasons why you think they succeed, during the second half of March.
Megan
egan Schliesman, Librarian ooperative Children's Book Center chool of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 00 N. Park Street, Room 4290 adison, WI 53706 608/262-9503 chliesman_at_education.wisc.edu www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2012 10:39:24 -0500 (EST)
Terrific subject. And you are right, there is nothing more difficult than b alancing context and flow in all nonfiction for younger readers, of any age . This is especially so because we have, I hope, passed beyond the age of t he sidebar -- when the default solution to this problem was a thin retangle printed on top of some colored background. But I would suggest that we als o add another element to our consideration -- not just organization, visual s, narrative, and context: inquiry. That is, the challenge of nonfiction is no longer simply to present what we know to readers in an engaging fashion . We are now also attempting to spark them to begin their own research, the ir own questioning which may well lead them to challenge or question anythi ng we have to say. In a sense inquiry is the answer to context -- because o nce we inspire a young reader to want to know more, then our book does not have to claim to say everything. It just has to say enough to get him or he r into the game. For anyone who wants to read more about inquiry and NF in the elementary grades I recommend Myra Zarnowski and Susan Terkel, "Nonfict ion that Highlights Inquiry," Journal of Children's Literature v. 36, # 1 and of course last year's Horn Book special issue on Nonfiction.
Marc Aronson
Message-----
From: Megan Schliesman To: ccbc-net, Subscribers of Sent: Fri, Mar 2, 2012 10:25 am Subject:
March Topic: It's Not Just the Facts
During the month of March on CCBC-Net, we're having a two-part discussion o n non-fiction: It's Not just the Facts.
First Part of Month: Non-Fiction for Younger Readers: When it comes to gre at non-fiction for children and teens, accurate information alone isnв Ђ ™t enough. We’ve think the best books incorporate everyth ing from terrific organization and compelling visual matter to a narrative that=E 2 Ђ™s hard to put down. But in the case of books for younger readers ther e is also another key question: how do you make a person or place or event that readers have most often never heard of relevant and engaging? During t he first part of March, we’ll look at creative approaches to non-fi ction in picture books. Second Part of Month: Books for Older Readers: We’ll contin ue our discussion of non-fiction by contemplating what makes a terrific non-ficti on book for older children and teens. Once again, we believe it goes beyond the facts to the feat of presenting well-researched information in a manne r that is coherent, compelling, and creative. Share your favorite non-ficti on books for older child ren and teens, and your reasons why you think they succeed, during the second half of March.
Megan
egan Schliesman, Librarian ooperative Children's Book Center chool of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison 00 N. Park Street, Room 4290 adison, WI 53706 608/262-9503 chliesman_at_education.wisc.edu www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
---Received on Fri 02 Mar 2012 10:39:24 AM CST
