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Module Two |
Reading Two: Children's Nature depicted in literature |
There is a receptive, impressionable quality of
mind, whether in young or old, which we call childlike. A fresh direct vision, a quickly stimulated imagination, a love of symbolic and typical form with a hint of poetic suggestion, a delight in frank and gay color, and a sensitiveness to the variations of line and contrasts of form. These are some of the characteristics of the child, whether they be grown up or not. Happy are they who remain children in these respects. - Walter Crane, 19th century illustrator |
Books and literature reflect who we think children are. The ways that youthful characters are developed in children's literature and the way adults interact in their lives, or are not very present in the stories tells us something about how the author views children, and may present a particular cultural or epoch view, as well. You may have your own favorites from childhood, so feel free to use books in your own possession, to access the library and to find material on line.
For this material, please find and peruse at least six authors. Remember to look at the adult and the child in the narratives. If you are new to children's fiction, consider my list of suggestions.
| Louisa May Alcott | Little Women |
| L. Bemelmans | Madeline |
| Pearl Buck | The Good Earth |
| Beverly Cleary | Ribsy |
| Charles Dickens | Oliver Twist, Great Expectations |
| M. L'Engle | Wrinkle in Time |
| C. S. Lewis | Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe |
| Gene Stratton Porter | Girl of the Limberlost, Freckles |
| W. Rawls | Where the Red Fern Grows |
| J. K. Rowling | Harry Potter Books |
| M. Sendak | Where the Wild Things Are |
| Dr. Seuss | Green Eggs and Ham |
| Mark Twain | Huckleberry Finn |
| L.I. Wilder | Little House on the Prairie |
Web sites to access literature:
http://encyclopediaoftheself.com/index.shtml
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/
http://www.dawcl.com/introduction.html
http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp?CRID=childrens_literature&OFFID=se1
Site to access literature for a week, free - http://www.childrenslit.com
http://encyclopediaoftheself.com/children_books_stories_poetry_fables_fairy_tales.shtml
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