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I thought before we talk about The Secret Garden, I could review the author to see what her background was like.
Frances Hodgon Burnett was born in 1849 in Manchester, England. Her father died when she was four, forcing her mother to run the family business. They were very poor. When Frances reached her teen years, she felt a responsibility to support her family. So she started writing short stories and selling them for money.
Her romantic life was less successful than her novels. She was married and divorced twice, both husbands treating her badly. One of them, Stephen Townsend blackmailed her into marrying him. He was also her agent, and 10 years younger. After watching her 15-year old son die of teburculosis, she went into a depression. Critics wrote about her messy life and finally went out of the spotlight in her older years. She died at age 74, in 1924.
The three books that she owes her success to are: "Little Lord Fauntleroy", "A little Princess," and "The Secret Garden."
http://www.northern.edu/hastingw/secretgarden.htm
I'm not sure exactly what Burnett's childhood was like, but I am assuming the Secret Garden has something to do with it, or with the high class English society. I have seen the movie but I am excited to read the book. The last book I will read in this class, sad but it feels so good!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Stinky Cheese Man
Before we discuss this book in class, I want to say some things about what I noticed in this book...
First, I noticed how the narrator, a small elf looking man, involves the reader through the entire book. For example, with the hen, or forgetting the table of contents, or criticizing the giant's tale for being stupid. I think this helps the reader to really feel a part of the stories as a whole, even if they are all different. And at the end, it also feels like the narrator and the reader are kind of a team, making sure the giant is asleep so he won't know the book is about to finish.
Second, I noticed how the authors used the text. Sometimes the text is normal, then its HUGE, then it is teeny tiny. I think they use the big text to show sarcasm or to be funny. For example, the ugly duckling's text is big. But all it says it that he was just an ugly duckling and The End. Because he is mocking the original tale, I find it amusing. (Or the Title Page) The text on Jack's Bean Problem is getting squished because the giant's foot is coming down. It gives the allusion that the bean stalk is squished. Or the text on Jack's story, where is starts big and gets really small. The repetition is where the text starts getting small. I think the variations with the text also helps the reader stay interested and alert.
Third, and most obvious is how the authors make fun of the original fairy tales, calling them "Faily Stupid Tales." The most obvious is the Stinky Cheese Man as the Gingerbread Man. But instead of wanting the little gingerbread cookie, everyone thinks the cheese man is revolting and wants nothing to do with him. Another is "Little Red Running Shorts" or "Cinderumpelstiltskin." I think these give a funny, new perspective on the fairy tales and what some people think of them. It broadens children's imagination on what could've happend in the original stories. Also the pictures are all dimented versions of animals. LIke the cow, the fox, or the hen.
There are more little things, but these are the biggens that I noticed in this book. I am interested in what Mrs. Robinson says about this book, because I found it rather amusing and stupid, which might be the whole point. =)
First, I noticed how the narrator, a small elf looking man, involves the reader through the entire book. For example, with the hen, or forgetting the table of contents, or criticizing the giant's tale for being stupid. I think this helps the reader to really feel a part of the stories as a whole, even if they are all different. And at the end, it also feels like the narrator and the reader are kind of a team, making sure the giant is asleep so he won't know the book is about to finish.
Second, I noticed how the authors used the text. Sometimes the text is normal, then its HUGE, then it is teeny tiny. I think they use the big text to show sarcasm or to be funny. For example, the ugly duckling's text is big. But all it says it that he was just an ugly duckling and The End. Because he is mocking the original tale, I find it amusing. (Or the Title Page) The text on Jack's Bean Problem is getting squished because the giant's foot is coming down. It gives the allusion that the bean stalk is squished. Or the text on Jack's story, where is starts big and gets really small. The repetition is where the text starts getting small. I think the variations with the text also helps the reader stay interested and alert.
Third, and most obvious is how the authors make fun of the original fairy tales, calling them "Faily Stupid Tales." The most obvious is the Stinky Cheese Man as the Gingerbread Man. But instead of wanting the little gingerbread cookie, everyone thinks the cheese man is revolting and wants nothing to do with him. Another is "Little Red Running Shorts" or "Cinderumpelstiltskin." I think these give a funny, new perspective on the fairy tales and what some people think of them. It broadens children's imagination on what could've happend in the original stories. Also the pictures are all dimented versions of animals. LIke the cow, the fox, or the hen.
There are more little things, but these are the biggens that I noticed in this book. I am interested in what Mrs. Robinson says about this book, because I found it rather amusing and stupid, which might be the whole point. =)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Snot Stew
"Snot Stew" was my last outside reading book! This was a very cute book, about cats who leave their momma to live in the world, only some people find them and take them in. A sister and a brother cat end up in the Burke's "barn" and explore the life of these things called "people." The children of the family start playing these games...basically fighting with each other. And the cats want to play too, so they start mimicing the humans. There is a game called "Snot Stew" where the boy and girl start fighting over what is theirs saying ..."Its mine", "is not" "is too" isnot" istoo" "snot" "stew." SO the cats start playing too. But this game goes too far and before long, the game becomes reality for the boy cat. It comes to bit him in the butt when the dogs gets him and it sends him racing for the vets office. In the end, the cats make up and decide never to play "snot stew" ever again.
This book was interesting because it stereotypes male and female roles, even in cats. The male is the proud one of never thinks he can be caught by the dog, so he keeps teasing him, even when his sister warns him. The girl cat is the one who is timid, shy, and cautious. And it is also interesting how the cats wanted to mimic the humans. Or how they understand certain human behavior. It reminds me of my dogs, because I always wonder what they are thinking. Or if they get into mischeif on purpose.
OVerall, this was a very cute book that I would recommend for any cat lover!!
This book was interesting because it stereotypes male and female roles, even in cats. The male is the proud one of never thinks he can be caught by the dog, so he keeps teasing him, even when his sister warns him. The girl cat is the one who is timid, shy, and cautious. And it is also interesting how the cats wanted to mimic the humans. Or how they understand certain human behavior. It reminds me of my dogs, because I always wonder what they are thinking. Or if they get into mischeif on purpose.
OVerall, this was a very cute book that I would recommend for any cat lover!!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Where the Wild Things Are
I guess this book was more of a boy thing, but I found what the Author DID with the book was pretty amazing. How the pictures got bigger then smaller. And how Max is basically a wild thing, until he comes to the realization that he misses home just being a little boy.
Another interesting thing about this book was how the conflict between mother and child was central to the story. I dont know about you, but when I was that little; I knew better than to be mad at my parents. But I did have that imagination that ran rampent sometimes. Unlike Max, I used to invision myself as a polar bear, (you know, like the coca cola bear) or a bird so I could fly around the yard, or in a fairy tale with my barbies!! I know I know, coming back to reality stinks, but I'm glad to come back, because I think that once we really ARE that thing we want to be; its not the same as just being ourselves. And I think that is what Max learns, there is no other place that Momma is gonna take care of you!! But I am really enjoying how these Authors are giving children room for imagination and to think outside the worldly box that adults try to portray. I am getting the idea that in a classroom is the same thing, that as teachers we should give that to our students. We should give them room for imagination, and not condemn them if something is not the way "we pictured it." To just let them have that would probably benefit them more than we know.
Another interesting thing about this book was how the conflict between mother and child was central to the story. I dont know about you, but when I was that little; I knew better than to be mad at my parents. But I did have that imagination that ran rampent sometimes. Unlike Max, I used to invision myself as a polar bear, (you know, like the coca cola bear) or a bird so I could fly around the yard, or in a fairy tale with my barbies!! I know I know, coming back to reality stinks, but I'm glad to come back, because I think that once we really ARE that thing we want to be; its not the same as just being ourselves. And I think that is what Max learns, there is no other place that Momma is gonna take care of you!! But I am really enjoying how these Authors are giving children room for imagination and to think outside the worldly box that adults try to portray. I am getting the idea that in a classroom is the same thing, that as teachers we should give that to our students. We should give them room for imagination, and not condemn them if something is not the way "we pictured it." To just let them have that would probably benefit them more than we know.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Chocolate Fever
Chocolate Fever was another one of my outside reading books! I liked this book very much, because I do'nt know about you, but chocolate is one of my biggest weaknesses. I am a sucker for chocolate! But this little boy, Henry Green, ate chocolate for every meal, and he like it dark, sweet, anything!! But one day he developed brown dots all over his body, which were full of pure chocolate! It made him feel sick and look ugly. So he ran away from the doctors, from his parents, and the mean bully's on the schoolyard. He ended up on a truck with Mac, driving to no where! They came upon a candy shop where the owner taught Henry a lesson. We can't always have what we want. Because too much of something can make us sick, and have Chocolate Fever. When Henry got home and was cured of his disease, Henry had the will power to reject chocolate syrup for his pancakes. It was a new Henry!!
But I also noticed at the end of the book...Henry decides to try cinnoman on his pancakes. He also think about putting the cinnoman on everything else..getting a little carried away. In this thought, he wondered if there was such a thing as Cinnoman Fever? But the last line, the author just says "What do you think?" I loved this because just like "The Cat in the Hat" it leaves this open for children's imagination to take place. They can believe there is such a thing as Cinnoman Fever, or they can choose to say there is no such thing! The important thing is, they have a choice. But we also learn that we can't always have what we want all the time.
But I also noticed at the end of the book...Henry decides to try cinnoman on his pancakes. He also think about putting the cinnoman on everything else..getting a little carried away. In this thought, he wondered if there was such a thing as Cinnoman Fever? But the last line, the author just says "What do you think?" I loved this because just like "The Cat in the Hat" it leaves this open for children's imagination to take place. They can believe there is such a thing as Cinnoman Fever, or they can choose to say there is no such thing! The important thing is, they have a choice. But we also learn that we can't always have what we want all the time.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Cat in the Hat
I have always loved Dr. Suess books! Along with every other child in America. There's something he brings to every book that is original, funny, and with life lesson importance. My favorite part about this book "The Cat in the Hat" was the fact that the fish is the voice of authority throughout. And it is totally ironic because fish are those pets who stay in one corner for thier few weeks of life and no one really cares about it...the poor things. And it really is a miracle that his fragile little life is saved at the end of the book. But I liked this aspect because it gives children an "out of the ordinary" experience with creatures that don't do much of anything at all.
I went fishing today on Lake Somerville and we caught 8 fish! And I have to be honest, after watching Finding Nemo, I am alittle pretentious about killing and eating these creatures. It's not like they can fight back, even though they flop around until its too hard to breathe. You know they have no control over the situation, it is so sad and pathetic. But thats why the irony caught me today as we were fishing, that because these fish are so helpless, it makes the authority fish in the book so much more interesting!! And I really like how Suess gives children that imagination factor that anything can happen!
I went fishing today on Lake Somerville and we caught 8 fish! And I have to be honest, after watching Finding Nemo, I am alittle pretentious about killing and eating these creatures. It's not like they can fight back, even though they flop around until its too hard to breathe. You know they have no control over the situation, it is so sad and pathetic. But thats why the irony caught me today as we were fishing, that because these fish are so helpless, it makes the authority fish in the book so much more interesting!! And I really like how Suess gives children that imagination factor that anything can happen!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Picture Books
Chapter 4 Definitions of Picture Books
1. Picture Books- They convey message through a series of pictures with only a small amount of text. The Illustrations are as important as the text conveying the message.
2. PIcture Storybooks- Picture books with plot. Text and illustrations equally convey the story line.
3. Illustrated Books- for older children. Illustrations are extensions of the text and may add to the story, but not necessarily to convey its meaning.
Picture Storybooks (chapter 7)
Storytelling Elements
1. Picture Books- They convey message through a series of pictures with only a small amount of text. The Illustrations are as important as the text conveying the message.
2. PIcture Storybooks- Picture books with plot. Text and illustrations equally convey the story line.
3. Illustrated Books- for older children. Illustrations are extensions of the text and may add to the story, but not necessarily to convey its meaning.
Picture Storybooks (chapter 7)
Storytelling Elements
- Plots- simple and fast-paced. Rely on repetitive patterns.
- Characters- identified by clearly outlined traits.
- Character motivation is singular.
- Rely on dialogue
- Comic in tone, and have excitement or suspense.
- Protagonists are usually animals or children.
Conventions of Picture-Book Art
- Line- Used to define features and suggest emotional response. Examples: curves and circles suggest warmth and security, while zigzagging lines suggest excitment and rapid movement.
- Space- This is what draws our attention to objects on the page.
- Shape- Help to elicit emotional reactions such as comfort and security or agitation and confusion.
- Color- One of the most emotional artistic elements. Evokes emotional responses or cultural distinctions. Also, black and white is becoming more popular.
- Texture- Gives a flat surface the characteristics of three-dimensional surfaces.
- Composition and Perspective- Composition is the arrangment of details in the picture, or organization of the shapes. Perspective is the vantage point from which we see the objects on the page.
Design and Meaning in Picture Books
- Rhythm and Movement- There is rhythm as we move from page to page. Movement creates a starting and stopping pattern which the text must accomodate.
- Tension- Tension between what the words say and what the illustrations depict results in our interest.
- Page Layout- Pages that are wider than they are tall give more room for narrative illustration. And books that are narrow focus on character and diminish the setting.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Johnny Kellock Died Today
This is another one of my outside reading books. "Johnny Kellock Died Today" is about a little girl Rosalie, who ambitiously tries to find out where her cousin Johnny has dissappeared to. I was expecting him to die or something, but he does not. In reality, Johnny has just gone away from home due to an abusive father to try and find a better life for himself elsewhere. Rosalie's father, Norman, knows all along about Johnny's disappearance, but keeps money for Johnny incase he needs it.
The "Gravedigger" is a neighbor named David, who got his nickname from his job in the cemetary at night. Rumor has it that his mother died and he dug her up once. But once David is hired for summer help by Rosalie's father, he becomes Rosalie's sidekick in helping her find her cousin. As their relationship grows, she finds out that his mother drowned and he is not weird afterall, just a normal kid trying to deal with regular life issues like herself. Once Rosalie hears her cousin went missing, they embark on a series of journeys to the Ship Yard and elsewhere to find Johnny.
The book deals with issues coming from Rosalie being as young as she is. She tries to understand why the older people like her parents, don't tell her about things she feels she is old enough to understand, such as Johnny's decision to leave home. She calls it "sugar coating" the issue. They try to tell her everything is ok when she knows it is not. David is there to help her deal with the issues, and I even think a little romance is blooming. By the end of the book, the family comes together and finds that Johnny's birth certificate says "Johnny Kellock Died Today." This is not true because Johnny calls home that day. He just put it there so people would stop looking for him. Rosalie confronts her parents about telling her why he left, and they sort things out together.
This book was not my favorite of all, but it does paint a very good picture of issues little children can face, and how it can affect their lives. And they do want to feel a part of what is going on in life.
The "Gravedigger" is a neighbor named David, who got his nickname from his job in the cemetary at night. Rumor has it that his mother died and he dug her up once. But once David is hired for summer help by Rosalie's father, he becomes Rosalie's sidekick in helping her find her cousin. As their relationship grows, she finds out that his mother drowned and he is not weird afterall, just a normal kid trying to deal with regular life issues like herself. Once Rosalie hears her cousin went missing, they embark on a series of journeys to the Ship Yard and elsewhere to find Johnny.
The book deals with issues coming from Rosalie being as young as she is. She tries to understand why the older people like her parents, don't tell her about things she feels she is old enough to understand, such as Johnny's decision to leave home. She calls it "sugar coating" the issue. They try to tell her everything is ok when she knows it is not. David is there to help her deal with the issues, and I even think a little romance is blooming. By the end of the book, the family comes together and finds that Johnny's birth certificate says "Johnny Kellock Died Today." This is not true because Johnny calls home that day. He just put it there so people would stop looking for him. Rosalie confronts her parents about telling her why he left, and they sort things out together.
This book was not my favorite of all, but it does paint a very good picture of issues little children can face, and how it can affect their lives. And they do want to feel a part of what is going on in life.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I love picture books!! I am very excited to study some of these picture books. While my parents were down for parents weekend, I showed them some of the books we are going to study and my mom was telling me how I read them when I was very young and so forth. Some of them I had no idea I read, but most of them I do remember! Some of my favorite picture books were:
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The Rainbow Fish
Any Dr. Suess book
How Do I love you?
And so many more!! That last one is a tear-jerker. Every time I read it, I still cry. But anyway, I have such enjoyed the books we read in this class. I get really geeked up about most of them, which is strange but really fun at the same time. I am excited about reading the picture books. And it is always a plus that they are not very long!! Yay!
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The Rainbow Fish
Any Dr. Suess book
How Do I love you?
And so many more!! That last one is a tear-jerker. Every time I read it, I still cry. But anyway, I have such enjoyed the books we read in this class. I get really geeked up about most of them, which is strange but really fun at the same time. I am excited about reading the picture books. And it is always a plus that they are not very long!! Yay!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Lois Lowry
The Giver must have been a hard book to sit down and configure. To think about and exquisitly put together every detail to portray what to say to the readers. So I decided to research the Brilliant mind behind the book, Lois Lowry. She says that in every book she writes, there is a central theme that ties it together; that is connection to people, to each other, and the importance of being interdependent on the people around us.
What better way to say how much we need eachother than to picture a world where they DIDN'T need each other. They had no idea what it was like to depend on another human being, or feel anything for one another. That's not even imaginable in the life we live in today... at least for me.
Lois had a son who was a pilot for the U.S. Air Force, but died in the cockpit of an airplane during war. Even though it was devastating, it encouraged her to convey the importance of caring and upholding the interaction between ourselves and the environment. I completely agree with Lois Lowry. I believe her novel, The Giver, gave me a deeper sense of wanting to belong and love the people around me. This has a fabulous story and message and I think I will keep this book with me for a long long time. =)
(This information came from www.loislowry.com/bio.html)
What better way to say how much we need eachother than to picture a world where they DIDN'T need each other. They had no idea what it was like to depend on another human being, or feel anything for one another. That's not even imaginable in the life we live in today... at least for me.
Lois had a son who was a pilot for the U.S. Air Force, but died in the cockpit of an airplane during war. Even though it was devastating, it encouraged her to convey the importance of caring and upholding the interaction between ourselves and the environment. I completely agree with Lois Lowry. I believe her novel, The Giver, gave me a deeper sense of wanting to belong and love the people around me. This has a fabulous story and message and I think I will keep this book with me for a long long time. =)
(This information came from www.loislowry.com/bio.html)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Giver
I just finished The Giver. I started it yesterday. 2 days. By the time I got half way, the book did not leave my hands. And I must say, the ending I had picked out for the book was not how I pictured it. At first I was angry at the ending, because I felt like much had been left out. Such as: what happend to the Giver, Jonas family, how did the community deal with all the memories? But after I let all my emotions sink in that this book seemed to snarl up inside of me, I think it was a perfect ending. Jonas HAD the courage to save himself and Gabe, and he had it for a long time, maybe even before he became the Reciever. And he had LOVE. The most important thing the Giver gave to Jonas. Because Love was absent from the community, nothing mattered to Jonas anymore. Saving this baby meant the world to him now.
After I was done, putting the book down in stunned silence; I had no idea what to think. I was in a state of pure happiness accompanied with sadness. I was so grateful that Jonas escaped to Elsewhere, saving himself and the baby; but sad for the lost people who knew absolutely nothing! It's like all I wanted to do was be with people who I loved and loved me. I yearned for Love in that moment because I felt wholehearted sadness for the community who had not experienced it. And yes, I may be getting a little too wrapped up in the story because its not real afterall. However, there really ARE people in this world who don't know Love like we do. How blessed are we!! Anyway, seeing as I could go on and on, I think this book was amazing...and seeing as we all endure memories like Jonas recieved, the beauty is that we all go through life together. So help each other out!! =D
After I was done, putting the book down in stunned silence; I had no idea what to think. I was in a state of pure happiness accompanied with sadness. I was so grateful that Jonas escaped to Elsewhere, saving himself and the baby; but sad for the lost people who knew absolutely nothing! It's like all I wanted to do was be with people who I loved and loved me. I yearned for Love in that moment because I felt wholehearted sadness for the community who had not experienced it. And yes, I may be getting a little too wrapped up in the story because its not real afterall. However, there really ARE people in this world who don't know Love like we do. How blessed are we!! Anyway, seeing as I could go on and on, I think this book was amazing...and seeing as we all endure memories like Jonas recieved, the beauty is that we all go through life together. So help each other out!! =D
Saturday, April 5, 2008
The Hobbit
So I FINALLY finished the Hobbit...all 300 and something pages of it. Not gonna lie, I am super proud of myself for actually reading the entire book. That thing could be tedious to read by far! But i really really enjoyed this book! I thought I wouldn't, but I thoroughly did! The adventures and the characters were just so fun to me! The magical elements helped out a whole lot because it made it sort of like a fairy tale but not really...
I'm also glad I read this to put in perspective what the Lord of the Rings Trilogies came from. Its amazing how Tolkien's mind thought this way. What a brilliant man. There is nothing I did not like about this book, and that is pretty amazing, considering I don't really like the darker books with evil in them. But at least it ends happily and I really like Bilbo! =)
Until next time....
I'm also glad I read this to put in perspective what the Lord of the Rings Trilogies came from. Its amazing how Tolkien's mind thought this way. What a brilliant man. There is nothing I did not like about this book, and that is pretty amazing, considering I don't really like the darker books with evil in them. But at least it ends happily and I really like Bilbo! =)
Until next time....
Friday, April 4, 2008
Hobbit House
I found this online and thought it was VERY interesting!!....
The front door..^^^
Rod Rylander lives in a cute little Hobbit House in Costa Rica. It's made out of adobe bricks, earth- materials from the site, and even paper clayche. It is actually in the side of a mountain..and his housing expenses are only $40 a month!! Here is a picture..
The front door is a big round hole that is sort of hidden in the picture..but it looks hard to climb into. I liked this because it gives me somewhat of a visual of Bilbo's Hobbit House. Even though it may not look exactly or anything like this, it is still good to see what a real life Hobbit House looks like. The info came from http://thinkorthwim.com/2007/08/31/rod-rylanders-hobbit-house/
The front door..^^^Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Hobbit
So I guess most of my predictions were wrong... The Hobbit, Bilbo, is not evil; and he is NOTHING like Goblins! Although there are Goblins in the book that resemble MacDonald's goblins very much so! Bilbo is the hero and I actually really like his character. But I was WAS right about evil to be overcome. The ultimate evil that has to be overcome on the dwarves journey is the Dragon Smaug. They do defeat him in the end, although it takes some guts and tremendous amounts of strength and courage. But leave it to Bilbo! He becomes the leader of the pack and a very changed little Hobbit by the end.
Even though this book has a lot of scary things in it, I think it can relate to children more than we think. First, it has got some major adventure going on here. Little boys would probably like that aspect more than girls. But there is also lots of magical elements, such as the Ring. It makes people invisible, and that is just cool! I think we all wish we could have one of those rings every once in a while, I know I would! Also, this thematic issue of Greed and love of wealth and treasure. Children can identify with that, not so much the money aspect, but wanting something very badly.
I have enjoyed The Hobbit more than was expected. Sometimes I can't put it down, and the fact that its long, makes me even more proud of myself! =)
Even though this book has a lot of scary things in it, I think it can relate to children more than we think. First, it has got some major adventure going on here. Little boys would probably like that aspect more than girls. But there is also lots of magical elements, such as the Ring. It makes people invisible, and that is just cool! I think we all wish we could have one of those rings every once in a while, I know I would! Also, this thematic issue of Greed and love of wealth and treasure. Children can identify with that, not so much the money aspect, but wanting something very badly.
I have enjoyed The Hobbit more than was expected. Sometimes I can't put it down, and the fact that its long, makes me even more proud of myself! =)
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