Reading Log Number 1 1
Reading Log Number 1
Traditional Literature
Jessica Dial
Georgia Southern University
ECED 7232
Susan Franks
May 28, 2008
Reading Log Number 1 2
Reading Log Number 1
Traditional Literature
Book 1:
Arthur/Illustrator: Robin McKinley
Title and Date of Publication: Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty
and the Beast; 1978
Genre: Folktale – Magic and Wonder Tale
Format: Chapter Book
Award: 1998 Phoenix Award
Summary of Book:
The book is divided into three parts. The first part is more of a
background of Beauty’s (Honour) Family. Beauty is the youngest of
three daughters of a merchant, who is very wealthy. The father
eventually loses his ships in a storm and all the money is lost.
Along with the ships, is one of the daughters’ fiancé. Another of the
daughter marries a poor lad who moves the family to where he
grew up to start their life over. The father takes a trip back to their
homeland, Beauty asks for him to please bring her some rose
seeds back.
Part two begins right after the father’s return. We learn that he got
lost in the woods and found an enchanted castle. He tells the
family of this magical place and how he was well taken care of
before his journey back home. As he was leaving he sees a majestic
rose garden and feels that the host has been so giving they
wouldn’t mind him taking just one rose to Beauty. We soon find
out that the host is a Beast. The Beast does care. He demands the
father return home and sends one of his daughters back in order
to save his life. The father is heartbroken. How can he send one of
his daughters to this beast? Beauty declares that she will go and
live with the Beast.
Part three begins with Beauty arriving at the castle. She sees all
the magical things her father mentioned in his stories. The story
goes on to tell of her developing relationship with the Beast and
how they grow closer and closer together. Beauty realizes the Beast
is not that bad after all, and that he just is lonely. Beauty
eventually finds out (through the magic) that her sisters’ fiancé is
alive and begs the Beast to let her leave just one time to go tell her
of this. The Beast allows her one week to go visit her family and
tells her if she does not return in time he will die. Beauty goes and
visits her family and hates leaving but realizes she misses the
Beast very much. She returns to the castle and declares her love
for him. In the moment, things swirl and happen and the Beast
turns into a handsome young man. He then says they can get
married that afternoon. They live happily ever after.
Reading Log Number 1 3
Reflection:
1. Does the literature help children better understand the
nonscientific cultural traditions of early humanity?
Yes, I think this book does help children understand the
cultural traditions of early humanity. It describes in detail
how people lived in this time in day to day life. When the
family loses everything you also see the different
socioeconomic status of the society.
2. Does the literature show the interrelatedness of various types of
stories and narrative motifs?
No, the story is told from Beauty’s point of view
throughout the book.
3. Does the literature help explain how different versions of a tale
are dispersed?
No
4. Does the literature help children learn to appreciate the culture
and art of a different country?
I think the literature does help children learn to
appreciate the culture of a different country and time.
5. Does the literature provide factual information about a different
country?
The literature describes the countryside and city life,
however it never states the specific country in which the
story takes place.
6. Does the literature familiarize children with another language or
dialect of the world?
The story does mention another language, but its one of
fantasy that is used between the Beast and the animated
everyday objects.
7. Can the literature be used to stimulate creative drama, writing,
and other forms of artistic expression?
Yes, I think this book would stimulate the creativeness in
children and young adults of all ages. It is very vividly
written and “paints” a picture for readers in a way that
would develop their ability to be original and creative.
8. Does the literature encourage children to realize that people
from another part of the world have inherent goodness, mercy,
courage, and industry?
Reading Log Number 1 4
I think the literature does help children realize that
people from other parts of the world can be merciful and
courageous. It also describes different part of industry.
Reading Log Number 1 5
Book 2:
Arthur/Illustrator: Janet Stevens
Title and Date of Publication: The Tortoise and the Hare;1984
Genre: Fable
Format: Picture Book
Award: Reading Rainbow Selection
Summary of Book:
The story is about a tortoise and hare. The hare always picks on
the tortoise because he is slow. The hare eventually challenges the
tortoise to a race. The tortoise believes he will never beat the hare
and starts to refuse. All of the other animals in the forest cheer
tortoise on and talk him into the challenge. All the animals take
different things to help tortoise with: working out, eating healthy,
conditioning, and resting. During the race the hare passes the
tortoise three times and decides to nap because he has extra time.
He awakes to hearing the crowd cheer the tortoise on as he passes
the finish line. The moral of the story is hard work and
perseverance pays off.
Reflection:
Evaluation Criteria—Tortoise and the Hare
1. Does the literature help children better understand the nonscientific
cultural traditions of early humanity?
No, I do not think the story helps explain traditions of early
humanity.
2. Does the literature show the interrelatedness of various types of stories
and narrative motifs?
Yes the perseverance of the tortoise is displayed in various stories
thoughout time. The good guy always wins!
3. Does the literature help explain how different versions of a tale are
dispersed?
No
4. Does the literature help children learn to appreciate the culture and art
of a different country?
No
5. Does the literature provide factual information about a different country?
No
6. Does the literature familiarize children with another language or dialect
of the world?
No
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7. Can the literature be used to stimulate creative drama, writing, and
other forms of artistic expression?
Yes this literature can be used to stimulate creative drama, writing
and other forms of artistic expression.
8. Does the literature encourage children to realize that people from
another part of the world have inherent goodness, mercy, courage, and
industry?
No
Reading Log Number 1 7
Book 3:
Arthur/Illustrator: Margaret Hodges/Trina Schart Hyman
Title and Date of Publication: Saint George and the Dragon;1984
Genre: Fantasy and Folklore
Format: Picture Book
Award: Caldecott Medal Award
Summary of Book:
The Red Cross Knight is sent by the Queen of Faries to fight a
dragon and save a kingdom. The long battle takes 3 days. The
knight’s bravery wins over the kingdom and the king gives the Red
Cross Knight his daughters hand in marriage. Hi is also awarded a
title of Saint George of Merry England.
Reflection:
Evaluation Criteria—Saint George and the Dragon
1. Does the literature help children better understand the nonscientific
cultural traditions of early humanity?
No
2. Does the literature show the interrelatedness of various types of stories
and narrative motifs?
Yes the background of the story is a man and woman who have a
battle and fall in love and live happily ever after. The princess
marries Saint George at the end of the story.
3. Does the literature help explain how different versions of a tale are
dispersed?
No
4. Does the literature help children learn to appreciate the culture and art
of a different country?
Yes the illustrations displayed in the book are of ‘old world’ art
even though they are modern day drawings.
5. Does the literature provide factual information about a different country?
No
6. Does the literature familiarize children with another language or dialect
of the world?
No
7. Can the literature be used to stimulate creative drama, writing, and
other forms of artistic expression?
Yes children can use this story as a basis to start their own prince
and princess fairy tale.
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8. Does the literature encourage children to realize that people from
another part of the world have inherent goodness, mercy, courage, and
industry?
Yes the literature helps children realize that people from another
part of the world have goodness, mercy, courage and industry. An
example would be where Saint George tells the king he must finish
his task assigned by the Fairy Queen before marrying the princess.
Reading Log Number 1 9
Book 4:
Arthur/Illustrator: Julius Lester/Jerry Pinkney
Title and Date of Publication: John Henry; 1994
Genre: Folklore
Format: Picture Book
Award: Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, American Library Association
Notable Book, and Caldecott Honor, all 1995
Summary of Book:
John Henry was born and in an instant grew so tall his head went
through the roof. He grew big, strong and fast. He broke through
boulders that the road crew couldn’t even walk around. His biggest
achievement and the cause of his death was a race against a steam
drill to break a tunnel through the mountain for a train. John
Henry finished the tunnel and walked out and died. Everybody
then realized that dying ‘ain’t’ important its what you do while you
are alive.
Reflection:
Evaluation Criteria—John Henry
1. Does the literature help children better understand the nonscientific
cultural traditions of early humanity?
Yes the book helps children understand the cultural traditions of the
late 1800’s.
2. Does the literature show the interrelatedness of various types of stories
and narrative motifs?
This story does depict some lyrics that was used during slave times.
3. Does the literature help explain how different versions of a tale are
dispersed?
No
4. Does the literature help children learn to appreciate the culture and art
of a different country?
No, the book is set in the United States in the late 1800’s.
5. Does the literature provide factual information about a different country?
No but it does give some factual information about our country.
6. Does the literature familiarize children with another language or dialect
of the world?
Yes it familiarizes children with the dialect of the negro culture in the
late 1800’s.
7. Can the literature be used to stimulate creative drama, writing, and
other forms of artistic expression?
Reading Log Number 1 10
Yes by getting them to think about this place in time.
8. Does the literature encourage children to realize that people from
another part of the world have inherent goodness, mercy, courage, and
industry?
Yes it shows children that even though people were not as educated in
the late 1800’s they still were able to work and be admired.
Reading Log Number 1 11
Book 5:
Arthur/Illustrator: Jane Wattenberg
Title and Date of Publication: Henny-Penny; 2000
Genre: Folklore
Format: Picture Book
Award:
Summary of Book:
Henny Penny was hanging out in he barnyard during a storm one day looking
for something to eat when an acorn fell on her head. She immediately thought
the sky was falling. She ran off to tell the king and ran into various friends
along the way. All of the friends also went with Henny Penny to tell the king
this important news. They ended up running into Foxy-Loxy. Foxy-Loxy tricked
the group into following him on a short cut to the king. The shortcut ended up
being into Foxy-Loxy’s cave where he ate each and one of the animals one by
one. Right before Henny-Penny was going into the cave, she remembered she
did not lay her egg that day and ran home to do so; in turn saving her life. She
never told the King.
Reflection:
Evaluation Criteria—Henny-Penny
1. Does the literature help children better understand the nonscientific
cultural traditions of early humanity?
No
2. Does the literature show the interrelatedness of various types of stories
and narrative motifs?
Yes the fact that Henny Penny is going to tell of a ‘truth’ that she
believes and how quickly stories can be spread across the land is
depicted in stories in all cultures.
3. Does the literature help explain how different versions of a tale are
dispersed?
No
4. Does the literature help children learn to appreciate the culture and art
of a different country?
No
5. Does the literature provide factual information about a different country?
No
6. Does the literature familiarize children with another language or dialect
of the world?
No
Reading Log Number 1 12
7. Can the literature be used to stimulate creative drama, writing, and
other forms of artistic expression?
Yes this literature can be used to help stimulate creativity in the
students in various ways.
8. Does the literature encourage children to realize that people from
another part of the world have inherent goodness, mercy, courage, and
industry?
No