Review for Final Exam
ILS300
Fall 2009
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There are two basic types of reading:
• Unengaged reading = done because we have
to, i.e., school or work
• Engaged reading = when you connect with a
book and get pleasure or satisfaction from
reading. There are two kinds of reading –
informational, which answers a question and
aesthetic, which involves images and feelings
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So, how do we judge a good book?
1. Style and language
8. Design & layout
2. Character
9. Mood
3. Plot
10. Accuracy
4. Illustrations
11. Tone
5. Pacing
12. Point of view
6. Setting
13. Theme
7. Tension
The three most important are style
& language, character and plot.
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Awards for Children’s Books
The four major awards we will examine are :
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Newbery Award: best written fiction book
Caldecott Award: best illustrated book
Geisel Award: best beginning reader
Nutmeg Award: CT’s award voted on by
children in grades 4-6 and 6-8
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Genres of Children’s Literature
• All literature is prose or poetry. Every genre
branches off from these two.
• POETRY: can be in the form of haiku, sonnet,
couplet, limerick, narrative, cinquain or free
verse. It is never written in paragraphs.
Cinquain example: triangles
pointy edges
Revolving, rotating, angling
triangles are all different
180%
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Difference Between Fiction &
Nonfiction is Documentation
• Fiction: Is entirely from author’s imagination.
• Nonfiction: requires documentation.
Nonfiction is biography and informational
books. Biographies and autobiographies tell all
or a part of the tale of an actual person’s life.
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Nonfiction is classified into 1 of 10 categories called
the Dewey Decimal System.
• All numbers range from 000-999.99. All numbers
except for the 800’s (literature) are nonfiction.
Realistic & Fantasy Fiction are invented stories with
invented characters. The difference between
realistic and fantasy fiction lies in the laws of the
universe.
• If the setting is based in reality and the characters
are grounded in reality, then it’s realistic fiction.
• If the story has elements not in our physical
world, then it’s fantasy.
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Contemporary & Historical Fiction:
• Contemporary Fiction: the story takes place in
today’s world
• Historical Fiction: the story takes place in the
past.
Traditional Fantasy:
• stories are part of the oral tradition of storytelling
and the authors are unknown.
• They are now written down in print as collections
(like Grimm), but they were collectors, not
authors, of these stories. If it has an indentifiable
author, it is not traditional fantasy.
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Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction:
• Both Science Fiction and Modern Fantasy
contain elements not found in the known
universe.
• In Modern Fantasy, other worldly abilities
just ARE or come about by magic, in
Science Fiction science is used to make it
possible.
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Traditional Fantasy:
• Originated orally – was told from one
townsperson to another and has no definite
author.
• The characters are not well developed.
• The plots are very simplistic and deal with the
basic emotions of life.
• Storylines all have the same themes.
• Traditional fantasy gives children the ability to
hope. HOPE is the essential thread in all fantasy
literature.
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Types of Traditional Fantasy Literature
There are a variety of types of folktales.
• Cumulative Tales: stories that are added on as
the story grows
• Pourquoi Tales: “why” tales – they answer
questions and give explanations for the way
things are, particularly in nature
• Beast Tales: animals are the main characters,
typically representing humans
• Tall Tales: uses much exaggeration. Many grew
as a push to open North American, but there
are tall tales from all over the world.
• Fables: are meant to teach a lesson and
conclude with a moral
• Myths: grew out of people’s need to
undersatnd and explain the world
• Epics, Ballads and Legends: tales that focus on
a hero. They are often lengthy.
• Religious Stories: came out of people’s quest
to share beliefs and encompass all religions.
• Noodlehead or Numbskull Tales: humorous
tales of the “not too bright”. Sometimes the
main character makes a problem with their
ridiculous mistakes, but they often come out on
top.
• Trickster Tales: a variety of the beast tale, but
features a character that outsmarts others in
the story.
• Realistic Tales: have a basis in actual fact.
• Fairy Tales: also known as Wonder Tales. Most
magical of all the folktales, they include talking
animals, fairy godmothers - all magical objects.
Modern Fantasy
• Modern fantasy always has elements of
magic.
• However, modern fantasy HAS known
authors.
• Modern fantasy can be varied in its
elements of magic.
• Fantasy may be the most difficult genre to
write because the author must create a
new set of physical laws.
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Categories of Modern Fantasy
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Animal characters: Charlotte’s Web
Toys and objects come to life: Pinocchio
Tiny humans: The Littles
Peculiar characters & situations: Mary Poppins
Imaginary worlds: Alice in Wonderland
Magical powers: Chocolate Touch
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• Supernatural powers:
Wait Until Helen Comes Home
• Time warp fantasies: Magic Tree House
series
• High fantasy: The Lion, the Witch & the
Wardrobe
• Modern fairy tales or folktales: also known
as literary tales: Hans Christian Anderson,
Jane Yolen, Rudyard Kipling
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Magical Elements in Fantasy Literature
“Other worlds” (secondary worlds): establish
magical setting. The setting is established in 2
ways:
1. Set the whole story in an imaginary land.
2. Have the setting begin in the real world &
then move it into the secondary world
through a sort of portal
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• Good vs. evil: Good vs. evil archetype has
strong basis in mythology.
• Heroism: hero’s quest will always be the
backbone of the fantasy tale. The hero’s story
is always a circular journey – it always ends
where it began.
• Special characters types include fairies, pixies,
wizards.
• Fantastic objects include magic cloaks, flying
broomsticks.
Some fantasy books use only 1 magic motif,
some 4 out of 6, some all six.
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Contemporary Realistic Fiction
How to recognize a well written book:
• Precise vocabulary: sentence structure, word
order, subject-verb agreement, verb tenses
• Figurative language: Simile, metaphor,
personification and imagery are examples of
figurative language.
• Dialogue: speech reveals character: when a
person speaks in literature, the truth emerges
about personality, motives desires, prejudices
and feelings.
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• Music in Language: the sounds of words
increase the appeal and strength of a story.
• Understatement: When facts are clearly
presented in writing, readers can draw their
own conclusions without being precisely told
what to think.
• Unexpected insights: Good stories contain
small surprises.
In short, the author has to treat the audience with
respect.
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Categories of Contemporary Fiction
• Picture Books: Beautifully illustrated with carefully
chosen words
• Series Books: contain the same characters across
many different books.
• Novels in verse: is considered poetry AND
contemporary fiction
• Adventure and survival stories:
Exciting , fast paced plots which encourages the
kids to read on.
• Mysteries: marked by suspense. Action centers on
finding an answer to the questions.
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• Animal stories: about the relationship between
animals and humans.
• Sports stories: Action revolves around a
particular sport and the thrills that go along with
it.
• Humorous stories: Children need humorous
stories as much as they need books full of drama.
• Romance Stories: centers on falling in love. Self
discovery element is involved.
• Coming of Age Stories: books help children with
rites of passage.
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Historical Fiction
• It must be set in the past.
• Historical accuracy is required.
• The story must make the historical period
come to life.
• The author usually reveals the history
through the eyes of a young protagonist.
• The writing styles should avoid giving too
much attention to historical detail.
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TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL NOVELS
• Prehistoric Times: T. A Dyer’s A WAY OF HIS OWN
• Ancient Times: Eloise McGraw’s, MARA, DAUGHTER OF THE
NILE
• Tales of Early Britain: Rosemary Sutcliff’s EAGLE OF THE
NINTH
• Later Middle Ages: Karen Cushman’s CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY
• The Modern World : Gary Blackwood’s THE SHAKESPEARE
STEALER
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TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL NOVELS, cont.
• Stories of the Western Hemisphere: L.I. Wilder’s LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG
WOODS
• Colonial America: Elizabeth George Speare’s THE WITCH OF
BLACKBIRD POND
• Revolutionary War: Esther Forbes’ Johnny
Tremain
• The Growing Nation: Pam Conrad’s PRAIRIE SONGS
• Civil War Era: Andrea Pinkney’s SILENT
THUNDER
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TIMELINE OF HISTORICAL NOVELS, still cont.
• Industrial Age: Katherine Paterson’s BREAD & ROSES, TOO
• Immigration: Patricia Reilly Giff’s NORY RYAN’S SONG
• Great Depression: Christopher Paul Curtis’ BUD, NOT
BUDDY
• World War II: Patricia Reilly Giff’s Lily’s Crossing
• Post World War II: Gary Schmidt’s WEDNESDAY
WARS
By giving children a glimpse into the past, they may learn
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how to change the present world for the better.
BIOGRAPHIES
• Biographies are easy to identify in
most library collections because they
are so specifically about a person’s life.
• Some of the most typical biographies
in children’s literature are:
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• SCIENTISTS & INVENTORS: Marie Curie
• POLITICAL LEADERS: George Washington
• POP CULTURE & TRULY TALENTED: Miley
Cyrus, John Lennon
• SPORTS PERSONALITIES: Jackie Robinson
• EXPLORERS AND ADVENTURERS: Amelia
Earhart
• HUMANITARIANS: Mother Theresa
• PEOPLE WHO OVERCAME TREMENDOUS
ODDS: Helen Keller
• VILLAINS: Adolph Hitler
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TYPES OF BIOGRAPHIES
• AUTHENTIC BIOGRAPHY: Written as true Nonfiction,
only statements made by the person are included as
dialogue
• COLLECTIVE BIOGRAPHIES: Have chapters about
similar people collected in one book, i.e.rock stars
• PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHIES: good introductory
biography for younger readers with less text
• COMPLETE BIOGRAPHIES: span a person’s whole life
• PARTIAL BIOGRAPHIES: cover just a segment of a
person’s life
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TYPES OF INFORMATIONAL BOOKS
• Activity books: books that focus on how to do a specific activity, i.e.
cookbooks, craft books
• Concept books: the first type of informational book a child
experiences, i.e. opposite books
• Journals & interviews: the two most common books based on
primary sources, i.e. Columbus’ diary.
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Photo essays: photos capture emotion & verify information
Pop up informational books: Fun, but they rip easily
Reference Books: Encyclopedias, dictionaries & atlases
Miscellaneous Books: Joke books, magic books, sheet music
books, puzzle books, etc.
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THE FUNCTIONS OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN PICTURE BOOKS
• Establish Setting: The artwork, time periods & cultural settings are
brought to life through the illustrations
• Define and Develop Characters: Pictures are able to give
characters more delineation
• Reinforce Text: The pictures explain what is going on in the text.
• Provide a Differing Viewpoint: pictures are used in picture
books is to do the opposite of what is occurring in the text.
• Extend or Develop the Plot: In wordless picture books, the
whole plot is told through the pictures.
• Provide Interesting Asides: Sometimes subplots are
revealed through pictures that are never referred to in the text
• Establish Mood: Illustrations determine the mood of a story.
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CATEGORIES OF PICTURE BOOKS
ABC BOOKS
COUNTING BOOKS
CONCEPT BOOKS: colors, opposites, shapes
PARTICIPATION BOOKS: involves children in telling the story
WORDLESS PICTURE BOOKS
PREDICTABLE BOOKS: repeated language & story patterns
BEGINNING READERS
PICTURE STORYBOOKS: largest group of books
ENGINEERED STORYBOOKS: pop-up, odd shapes
BOARD BOOKS: hard cardboard books for babies
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FORMS OF POETRY
• Narrative Poems: Narrative poems tell stories.
• Ballads are narrative poems adapted for singing.
• Lyric Poems: lyric poetry is melodic or songlike. It is
descriptive, focusing on feelings or images.
• Limericks: are have a set humorous poetry form -five line
poem followed by one couplet followed by one triplet.
• Haiku: has 17 syllables: a line of 5 syllables, a line of 7
syllables and a line of 5 syllables
• Concrete poems: is written or printed on the page in the
shape representing the poem’s subject.
• Free Verse: relies on rhythm and cadence, but it is mostly
unrhymed and the rhythm is not consistent.
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What is multicultural literature?
• Our textbook defines them as people of
color, especially within the United States &
Canada.
• Other experts include people with
disabilities, Italians, Irish, Appalachians,
even Swedish Americans.
• Jews, Muslims, Catholics, Islams and Amish
all have their own cultures and have
sacrificed for their beliefs.
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How can you tell if a multicultural
book is well written?
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All the regular ingredients of a well written book.
Diversity and range of representation.
No stereotyping.
Derogatory language should be avoided.
No distortions or omissions of history.
Perspective of the book has to represent the
character’s experience.
Lifestyles of the character should be genuine &
complex.
Characters should be strong and independent.
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Banned Books
• Assigned vs. available books: there is a BIG
difference if a book is assigned to read as
opposed to having the book available to read.
• Positive learning can come from negative
portrayals: language or behavior cab be taken
out of context.
• Books should be judged holistically: Not all
books that contain drug use or swear words
are either good or bad.
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So what to do if someone DOES
complain about a book?
Make sure that you have the following policies in
place:
• Material Selection Policy: This outlines how a
library or school chooses the books. It often
includes the ALA Bill of Rights and other “right to
read” statements.
• Grievance Policy: This is a document that can be
giving to someone who wants to make a
complaint about a book.
• Remember – in CT. all you need is a hometown
card to use ANY public library in the state.
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Graphic Novels
A graphic novel is a story conveyed to the reader using
the comics form. It includes fiction and nonfiction.
Why are they good for kids?
• Assist poor readers.
• Connect with visual learners.
• Develop strong language arts skills.
• Encourage unmotivated and unengaged readers.
• Convey educational messages.
• Stimulate readers to explore other literature.
• Engage adult readers.
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Graphic Novel Genres
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Super-Hero
Fantasy
Horror/Supernatural
Science Fiction
Action/Adventure
Humor
Manga
Other Genres
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