Children’s Children’s LiteratureLiterature

Kay Lin Kay Lin Jan.11, 2008Jan.11, 2008

DiscussionDiscussion

• What did your parents read for you when you were young?

• What is your favorite story? Please share with us.

The concept of “childhoodThe concept of “childhood• Anglo-Saxon: 525-1100 CE

• Middle-English: 1100-1500 CE

• Renaissance: 1500-1650 CE

• Not greatly valued; abandonment, killing, slavery; promising sons were educated

• Infanticide still practiced despite strict laws.

• Infanticide still practiced; considered miniature but troublesome men and women; no concept of development

• Restoration: 1650-1800

• 19th Century: 1800-1900

• 20th Century: 1900-2000

• Childhood: new importance; recognizing the special needs; survival raised to 50%

• Victorian Reign children's literature first blossomed Romantic Movement which idealized childhood

• emphasis on adolescence; no longer asset, family size decreased

Ancient TimeAncient Time• Oral Tradition

• Epic poems of Homer,Iliad, Trojan War, Odyssey

• Aesop's Fables

• Slave & Storyteller

• Moral lesson; Animal Personification

• The Northwind and the Sun; The Boy Who Cries Wolf

Aesop’s FableAesop’s Fable

The Middle AgeThe Middle Age• Medieval Epics: Beowulf, Song of Roland • Medieval Romances: King Arthur; Robin

Hood • Fables & Tales: animals stories, Biblical

Stories• no distinction between fantasy and reali

ty

The European Renaissance The European Renaissance • Social Changes: The Printing Press

• Class of merchants which valued education

• Instructional Books: Book of Martyrs, Orbis Sensualium Pictu

s

Horn BooksHorn Books• Originated in

England in 1450 • For Premier

Education• Also called “Christ

Cross Row”

Book of MartyrsBook of Martyrs• Actes and Monuments of these Latter an

d Perillous Days, touching Matters of the Church

• Anti-Catholic Church Against Mary Tudor

• Woodcuts

The 17th Century The 17th Century A Turning Point:

• Rise of Puritanism-- Religion is personal. -- Bible stories, horn books

• Intellectual: John Locke-- Children’s potential and needs.

Orbis Sensualium Pictus Orbis Sensualium Pictus • The Visible World in Picture.• A textbook for children, published offici

ally in 1658 • Considered a child encyclopedia; Earlies

t children's illustrated book • Chapters including: inanimate nature ; botanics ;

zoology ; religion ;humans and their activities

The New Primer The New Primer • first appearing 1685-90

• introducing children to the alphabet through rhymes

Thoughts Concerning EducatioThoughts Concerning Educationn

• Children’s Innate capability to learn.

• The idea of tabula rasa “blank slate”

The 18th and Early 19th CenturThe 18th and Early 19th Centuries ies

• John Newbery Little Pretty Pocket Book (1744)

• Rise of the Folktales --Charles Parrault

Little Pretty PocketLittle Pretty Pocket BookBook• a collection of songs, moral tales, crude woodblock illustrations

Charles ParraultCharles Parrault• A Middle Class author

• Involved in Quarrel of the Ancient and the Modern

• Adapted for reading inSalon

The Brothers GrimmThe Brothers Grimm• Kinder- und Hausmärchen "Children's a

nd Household Tales".

Victorian, the Golden AgeVictorian, the Golden Age• Romantic Movement that idealized childhood • Fantasies: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland • Adventure Stories & School Stories (for boys) :

Stevenson's Treasure Island ; Tom Brown's School Days

• Domestic Stories (for girls) • Alcott's Little Women (1868) and Montgomer

y's Anne of Green Gables (1908)

DiscussionDiscussion

• What is the story you dislike the most?• What do you think children can learn fro

m children’s literature?• What did you learn from stories heard/ r

ead in childhood?

• Vocabulary.--Eg. Nursery Rhyme.• Social Experience.• Warning.-- Little Red Riding Hood.• Identifications/ comfort.

Jack and JillJack and Jill

Tips for Reading to children Tips for Reading to children

• Keep books handy • Choose books the child likes • Set a special time for reading /Read at bedtime • Read at fussy times (helps soothe or distract the fussy

child) • Don’t panic if you miss a day • Read 15~30 minutes• Talk about the story as you read • Get other in on the reading act

General ReadingGeneral Reading• Put books in places the child will be • Carry books along • Put books beside the bathtub • Keep books in your child’s room • Have your child help with the grocery list • Read recipes • Read road signs • Get taped recordings of books

Book AwardsBook Awards• Newbery Medal--most distinguished American book writt

en for children in a given year

• Caldecott Medal --for the most distinguished American con

tribution to children's book illustration