Rarest Kind of Best

Children’s Authors Who Broke the Rules

17 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

Great article in the New York Times – Children’s Authors Who Broke the Rules (Sendak, Silverstein, Geisel).

There are other, older examples of outrageous books for children (Brothers Grimm, Struwwelpeter, etc.) but in the “modern era” (ie. 1900s onward) it’s still pretty rare to find picture books with challenging material. Particularly in North America. Judy Blume and Roald Dahl dished the dirt to older kids, but everyone is extra careful about the content given to pre-readers in picture books.

Currently there are a lot of out there picture book authors, but not many as thoughtful, deep and profoundly rebellious as these three. (Depicting a same-sex couple – human or penguin – may get you banned in many states, but it’s not exactly intellectually daring.)

Coincidentally I just took Sendak’s Outside Over There out of the library yesterday. Looking forward to reading it – review to come soon!

(Another) Top 5: First Chapter Books to Read Aloud to Children

15 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Books, books 4+, books 5+, Quick Lists

I’ve already done a “Top 5” on this topic, but I just keep finding more good titles, so will continue with it.

1. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard and Florence Atwater – 138 pp – Age 4 +

Never mind the movie – the original book is a charming, old-fashioned story about an ordinary family with some extraordinary pets. (This title on amazon.)

2. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl – 119 pp, 39 chapters – Age 5 +

Now this is a ripping yarn! Very short, action packed chapters move the story along at a good clip. I read it myself first, and couldn’t put it down, then read it to my daughter (and my mom too) and it kept everyone on the edge of their seats! Baddies are quickly vanquished at the start – squashed flat by peach – and young James is an excellent model of pluck and smarts. (Excellent for those who love bugs.) (This title on amazon.)

3. Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan – 58 pp, 9 chapters – Age 5 +

The story of a farm family in the pioneer past who welcome a mail-order bride. Unfortunately though, Sarah misses her home by the sea. Will she stay or will she go back home? Gentle, touching story with vivid descriptions of life on the prairies. A ‘stepmother’ story in which nobody acts badly is novel in itself. (This title on amazon.)

4. Stuart Little, by E. B. White – 131 pp, 15 chapters – Age 5 +

The famous story of the mouse who lives in a human family. Much interesting detail on his life, from matchbox bed to bent paperclip ice skates. Stuart has many misadventures due to his size – the thrilling sailboat race is one of the best. Rather unsettling ending, a little unresolved, but over-all a great read. (This title on amazon.)

5. Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson – Age 5 +

The Newbery Medal Winner in 1945. The various woodland creatures watch curiously as new people move into the big house. Will they have guns dogs and traps? Will they be planters? Will there be food enough for all? The new inhabitants turn out even better than hoped for. A little wordy with old-fashioned language, but pretty gripping nonetheless. The real dangers the animals face are not side-stepped, but happily nothing too terrible happens in this tale. (This title on amazon.)

Spongebob vs Caillou! (new study)

12 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Effects of Television re. Education, Issues, Television

A new study was released today comparing the attention spans of four-year-olds watching two programs, SpongeBob Squarepants and Caillou (with a third group drawing pictures instead of watching tv).

After just nine minutes the SpongeBob group showed “temporary attention and learning problems” – in sharp contrast to the other two groups.

The official Nickelodeon defense is of course that SpongeBob is aimed at an older audience than four-year-olds, but that does not reduce the value of this research. While the test group was quite small and further studies seem to be called for, it still raises important questions about how certain programs can affect attention span and “executive function”. It also helps to underline how important age-appropriate programming is. For non-parents it would seem a no-brainer that you shouldn’t show your toddler older programming, however in this day and age it is becoming impossible to control what your child is watching with televisions blaring in so many public spaces. Case in point: the ferry ride we took recently that played SpongeBob in the play area for well over an hour!

(For full story about study click here.)

Happy Feet (2006)

11 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Movies, movies 6+ Tags: antarctica, environment, ocean, penguins, seals, song and dance

Happy Feet

Rated: PG for some mild peril and rude humor

Length: 108 min.

Age: 6 + (with reservations – read full review) Commonsense Media sez: 5 +

Scary Factor: leopard seal lunging right at the camera and ensuing chase; long sliding sequence with avalanche; another hair-raising chase with orcas; close call with boat propeller

Intense scenes: Mumble is cruelly ostracized and finally banished from the colony; when he’s in the zoo Mumble becomes clinically depressed, to the point of madness

Language: idiot, stupid, blubber butt, lardface, fool, etc.

Sexual content: suggestive lyrics in pop songs; much preoccupation with mating season; lots of sexually suggestive body language and innuendo (especially Lovelace)

Interests: penguins, antarctica, ocean, sea creatures, environmentalism

Next: March of the Penguins (documentary)
More

Mrs. Cockle’s Cat

10 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Books, books 4+ Tags: balloons, cats, London, ocean

GREENAWAY MEDAL WINNER – 1961

Mrs. Cockle’s Cat

Philippa Pearce, author

Antony Maitland, illustrator

London: Constable and Co., 1961

30 pp.

Ages: 4 +

Interests: cats, flying, balloons, London, ocean, boats

Also by this author: Tom’s Midnight Garden

New Sendak Book!

07 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Authors Tags: pigs

Here’s an interview with Maurice Sendak in The Paris Review, talking about his new book Bumble-Ardy.

Top 5: Books About School

07 Sep 2011 Leave a comment

by Kim in Books, books 4+, books 5+ Tags: school

In honour of the First Day of School this week, here are some great books about life in the classroom.

1. Miss Nelson is Missing!, by Harry Allard – Age: 4 +

A very funny story about the most feared substitute teacher ever – Miss Viola Swamp! Sequels include Miss Nelson is Back, and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day. (This title on amazon.)

2. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes – Age: 5 +

Lilly has a dispute with her adored teacher over a distracting plastic purse. (This title on amazon.)

3. Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary – chapter book – Age: 5 +

A chapter book about a rambunctious girl’s first adventures and misadventures in kindergarten. (This title on amazon.)

4. Math Curse, by Lane Smith – picture book – Age: 5 +

By the author and illustrator who brought you The Stinky Cheese Man, this is all about math anxiety, or seeing the world as an endless series of perplexing number problems. As a picture book, it would certainly entertain the kindergarten crowd, but older kids will ‘get’ more of the math concepts and jokes. (This title on amazon.)

5. Matilda, by Roald Dahl – chapter book – Age: 6 +

Precocious reader Matilda starts school and helps her favourite teacher battle the villainous principal. A darker tale of school life, with truly despicable adults and some violent scenes. In other words, typical Dahl. (This title on amazon.)