Too Serious Too Soon: Where Is the Childishness in Children's Fiction?

Autor/in	Baghban, Marcia
Titel	Too Serious Too Soon: Where Is the Childishness in Children's Fiction?
Quelle	(2000), (15 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Beigaben	Tabellen
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Tagungsbericht; Leitfaden; Childrens Literature; Elementary Education; Fantasy; Literary Genres; Novels; Reading Material Selection; Realism; Twentieth Century Literature + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? 'Children''s literature'; Kinderliteratur; Elementarunterricht; Fantasie; Literarische Form; Novel; Roman; Realismus
Abstract	Subjects such as death, divorce, and homosexuality appeared in few children's books two decades ago, but today children may be given a steady diet of books on different issues every time in their lives that something happens, such as the first day of school, the birth of a new sibling, or the death of a pet. Heather Quarles' award-winning novel "A Door Near Here" presents reality so sharply focused that it becomes overwhelming to the reader. In addition to the reality of plots, the realistic descriptions in prose add to the sharp focus. Over the past 30 years, adults have been undermining the traditional notion of childhood as a period of protection and apprenticeship. Identification with reality-based stories may give readers their own reality back to them, but they are too close to what is real. In fantasy, readers are empowered and assured that they can succeed and overcome obstacles. Fantasy-based stories give readers hope--hope to keep on living and hope to keep on reading. Teachers need to be giving publishers their feedback that more hope--and more humor is sorely needed in the newest books they are publishing. Contains 19 references and a 6-item list of children's books cited. (RS)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2004/1/01