Last Blog

For my last blog I just wanted to reflect on all that I have learned from this class. May I say that I have really enjoyed Children's Literature and would not have seen many of the different aspects of the books that we covered. The class opened my eyes to what children think like, how books are written particularly for them, and why exactly they are. We learned the different techniques and studied such a wide variety of material. Books I had chosen to never read as a child are now some of my favorites. From now on, every time I read a picture book, or child's novel, the things I learned about theme and vocabulary and appropriateness will continuously fill my head. I will never forget the first week of class, my friends were teasing me about how we were "psycho-analyzing" children and their stories. I personally did not think we were going to that extreme or that it was a bad thing. It always helps to know how a child's mind works, and a lot of these stories have hidden meanings specifically for adults to see, that no child would pick up on and think is funny. In the end, I feel like a much smarter person for taking this class, and I feel like I have a much better and deeper understanding of the books I grew up on (ones I thought were kind of stupid are better than before because I understand many of the subtle differences I encounter).

The Stinky Cheese Man

All I can say is I have loved that book since the first time I read it. The story line is pure brilliance and it breaks so many molds of children's literature. No other story has the narrator as an actually present character, normally they are just background noise. The book actually comes alive as you read it. The characters are fighting with the narrator about telling their stories. To me, it sounds exactly like children. They all have funny and silly stories that they want to tell and so they fight with each other about who will tell theirs first. There is usually on child that takes charge and tells the other kids what to do, and then the rest argue with him. Well that is The Stinky Cheese Man in a nut-shell. The illustrations add to a wonderful story, and as stated in class, the book would not be the same without them. This class has always been so entertaining. I was waiting for when we got to these kinds of stories, as they are pretty much every kids favorite. Aside from Dr. Seuss, this nonsense story adds a lot of much needed fun within reading.

Shel Silverstein

I absolutely love his poems. He is such a funny writer. He was born in 1932 and published many books including Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in The Attic. He was not recognized on the poet scene until 1952, and then again in the 70's. He died in 1999 of a severe heart attack. His poems live on for everyone to read and enjoy.

The Restaurant
I said, "I'll take the T-bone steak."
A soft voice mooed, "Oh wow."
And I looked up and realized
The waitress was a cow.
I cried, "Mistake--forget the the steak.
I'll take the chicken then."
I heard a cluck--'twas just my luck
The busboy was a hen.
I said, "Okay no, fowl today.
I'll have the seafood dish."
Then I saw through the kitchen door
The cook--he was a fish.
I screamed, "Is there anyone workin' here
Who's an onion or a beet?
No? Your're sure? Okay then friends,
A salad's what I'll eat."
They looked at me. "Oh,no," they said,
"The owner is a cabbage head."


Forgotten Language
Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly
in my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questions
of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dying
flake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?

I learned from you

Nature vs. Nurture? This is a common question contemplated between many in today's world. Do kids get their traits from their DNA or the environment around them. How do they know certain things? Why do they act certain ways? I personally believe, a child's personality traits are fully influenced by nurture, their environment while growing up. A parents love and guidance is the one and only thing that shapes a child's life. Children pick up words their parents say all the time. They are raised in a certain environment so they become comfortable with certain things and not others. Their parents teach them right and wrong, left and right. And who did their parents learn from? Their own parents. Therefore, personality traits are definitely passed from parent to child. As always, I have a song that describes this point perfectly called, "I Learned From You," By: Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus. This song says how Miley has learned to take care of herself because of the things her dad has taught her, strength and courage and poise. These are all traits found in a person's personality because of their parents teaching since birth.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kglSL6rlXzI&feature=related

This is a word search of some of the silliest words Dr. Seuss has come up with....

W L Y E N M I U Q O G V R Y P J E D Y L B Z H A C E K Y Y P J R O K U H F L F A E T K A G R K M C L J O D J D M E U A H H I U E O E V D L J A X O D S P M D L U X R N X Z F J P P K N O U B G M T I K F A T U E T B G O O T C H B J E M F T R O Q A Q O P K B D H F D I K W I G G E R A W B I F V P N I Z Z A R D S U D S N I A T R E J Q X C L A Q F P R S N E E D L E A H W Y E K K O D Z I M M E R S

diffendoofer	nizzards
gafluppted	oobleck
gootch	quimney
jertain	sneedle
kwigger	yekko
lerkim	zimmers
lorax

Answers:
W L Y E N M I U Q O G V R Y P J E D Y L B Z H A C E K Y Y P J R O K U H F L F A E T K A G R K M C L J O D J D M E U A H H I U E O E V D L J A X O D S P M D L U X R N X Z F J P P K N O U B G M T I K F A T U E T B G O O T C H B J E M F T R O Q A Q O P K B D H F D I K W I G G E R A W B I F V P N I Z Z A R D S U D S N I A T R E J Q X C L A Q F P R S N E E D L E A H W Y E K K O D Z I M M E R S

Baby Baluga

There is a song that I was reminded of today that my daddy used to sing to me when I was a little girl. He would tuck me into bed and then sing me "Baby Baluga" by: Raffi. The song is about a baby baluga whale that must go to sleep. Not many people have heard it, but I loved it. I couldn't go to sleep at night without it. When my dad was away on business, my mom would play the tape for me. We used to listen to it on car rides and sometimes during the day my mom would sing it to me. I remember watching my favorite show when I was younger, Full House, and seeing Joey and Danny sing it too Michelle. I freaked out, pure excitement, that my favorite song was on tv. To this day, anytime I hear that song it comforts me. Just knowing that it was the song my daddy always sang to me so many years ago, it makes everything better. I hope that every little girl has their song that their daddy or mommy sings to them at night. That way no matter how old they are, they will always have a song to comfort them. Below is a clip of the song when sang in Full House.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G0rInDa39l8

Oh The Places You'll Go

For my last outside reading book, I chose a Dr. Seuss classic, Oh The Places You'll Go. This book has been one of my favorites for years, as I was reintroduced to it after my high school graduation. I have always been a Dr. Seuss fan as his rhyming and silly picture and characters make for the most fun reading. This book pretty much tells you than you can go anywhere and do anything that you want to. It opens the world to your own imagination. Here is an excerpt from the first few pages, "Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to great places! You're off and away./ You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go." This books dares you to dream and push the limits to the endless possibilities life throws at you. Now this book is not quite as silly as all of the rest of Seuss' books, but is more of one to teach kids to look to the stars and actually pursue their dreams. My favorite line of the book is, "So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that, life's a great balancing act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left." Dr. Seuss stories have always been favorites of mine, and they will be for many years to come. My kids are going to grow up on his books, just as I did. Seuss gave kids a new outlook on reading. He made books fun and his books are the ones that made me want to be some sort of writer. This books will always be with me and whenever I doubt myself, I just turn to Seuss, "And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.) Kid, you'll move mountains! So be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea, you're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So, get on your way!"