Children's Literature

"Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Roald Dahl

Welcome to Children’s Lit. This class will focus on the importance of Children’s Literature in the creation of lifelong, joyful readers. We will begin where children begin, and that is with picture books, and end with young adult fiction. Along the way we will discuss child development, language and knowledge acquisition, literacy, and the history of Children’s Literature from fairy tales to Harry Potter, and beyond. I hope you enjoy the class, and discover (or re-discover) your own joy of reading of the process.

Units of Study:

  • The Picture Book: A Child’s Introduction to the Joy and Comfort of Books
  • Fables, Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes: A Window to the Human Psyche
  • The Golden Age of Children’s Literature: The Nonsense of Alice
  • The New Golden Age of Children’s Literature
    • Edward Tulane: The Importance of the Hero’s Journey in Children’s Lit.
    • The Reading Magic 0f Harry Potter
    • Young Adult Fiction – Who will be Harry’s successor?
  • Google Classroom: This class is 90% digital. You will write throughout our studies. Generally this will be in journal form, and will be submitted to Classroom. Expect a journal entry for each night’s reading.

Works:

  • A selection of Picture Books, Children’s Novels, Fables, Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes
  • One of the following children's novels: The One and Only Ivan, Gracefully Grayson, Call it Courage, Wonder, and A Long Walk to Water
  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
  • The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
  • And a self-selected Young Adult novel