Kids live out the big literary themes, and they feel the conflicts just as deeply. Perhaps we wouldn’t go to the mat for a new kite or a miniature camera, but hey, it’s a big deal to a young one. And this is where a love of literature is born, through identifying with a character [...]
Entries from September 2007
September 26, 2007
Little Donkey and the Birthday Present
Similarly, Little Donkey and the Birthday Present (NorthSouth, $15.95) by Rindert Kromhout tells of the deep conflict for young children of having to give away the birthday present they help pick out. It’s not a problem when the present is an abstract thing, but when it’s a pretty shiny red kite and one’s own birthday [...]
September 17, 2007
Those Shoes
Class, today our lesson is about shoes. If you have ever taken a child to a church basement to try on clothes, you will know firsthand how much energy is required of them to pretend they got what they wanted. Kids are grateful for something to wear, but in our image-conscious society they are also [...]
