According to a report by Publisher's Weekly books such as Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants, Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones and the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer are among the best selling books for children. If you look at the best books of the year chosen by the American Library Association, or those chosen by book review journals such as School Library Journal, The Horn Book, or Booklist you will not find any of these titles. (Diane Roback "Big Names Top the Charts," March 24, 2003.)
What is the role of books like these (best selling books for children) in developing and deepening children's response to literature?
Do you (or would you) include them in your classroom library?
Do you (or would you) read these best sellers aloud or include them as selections in book groups?
Discussion question from Charlotte Huck's Children's Literature by Barbara Z. Kiefer, Tenth Edition
Yes, they are in my library.
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not read them aloud, unless it's a sentence or two to explain some part of writing. I think part of my job is to expose my students to literature they would NOT pick up on their own.
I think ANY reading will help them develop as readers. Keep reading!! -Joy
Joy,
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with you about these popular books. They are popular without any book talks or nudging from teachers. I agree they help students develop as readers, at least in developing reading stamina. I'm not sure the response they have can ever be as rich and meaningful as they are when they read great literature.
My library definitely has more than its share of these best sellers. I also have sections of award winning books that at times over the years I have required them to read. When I assigned a Newbery Medal winner, the most popular title was Sarah, Plain and Tall because it was only 64 pages--not because I had carefully helped match the reader to the book. No, that title was passed around so students could meet my expectation--nothing more.
This next year, I am going to be more deliberate about helping students find good books that will appeal to them, not so they can do my assignment. Instead, I want them to find many books to love. That's why I'm going with the free choice reading and no contrived assignments ala Donalyn Miller and Nancie Atwell.
Thanks for commenting here and starting the conversation about best sellers vs. award winning books!
Denise
Denise
ReplyDeleteAn interesting question. I like to provide whatever will entice students to read, so I would have the popular books. I wouldn't consider reading aloud a popular book that they read themselves anyway. I did once, an Enid Blyton one and nearly drove myself silly. After a little while I stopped and said, " If you want, read the rest yourselves". Yet I read all those books as a child!
I pretty much always read something that I know most of them would never pick up for themselves. Later in July I intend reading Wonder to my class and I am so looking forward to that.
We have what we call NZ Post book awards. They have a children's choice and a judge's choice. They hardly are ever the same, yet good literature.
I am all for Donalyn Miller's way of reading in the classroom. It has revived my interest in children's literature as well. When I went to school we weren't taught to read critically - I actually still struggle with it myself as even at Teacher's College in my day it wasn't really covered.
I still read what I guess are popular adult books, I enjoy them and have my favourite authors. They might hit the top of the NY Times list but they don't win awards! Most of them though are well crafted. Mostly I like happy endings! A product of my education perhaps.
That said, many of my students are reading great books and my next tussle is to develop our thinking about the books we read. I rushed in too soon earlier in the year, with letters, many of them weren't ready for it, so I am going to develop it more with talk first this coming term.
Kellee at Teach Mentor Texts has just finished reading a Captain Underpants book, I was surprised when I saw her post, I am not sure I could bring myself to do so. I am always being challenged out of my musty way of thinking!
Regards.
Kathryn
Kathryn,
DeleteThanks for the interesting comments. It is great to see this question answered from a veteran New Zealand teacher. Are you reading Wonder for the Twitter Book Club for July? A group is discussing it on July 17 at 7 p.m. CDT. Follow the hashtag #TheWonderofWonder if you aren't already!
I've heard this book mentioned two days in a row now, so I've added it to my list! Maybe I'll be reading it to my class when we start a new year in August.
I think it's a good idea to read part of a book and then let the students finish it. The ones who loved it will be instantly engaged.
That's funny that you won't read a Captain Underpants book! That made me smile.
Thanks so much for commenting. I'm glad you are back from sabbatical.
Denise
Denise
ReplyDeleteI was aware of the Twitter chat in the back of my mind. Unfortunately that is during our day time and I will be in class now that I am out of the desert!
However I will still catch up on the chat later. I loved reading it myself, it is one of those books that when you read it, you feel like you just have to become a better person from the experience.
Kathryn
Great post and continuing conversation. Only being on class one day a week I try to choose books that are short but also are something that my students would not choose of their own accord. Sometimes I will also only read a chapter that may have something in it that relates to our current work. I have found that some of my students will then read the book for themselves. I also love sharing picture books as my teaching partner may be reading a novel. We found last year that our children struggled if we read two very different novels at the same time.
ReplyDeleteThe popular books do not need to be sold to the children by me as a teacher. I see my role as trying to garner interest in the book with the old, unappealing cover that still tells a good story or the book that has language that my class would struggle with on their own.
I must admit to being someone who reads anything and everything myself so I really do not mind seeing the children reading the popular books as I know that they will also here some others through the novels read to them.
Mrs S
Mrs. S,
DeleteThanks for adding your expertise here. I agree about reading the older unappealing-looking books and those with harder language to kids. There are so many treasures out there to share!
Thanks,
Denise
There are a great many treasures in our libraries that can be overlooked. Sometimes I think that we have such an overwhelming range of choice (there are so many new published books around and then there are the older ones as well) that it is no wonder our students might struggle to choose or find a book they like. That is where we, as teachers, can sell a book by reading just some of the text to entice a reader to continue to the end.
DeleteOur state library also has a great recommendation system where they try to list other authors a reader might like if they have read Twilight or Captain Underpants or any other well known author. So these books might be the way in to some other authors for our struggling readers.
Mrs S
Excellent! Thanks for the ideas, Tracey!
DeleteAccording to our text, p. 573, “to become fluent readers, children need to practice reading from real books that capture their interest and imagination.” The role of these best-selling books is to do just that and they help fill a classroom library. I’m interested in teaching grades 2-4; therefore, I would have “Junie B. Jones” in a classroom library. I would consider “Captain Underpants” for the sole reason that there are struggling readers who prefer this genre and if this sparks an interest in reading, I would want to foster that. During independent reading, students choose their own books and read at their own pace. Independent reading provides authentic experiences in hopes that children will become lifelong readers.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, teachers have the opportunity to use read-alouds to develop a student’s appreciation and exposure to literature- literature that students may not be able to read on their own. In doing so, teachers model fluent reading and strategies while students build background knowledge and vocabulary; therefore, high-quality literature is needed for read-alouds, literature focus units, and literature circles to scaffold students’ reading and writing experiences. Lastly, in using quality literature, teachers are able to meet state standards and curriculum guidelines.
Carie,
DeleteLook at you! I'm so glad you are joining this conversation. Thanks for your well-thought out answer to these questions. I love the quote you took from the book: "...children need to practice from real books that capture their interest and imagination." That CAN happen with any book, can't it?
You make some great points. Read-alouds can be used for teachers to model good reading and to teach standards.
Thanks so much for sharing this thoughtful response!
Sincerely,
Denise
I do enjoy those popular books that children and adults enjoy reading. I have the Twilight series in my own personal library. It depends on the grade level I'm teaching and what type of literature it is. I will eventually be teaching elementary students so I would definitely have an assortment of literature in my classroom library for all students to enjoy whatever book they'd like. I think it's important to have an array of literature and different genres to meet the needs and interests of all student.
ReplyDeleteTo have these books available for free reading time would be a great tool to have. I probably wouldn't use these books as read aloud literature, unless it was for fun, but I don't see why I wouldn't include them in my classroom library.
Emily,
DeleteI'm so glad you decided to join the conversation here! I think our discussion will be richer as other teachers add their experiences. I love that you are empathizing already with your future students! You like Twilight, so you can understand there is nothing amiss with enjoying best sellers!
I like your point about having an array of different literature to meet the interests of all students! So true!
Thanks for your candid response,
Denise