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Giving New Life to the Classics

Connecting Themes, Characters, and Critical Issues across the Global Community

by Janelle Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

While I taught secondary English at both middle and high school levels during my early years of teaching, I soon focused more so on the middle school grades, and, in later graduate work with literature, elementary levels were a focus. However, in recent years teaching classes that include preservice secondary teachers, I have been forced to consider the classics and the ultimate goal of many of these—to teach the canon. Continue reading

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The Secondary Curriculum: Adolescent & Young Adult Novels Add . . .

by Janelle Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Those who are familiar with the vast range of contemporary novels published today are aware of the diversity of topics, characters, and events that make these books significant and appealing to readers. However, as with the realm of picture books, many readers, adolescents and young adults, are not aware of the powerful contents of these books, and educators working with this population are often even less informed, or their perception is that YA literature is a bridge to the more difficult pieces traditional literature. Continue reading

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Picture Books in the Secondary Classroom: Personal Connections, Creative Engagements, Critical Responses

by Janelle Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

Picture books have been defined over the past few decades with great integrity and attention to the complex interaction that occurs for the reader through the visual aspects of such books—text, illustrations, total design; a commercial product; a social, cultural, historical document (Bader, 1976). Still, when secondary teachers are approached about using picture books in the classroom, many somewhat shun the idea or act surprised that anyone could think this a valid curricular resource for older students. A small number attest to the fact that picture books hold significant experiences for older readers and these teachers can share numerous reasons why picture books play an important role in their instruction. Continue reading

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They’re Not Just for Kids Anymore

by Janelle Mathis, University of North Texas, Denton, TX

At the beginning of each semester, many teacher educators are faced with the challenge of inviting secondary preservice teachers, as well as teachers already in classrooms, into the realization that picture books are not just for young readers and that many chapter books written for young adolescent readers can hold their own with the traditional literature of the cannon. The task is not an easy one since these individuals have entered their chosen field, frequently English Education, with a personal background that has focused on the traditional cannon. The majority of students I face have not read children’s or adolescent literature since they were in elementary or middle school and even those titles were limited. Continue reading

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Hesitations About Using Native Language in a Children’s Book

by Monique Storie, University of Guam

Question: When is it okay to use a native language in a children’s book?

This question has been sitting at the back of my mind for some time now. For about fifteen years, I have been working with a group who are passionate about preserving and promoting the indigenous cultures within the Micronesian region. I have participated in events, activities and projects to keep the Chamorro culture alive and the Chamorro language has been a crucial part of these efforts. The Chamorro language is an essential part of the Marianas archipelago’s cultural identity because language is one of the last distinctly Chamorro elements left. Because of that, I am moved by the sound of our elders singing and am filled with hope when I hear young children talking with each other or with their parents in Chamorro. I support publishing books, songs, and news articles in Chamorro. But despite all my pride and elation, despite all my advocacy and academic understanding, I find myself conflicted about using Chamorro for children’s books. Continue reading

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The Emergence of “Fantastic” in Chamorro Literature

by Monique Storie, University of Guam

Cover from The Duendes HunterDuring a discussion on multicultural children’s literature about a decade ago, a comment about modern fantasy shaped the way I watched the growth of Chamorro children’s literature. The comment was that modern fantasy was one of the more challenging genres to write authentically because the author’s need to suspend reality to allow the impossible can sometimes affect his or her ability to present a world that community members will recognize as their own. At the time of this discussion, Chamorro literature was emergent Continue reading

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The Idea of Simplicity in Chamorro Children’s Literature

by Monique Storie, University of Guam

One of the themes that intrigued me when I was doing my dissertation on Chamorro literature was the idea of simplicity that emerged from the teachers’ comments. Anthropological research reveals Chamorros have a complex network of reciprocal arrangements that binds the community together (Thompson, 1969, de Valle, 1978). My own experience has taught me that being Chamorro is far from simplistic. We have an intricate maze of relations that we must know and be able to navigate within (e.g. which person should be greeted first, second, and so on, when entering a room full of relatives). Coming from these contexts, comments like “Chamorros are simple people” really stand out.

So, why is “simplicity” important? Continue reading

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Sometimes, Pacific is NOT Specific Enough

by Monique Storie, University of Guam

Book cover for Ki’i and Li’i: a Story from the StonesI spend a lot of time lurking in bookstores. When I am not picking up the latest and greatest new arrival, I am usually looking for Asian and Pacific children’s literature. In doing so, I have found some themes that resonate across the Pacific. For example, in Too Many Mangos: a Story About Sharing (Paikai, 2009), each time Kama and Nani share their grandfather’s mangos with neighbors, they receive a thank-you gift in return. By sharing with others, the children learn how reciprocal exchanges help everyone to get what they need and create a community. Similarly, Cora Cooks Pancit (Gilmore, 2009) and Lola: a Ghost Story (Torres, 2010) highlight family unity in everyday life and in times of loss. Other books, Continue reading

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Los Gatos Black and the Courage of Children

by Julia López-Robertson, Lillian Reeves, Francie Kneece, Erin Thompson & Molly Williams, University of South Carolina

Book jacket for Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa MontesThe last book in our exploration of El Día de los Muertos is Los Gatos Black on Halloween written by Marisa Montes and illustrated by Yuyi Morales (2006). Los Gatos tells the rhythmic story of Halloween night from the other side of the grave. Toward the end of Los Gatos, however, the story takes a subtle glance at the Americanization of Día de los Muertos. At the onset, the author clues us in that Los Gatos takes place in October, not November, clearly marking this a story about Halloween and NOT Día de los Muertos. Later, however, on the page with the lines, “The gravesites shiver, headstones shake./Las Tumbas open, tombs awake./The corpses with their cold dead eyes,/Los muertos from their coffins rise” (p. 16) — the words seem to be illustrating spooky scenes and by that point, we are easily caught up in their melodic beat. Continue reading

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A Critique of Pablo Remembers: the Fiesta of the Day of the Dead

by Julia López-Robertson, Julie Medlin and Casey Goldston, University of South Carolina

Book cover for Pablo Remembers: the Fiesta of the Day of the DeadThis week two students offer a critique of the book and make connections to course readings in emergent bilingualism and linguistics. We begin with a summary, followed by the strengths and issues and close with teaching connections.
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