Wacky Wednesday

I'd like to think as I read this book, that I would find its content immature, not interesting, and possible boring; however, as all educated people know, children's books may be just as delightful for adults if given a chance. This book starts off with one wacky thing in the picture, and ends with twenty. As the young boy discovers that his whole town has gone 'wacky' children are able to pick out the items in the illustrations that seem just a bit off the wall. I looked online to find some classroom activites that may go along with this book because I am an education major. As I browsed the ideas and articles I came across many activities that prove just how important children's literature is to kids. It can become a source of escape, or a way to simply have fun and laugh when a stressful week has young children troubled. I would like to think that this book may become a part of my teaching career after I graduate. I also would like to say that this journal is a great chance to explore all of the opportunies for different types of learning and development through children's literature.

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

As I sat down to read tonight,
I came upon a marvelous sight.
A book so commonplace to me,
I'd seen it one, two times, or three.
I'd never read this book I saw,
but I knew it was given with grace and awe.
I saw it a hundred times at graduation,
and I read it tonight, with grand adoration.
This book told me of all the far places I might go,
and of all I might accomplish, and all I would sow.
It told me sometimes, that life would be dim,
but the remedy for that, is a high held chin.
It told me that I had better be ready for tall, tall mountains,
and that not everything in life is of a gold fountain.
I think of all my parents have done for me- and look back on my memories-
and I know if they could, they would write such a book for me.
One never might guess that a children's book would hold,
not only a fortune for life, but rhyming wisdom of gold.

Fox in Socks

OH MY GOODNESS. I just finished reading Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss. I was baffled. After I read it silently the first time, I had to read it out loud 3 times to my roommate just to get it right. We laughed quite a few times over the ridiculous rhymes and riddles. I can see how this book would be very entertaining for children of all ages, with the exception of those that might be struggling to read, as this may make the task seem ever more arduous. As much as I loved reading this book, I honestly don't think I would ever be able to explain to my child what a "muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle bottle paddle battle" was. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will attach the crossword that I am working on soon.

Phantasmagorical

More than just a vocabulary word, phantasmagorical is a word used to describe a fairy tale in this article: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/ae/articles/0210crackernuts0210.html I looked up other articles about this play and it seems as though this tale is one way to shove fairy tales into the modern world. The plot seems unrealistic as part of the imaginary world and needs a rooted bound to be able to stifle all complaints of not making sense. Therefore this tale takes a few steps forward into what doesn't make nearly as much sense without the mystical drama and realms of magic that are slowly drawn in to give a faraway sense to the viewer.

Fairy Tale Song/Video

I took the time to look at a few things related to fairy tales on the internet. I actually came across a video of a song on YouTube that I thought was very interesting. I would recommend going to watch it simply for the incorporation and the humorous twist of the fairy tales. I noticed while I was watching the video that the woman singing the song has some similar characteristics to a few of the young 'maidens' we've seen in our stories for class. She says "I don't want the next best thing." She seems very assertive as though she 'knows' the ending of her story. The link to the video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cGQoPmefyA . I would recommend watching it and I think it would be a neat video to show in class as it only lasts a bit over 3 minutes.

I'd rather be clumsy than dumb.

As I read this fine story about Ella
and I think of her funny wit
I reminisce on her ratty umbrella,
and I think her stepmom a twit.

She has a prince falling all over her,
she was graceful, not as much,
has to punish herself from this curse,
when all she desires is his touch.

She doesn't have the time of day,
but she can speak Kyrrian,
she can't teach you how to curtsy,
but she can teach you of Ayorthaian.

She may not be like Hattie or Olive,
she may not be polished at sight,
but as far as my opinion goes,
she's a radiant, shining light.

Ella Enchanted ch16-End

I just finished reading the second half of Ella Enchanted. I have to admit I honestly didn't see many of the signs of the telltale Cinderella story until the second half of the book. I really found these chapters to be enjoyable to read and as the story progressed I found myself wrapped up in the charm of Prince Char as he began to woo Ella. Along with the typical romance story where the Prince loves Ella for who she is, mystical creatures and faraway lands come into play as she travels all over. I must admit that I couldn't stop reading this half of the book and looked forward more to reading the next chapter than to simply finishing the book for discussion.

Short Stories

I just finished reading just a few of the short stories out of the book "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales." I only read two of the stories but I thought they were worthy of a blog entry. As I read and finished the stories fairly quickly, it came to my attention that as a children's book progresses there is not always need for a long, intricate story to captivate a child's attention. Although these stories are very short, it is very easy to see why they could become a bedtime favorite, especially because the lenth of the stories give way for a child to come to know the tale almost by memory. I remember that some of the stories I enjoyed most were often tales that were short and wittily unforgettable.

Ella Enchanted ch 1-15

I recently read chapters 1-15 of Ella Enchanted. When I set out reading the book, I guess I should have realized from the title, but I wasn't aware that the book was actually a fairy tale. I thought it was just more of a children's book. I really enjoyed reading this though and was suprised by the intellectual capabilities given to Ella in the story. After one unfortunate event occurs, she learns her lesson and appears as a versatile character. She finds quirky ways to get around her spell and make things difficult for those ordering her around. She offers a look at a grieving child with a fairly absent father, and therefore offers a rolemodel of a little girl that perseveres. This may be one reason that the book could be so popular in schools, as many children have to deal with divorce, which can sometimes feel like one parent is gone for a very long time. I loved the fairy tale part of the book, obvious and magically present through the elves, giants, ogres, and mystic languages that Ella wishes to learn. I loved reading the first half of the book and look forward to the second.