LSSL 5385 Ch. 1-5 Textbook Reflections

This blog is a summary and reflection of YA Literature textbook for LSSL 5385:

Chapter 1 Summary :  Reading to Kids focuses on the importance of reading to children.  This chapter describes 7 area of why being read to is so important.  To begin with, books develop empathy and the reader bonds with characters.  Reading supports life long readers and reading series or certain genres are a good sources, for example Judy Blum or Fiction.  When children read autobiographies they see themselves in the text.  As if looking through a window, readers can live vicariously through books by experiencing things like cultures, interest or sports.  Children can read and gain philosophical speculation and form opinions, ethics and develop feelings through their reading experiences.  Some books are read expressly for the aesthetic beauty and some are read just to develop imagination, or to make you question things. Books can also just transmit culture.  

I agree with this chapter and understand the importance of reading with children.  I read to my daughter from the time she was born until she herself became an accomplished reader.  I noticed straight away how reading came so easy for her.  She was imaginative and could retain the stories that were read to her.  I sometime survey students in my classes at the high school in which I teach and appear to see a correlation to higher level thinking and higher functioning students who claim to have been read to as children.  

Chapter 2 Summary:  Division of Children's literature divide children by age and gives suggested reading material.  0-8 years old enjoy picture books, illustrated chapter books, early chapter books, wordless picture books and easy readers.  Middle grade is ages 8-12 or tweens.  They especially like to read graphic novels.  Middle school ages of 11-13 read drama and romance.  Young adult readers ages 13-18 years old read books that sometimes use adult language, deal with issues like foster care, and gang activity.  Finally, there is the New Adult literature in which deal with situation such as college experiences.  

These division of children's literature are matched well to the age groups.  picture books and easy reader are a must for building the imagination.  in the middle grades these students are experiencing the beginning stages of puberty.  At this time graphic novel are the world of "sci-fi and art.  Middle school children are in the romantic and dramatic stages, maybe it is due to becoming more mature. I was raised in a religious home and the young adult and new adult books are a new concept for me.  I am willing to be open-minded and give them all a chance.

Chapter 3 Summary:  In this chapter the theme was genre of books.  The author claims that there are only two real genres, fiction and non-fiction.  Sub-genres of fiction are realism and fantasy. Non-fiction are informational and break off into sub-genres such as Biographies which include autobiographies, memoirs, narratives (story) and expository non-fiction (facts and information).  Other types are subject categories which are not genres, to list a few are mystery, horror, war, classic and humor.  Some are considered formats for example poetry, drama, novels, chapter books and short stories.  This chapter gives many examples of how to name the types of genres and sub-genres, formats, and subject categories.  

I never new that there were so many sub-genres and formats of books.  I can see how the library would need to stick to basics and keep the correct genres together.  We want to encourage all readers to have choices in books and not limit them to the books that are within their own genders.  We want our readers to experience all types of sub-genres and formats.

Chapter 4 Summary:  What is YA literature?  by Mertz & England, 1983 describe just like it sounds, a description of  young adult literature and facts that distinguish it from other readers.  The reading are based on young protagonist, The characters go through changes and growth and deal with "consequences and decisions".  These books deal with how children are maturing and developing.  

As I read the list of specification,  I agreed with the 10 explanations of this form of literature.  The characters make these books relatable to the reader. The reader see characters that are independent are written with the characters experiencing changes of adolescents which normally cover a brief time frame.

Chapter 5 Summary:  The Anatomy of a Book is an article that describes the structor and bones of a book.  Books have many parts and reasons for their parts.  The endpapers are two papers that are located in the front and back of the book.  The casewrap is the structure under the jacket.  The book block is the guts of the book and sometimes are given "flair" on the edges.  The gutter is as it sounds, in the center at the margin.  The headband is a fabric strip that is found at the top and bottom of the spine and cover to give flair and decoration.  And lastly, the backbone or spine connects it all together.  

I am enlightened after reading this article of the care and dedication that go into making a book.  Books are created with beautiful design and stitches.  We know from history that a well bound book can last for an extremely long time and stay in great condition.  This article also gives advice about getting a book published and edited.