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Indlæser... Should We Burn Babar?: Essays on Children's Literature and the Power of Storiesaf Herbert R. Kohl
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In "provocative and entertaining essays [that] will appeal to reflective readers, parents, and educators" (Library Journal), one of the country's foremost education writers looks at the stories we tell our children. Available now in a revised edition, including a new essay on the importance of "stoop-sitting" and storytelling, Should We Burn Babar? challenges some of the chestnuts of children's literature. Highlighting instances of racism, sexism, and condescension that detract from the tales being told, Kohl provides strategies for detecting bias in stories written for young people and suggests ways to teach kids to think critically about what they read. Beginning with the title essay on Babar the elephant--"just one of a fine series of inquiries into the power children's books have to shape cultural attitudes," according to Elliott Bay Booknotes--the book includes essays on Pinocchio, the history of progressive education, and a call for the writing of more radical children's literature. As the Hungry Mind Review concluded, "Kohl's prescriptions for renewing our schools through the use of stories and storytelling are impassioned, well-reasoned, and readable." No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Indlæser... GenrerMelvil Decimal System (DDC)809.89282Literature By Topic History, description and criticism of more than two literatures By or for groups of persons Cultural theory of the literature of social groups Children's literatureLC-klassificeringVurderingGennemsnit:
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* Should we burn Babar? Questioning power in children's literature
A well-written, plausible essay which argues its way to incorrect conclusions from a bunch of false premises. One absurd premise is that a book for children must be charming, because children often are. Children often are charming to adults, but they are not charming to each other. When I was a child, I had no concept of "charming", and the books that I read were not charming to me. That a child's book must be viewed as charming by adults is due to adult self-deception. I read a review of "The Story of Babar" in which the reviewer describes the reaction of his daughter to the appearance of the hunter: she starts yelling to Babar to watch out. This child evidently does not experience the book as charming; she sees a terrible danger and calamity approaching; she is a far better reader of this book than any self-deluding adult.
* The Story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Boycott Revisited
This is an essay about the way the boycott is misrepresented in children's books. These alter the story from one of careful planning and arduous effort over a considerable period by a well organized group of activists supported by a strong community to a spontaneous and easy effort sparked by the actions of one tired old lady. It's no way to inspire activists of the future. The real story is much more compelling and inspiring, and at the same time it's a blueprint for activism that, history shows us, can work. This essay was excellent, and I also learned more about the bus boycott than I had ever known before.