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Judging the Book By Its Cover: Evaluating Children's Literature
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Books are said to be the windows to the world. In school, at home, even at an early age, children are exposed to these reading materials because they are known as one of the best means to teach and educate children. Youngsters, especially, are attracted to the books’ colorful drawings, the big letters, the embossed words and images, the style, the cover. Some books even have a built-in audio or music. More than just a learning material, they have also become a toy and a plaything.
We saw our first dog from the book. We saw Humpy Dumpy and Mary and her little lamb from our nursery rhyme books. We read our first ABCs from our books. We read about Cinderella and Snow White and the three bad wolfs from our children’s books. Not only are they indispensable, but children’s books also tend to leave a lasting impression on the young minds of its readers because it is from these books that we learn our firsts.
It is therefore important for educators and parents alike that they choose well the literatures to which their kids will be exposed. A proper evaluation of your children’s literature, the books they read and the stories they know plays a major role in shaping the consciousness of these kids.
The primary consideration of course is that it’s supposed to be of high literary quality. They should teach and at the same time instill the necessary values and good morals in the child. They should instruct and at the same time motivate and inspire. Educators recommend using multicultural literature that broadens the perception of the child about the world and the people around him.
Books that talk about local and ethnic communities are good reads. There are books and stories about the Latin Americans, the Chinese culture, the African ethnic community, the ghetto community of the Afro-Americans. Such literatures with pluralistic themes are known to develop the child’s concept of the world and his understanding of the different cultures and races.
Look for literatures that a good semblance of the ‘reality’. Text and illustrations should be realistic. While the fairytales and the stories of the superheroes are good bedtime stories, it is recommended that children be exposed to a more realistic picture of the world and life. Events in history should not be distorted or omitted. Watch out also for stereotyped or biased presentations of events and people.
Characters should be realistic and should serve as role models. As much as possible they should be ordinary people with no extraordinary qualities or powers. Literatures featuring superheroes and characters with extraordinary powers tend to mislead the child into thinking that one has to have a ‘special power’ to be good or to be a hero. Children’s literature should also highlight the role of the women and the elders, as well as the importance of the family.
Look also for books which cater to special learning needs and interests of children. Parents and educators would do well to look for books which address multiple intelligences and develop a combination of skills.
While we say never judge a book by its cover, in evaluating your kid’s literature, it would be good to take a look at the cover and see how the author packaged his story. Afterall, it’s the cover of the book that your kid’s going to see first.
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