Over the weekend the BBC published an article titled: 'Do children still need to read the classics of English literature?' and Boo...

A Reply to the BBC: Do children still need to read the classics of English literature?

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 BookBairn 2 Comments

Over the weekend the BBC published an article titled: 'Do children still need to read the classics of English literature?' and BookBairn and I answer with a resounding 'YES!' The article was prompted by the fact that despite "youngsters growing up in a very different literary landscape to their parents", Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary, has called for a return to reading the literary classics in schools.

As a teacher, I have always chosen to read a variety of different kinds of stories with my classes, but always return to the classics as great books for whole class reading and projects (I already mentioned Charlotte's Web but also the Jungle Book, the Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan are great for primary school aged kiddies). But without someone to read these stories with the children, some of the texts can be daunting, especially for timid and less-able readers. However, the fantastic characters, plot twists and beautiful imagery of these books has an enduring appeal to all generations and I love these stories.

You might think that BookBairn is a little young at six months old to be approaching reading the classics but you'd be surprised! I recently came across a collection of books called BabyLit written by Jennifer Adams with art by Alison Oliver (don't you just love that the publishers have described it as 'art' rather than simply illustration?) We have several from this collection and we love them all!

I should start by pointing out that these books are not a baby-friendly version of the novels themselves (if that's what you're after I think the Cosy Classics collection is probably more your thing; I'd love to have some of these for BookBairn too but statutory pay for maternity leave won't stretch to it.) The BabyLit series is in my opinion a collection of unique early learning books that uses the original context of the classic text to develop learning on a particular theme, making them far more accessible for babies and tots. As you can see from the photographs we have six of this series: The Jungle Book (animal theme), Pride and Prejudice (numbers), Romeo and Juliet (numbers), Wuthering Heights (weather), The Secret Garden (flowers), and The Wizard of Oz (colours). Each of the pages of the books features fantastic and colourful artwork, which BookBairn loves, with a clear and bold title for the page. This is alongside a quotation from the classical text and whilst this vocabulary is largely beyond the comprehension of your average toddler, it anchors the book in their original novel. The pictures below are from BookBairn's daddy's favourite - The Jungle Book.



This collection of books is undoubtedly as much for the parents as for the child. The themes and illustrations are clearly directed towards toddlers and their development but the quotations from the original classics play to the whims of the parents. But what's wrong with that? I can't think of anything better than reading books with BookBairn that appeal as much to me as to her. After all, it's likely we will be reading re-reading these books over several years, surely it's important that I don't get bored of them either?

In short, I'll be saving up for the whole collection! In fact, think Frankenstein and Dracula might be required pre-Halloween! I also see that the publishers, Gibbs Smith, sell other literary themed toys and apps to go alongside the books on their website http://babylit.com/  I would love the 'Stroller Alphabet Cards' and can imagine BookBairn recreating the stories with the toys in the playsets when she is older.

To return to the BBC question: Do children still need to read the classics of English literature? Surely, it's not about them needing to read the classics but by them wanting to! The BabyLit series certainly makes me want to read them with my six-month old!


Thanks for reading! 
Mummy and BookBairn xx


Original BBC article available here:    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-34341656

2 comments:

Happy International Rabbit Day! Today, we celebrated International Rabbit Day by wearing a very cute bunny t-shirt, cuddling our incr...

Guess How Much I Love You

Saturday, September 26, 2015 BookBairn 3 Comments

Happy International Rabbit Day!

Today, we celebrated International Rabbit Day by wearing a very cute bunny t-shirt, cuddling our incredibly fluffy pet bunny and by reading one of our many rabbit-themed books. I should start by saying that BookBairn not only has her mummy's love of books thrust upon her but also her love of bunnies. Her nursery is a Matilda (of Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake) meets rabbit muddle! 

So today we read 'Guess How Much I Love You' by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram. And, yes, I know the main characters in the book are nutbrown hares not nutbrown rabbits but she's six months, she doesn't know the difference yet so I'm using my poetic license!

Before, we review the book, I should start by saying that this copy of the story isn't actually part of BookBairn's library. It belongs to her daddy. When she was just a little bump, daddy celebrated his birthday and BookBairnBump gave this to him as a birthday gift. It's now in her library because he's such a generous daddy!

As you can see, BookBairn likes to get to grips with this magical story. This story is absolutely beautiful and a perfect read for bedtime! BookBairn is now pretty familiar with the story as we've read it many times and she clearly enjoys the illustrations. Whilst less bold and colourful than some of the other board books that we own, this book still captivated her attention for the full length of the story. I love these watercolour illustrations and find it in good contrast to the bright (and, dare I say, sometimes garish?) illustrations in the books which dominate the baby market. And I think it's good for BookBairn to be exposed to all sorts of illustrations by so many of those wonderful artists who illustrate children's books.

At the youthful age of six months BookBairn doesn't understand much of this story. I like to think she understands the sentiment though. It's about love. Love between parents and children. That is within her realms of experience. She gets it. The little nutbrown hare loves the big nutbrown hare, and the big nutbrown hare loves the little nutbrown hare even more.

I love this story. It is a story for grown-ups too. It reminds us all how much we are loved by our parents. And how much we love them in return. It doesn't get more beautiful than that. 

      

I love you BookBairn, to the moon and back.

Thanks for reading and enjoy International Rabbit Day.
Mummy and BookBairn xx


3 comments:

I have always loved books: the stories, the illustrations, the thrill of turning the page, the smell, the feel! I'm a collector. For t...

A BookBairn is Born

Friday, September 25, 2015 BookBairn 6 Comments

I have always loved books: the stories, the illustrations, the thrill of turning the page, the smell, the feel! I'm a collector. For this I blame my mother. She's a librarian. She collects books too. And she instilled in me a passion for stories.

I am now all grown up. And have a library of my own (ok, it's a room filled to the rafters with books). To fund this collection I am a primary school teacher. My class love stories, as all children do, and I take great pride in choosing books to read with them. More on this at another date.

I recently became a mummy to a beautiful baby girl. Her name is Charlotte Elizabeth (yes, like the princess! But my Charlotte came first, this is important.). Her name was chosen by the lovely children in my class who had enjoyed reading Charlotte's Web so much that my daughter is named after a spider. An amazing, kind and lovely spider, but a spider nonetheless. But she's our little Lottie.

Before Lottie was born her library (yes, she has one too) was well-stocked with as many children's books as my husband (he's an accountant) would let me buy. She joined the local library at eight days old. We read to her several times a day. I want her to love books too.

She is six months old. I am amazed by everything she does (aren't all parents amazed by their children?). She listens to stories, she holds the book, she is beginning to turn pages, she can lift the flaps, she can look at the text and tell us her version of the story (mostly goos, and gaas), and I'm hoping her favourite sound 'boof' will eventually become her first word 'book'. Enough bragging (I can't help myself, but will only indulge occasionally).

This blog will explore my wee BookBairn's journey into the world of books. And review the ones we read. And the ones you (if you're reading) recommend.

Join us as we turn the pages on our journey!
Mummy and BookBairn xx

6 comments: