Corduroy

Corduroy is a bear in a department store. Everyday, he and all of his toy friends wait to be purchased so they can have a home. Corduroy’s downfall is that he is missing the button on the strap of his overalls. Since Corduroy isn’t perfect (and also Lisa’s mother “spent too much already”), Lisa’s mother tells her not to get him. Corduroy sets out on a journey to find his button in hopes of being accepted and finding a home. Corduroy is unable to find his button, but regardless Lisa comes to the department store to buy him. Once in her room, Lisa sews a button on Corduroy’s overalls and states, “I like you just the way you are…but you’ll be more comfortable with your shoulder strap fastened.”

I never really noticed that Lisa and Corduroy actually speak to each other. Corduroy says, “You must be a friend… I’ve always wanted a friend. Lisa continues the conversation by saying, “Me too!”

The story starts with the main character suffers a downfall (lost button) so then he must set out on a journey to find it. In the end, of course, the story has its happy ending.

After looking at the illustrations, I noticed that the night watchman was overweight with jolly red cheeks. In my opinion, this is very stereotypical of a night watchman or police officer.

Hansel and Gretel

Fairy Tale Discussion Prompt: In general terms, between what two groups does the conflict occur in the Hansel and Gretel tales? What is significant about who is victorious in the conflict?

The main conflict in all of the tales of Hansel and Gretel is between the children and the adults. Hansel and Gretel’s step-mother and father decide to abandon their children in the woods in order to save themselves from starving. Obviously, their parents were only thinking of themselves. In the end, the children end up returning home to their father with valuable items regardless of his misconduct. It is ironic that Hansel and Gretel that the young children outsmart the adults (for instance the evil witch) and come out on top.

Whenever I was a child, I never read or maybe yet noticed all that was going on in the story of Hansel and Gretel. I cannot believe that parents could sink as for down and abandon their own children. I have a three year old niece and I think I might warn by brother about this fairy tale.

James Thurber

James Thurber was born on December 8, 1894 in Columbus, Ohio. Thurber lived with his father, who was a clerk, his mother, who was a strong minded woman, and his two brothers. As a child, Thurber was blinded in one of his while playing “William Tell” with his brothers. Thurber soon began to develop a vivid fantasy world. He attended Ohio University from 1913-1917. In 1920, Thurber began his professional writing career as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch. Seven years later, Thurber began writing for the New Yorker. Not long after taking the job as an editor, Thurber changed his mind and began writing. In 1930, Thurber’s drawings were taken from the trash and secretly published in the New Yorker. Thurber soon started his career as a cartoonist. In the 1950’s, Thurber published many modern fairy tales for children. One of Thurber’s big hits was called 13 Clocks. His eyesight began to worsen over the years and by the 1950’s Thurber was almost totally blind. Thurber wrote numerous types of books ranging from, short stories, fables, and children's stories. He won a Tony Award for his popular Broadway play, A Thurber Carnival. Thurber died from pneumonia on November 2, 1961.

Repetition in children’s Literature

Last summer I worked at a daycare and everyday after the children came inside after playing on the playground me and all of the other daycare teachers would give them their snack. Occasionally, the children would ask one of us to read them one of the stories that were on the shelf. After awhile, I noticed that the children loved hearing the same stories over and over again and they also loved the stories that they could recite along with. Also, I observed in many of the fairy tales do the same thing, for example in Lasair Gheug, the King of Ireland’s Daughter, Lasair repeats “…They made me swear three baptismal oaths, that I would not be on foot, I would not be on horseback, and I would not be on the green earth the day I told on it…” to her three unchristened children three times. Many new and many old folk tales, stories, and novels repeat phrases and sounds and it looks like they will continue to do the same for much longer.

Little Red Riding Hood

After reading all of the different versions of Little Red Riding Hood I was absolutely shocked by what I saw. Whenever I was a child, I never read or maybe yet noticed all of the sexual innuendos that were going on. In The Story of Grandmother by Perrault, Red individually took off each article of clothing and threw them into the fire just as the wolf said to do. In Perrault’s version, Red was very trusting and naive. She never questioned why “Grandma” asked her to undress yet alone throw her clothes into the fire. In addition, when I was younger I did not see the connection of the wolf to a child predator. Also, I really enjoyed reading James Thurber’s The Little Girl and the Wolf. I really liked how in this version, Red and the wolf already knew the story. In most on the versions, Red is perceived as dumb and naive, but in Thurber’s she knew what was going on and the wolf could not trick her into believing that he was her grandmother. Go Red!!!

Outside Reading List

Book 1: Corduroy
Author: Don Freeman
Picture Book: Yes
Posting date : January 31, 2008

Book 2: Miss Nelson is Missing
Author: Harry Allard, James Marshall
Picture Book: Yes
Posting date: February 4, 2008

Book 3: Just A Mess
Author: Mercer Mayer
Picture Book: Yes
Posting date: February 12, 2008

Book 4: If You Give A Mouse A Cookie
Author: Laura Joffe Numeroff
Picture Book: Yes
Posting date: February 18, 2008

Book 5: The Mitten
Author: Jan Brett
Picture Book: Yes
Posting date: March 4, 2008

Book 6: Tuck Everlasting
Author: Natalie Babbitt
Picture Book: No
Posting date: March 21, 2008

Book 7: The Cay
Author: Theodore Taylor
Picture Book: No
Posting date: March 30, 2008

Book 8: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus
Author: Barbara Park
Picture Book: No
Posting date: April 12, 2008

Book 9: Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
Author: Barbara Park
Picture Book: No
Posting date: April 20, 2008

Book 10: Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren
Author: Barbara Park
Picture Book: No
Posting date: April 22, 2008