Explosion Statement

To develop a feel for what children's literature is it is essential to dive into the pages. As my interest in childhood literacy grows the more I keep hearing about how guys can't read, or don't like to read, or don't like to admit they read. I was shocked. I'm a guy...and I LOVE to read. Obviously I needed to investigate some interesting books and resources for when I encounter reluctant readers. However, I did not want to neglect the population of children who aren't male, reluctant readers. So, I not only read books for boys, I read books for girls, books for minorities, some old books, lots of new books, books that looked good, and books that looked bad.

It is a collection in its infancy, but it is a good sample of the massive variety of material that is out there just waiting to teach, inspire and entertain. The only time I am a reluctant reader is when i have to stop.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Native Folktale: Sketco the Raven



Ayre, R. (1991). Sketco the Raven. Richmond Hill, Ont: Scholatic.

This book is a compilation the similair narratives that span the oral traditions of the aboriginals of the Pacific north-west. Ayre writes a series of short stories that combine into an overall "biography” of the trickster Raven. Through each story he illuminates how Raven improved upon our world, be it by bringing fire, or light, or weather cycles.
Ayre does bear a signifigant amount of bias as his stories are based off of the recorded accounts of several European ethnologists, making Ayer’s knowledge third hand. The narrative voice is also masculine and, while many native narratives are either sexless or gender bending, all the major characters in Ayers work are male.
Another break from the style of Native narratives the book is sparse in it's imagery, each chapter bearing a single thematic etching print by Philip Surrey.

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