For session 12 we'll be talking about the ways in which books make it into children's hands: What books are offered? What messages do children receive about the experience and purposes of reading?

Based on the sign up in class, each of you are responsible for reading one of the two following articles:

A) Read Hade (2002): “Storyselling: Are Publishers Changing the Way Children Read?"
B) Read Kohn (1995): “A lot of fat kids who don’t like to read”.

For your article, come to class prepared to explain the main idea of the article (the argument that the author is making), the type of evidence or support the author offers, and the questions/concerns/complications that were raised for you as you read. You will be responsible for teaching 1-2 other classmates about the article, so it is very important that you come prepared!

The other way we'll explore questions around how books are offered to children is by sharing our Library/Bookstore Assignments. The assignment is outlined in the syllabus, but please remember that you need to think of the essay as a response to the question: What do these spaces "say" about the relationship between children, books, and reading? It is not enough to describe the two sites you visited! You need to make an argument about what the organization and content of the spaces imply about the purposes and processes of reading! (I strongly suggest that you lead with an interpretation and then use the evidence from your visit to illustrate your generalizations.)

Finally, those who did Artistic and Personal/Facilitator roles for Uglies need to remember to submit them by 6 pm Tuesday!

I'm looking forward to hearing what you find!