Article Review and Conclusion

Learning Disabilities in Children’s and Adolescent literature: How Are Characters Portrayed?

By Mary Anne Prater

 

The article chronicled studies done about learning disabilities in children’s literature.  There were a couple points found in the article that I thought were worth mentioning.   They make note that books that feature characters with disabilities are often used for two different purposes; to serve as a way to educate those without disabilities about disabilities or to serve as a bibilotherapy for those with disabilities.  I think this point marks a big idea we have discussed throughout the entire course.  It address’ the issue of insider/outsider.  These books can either be used by insiders, outsiders, or both.  They also discussed they different ways characters with disabilities were portrayed and how there are specific ways in which they contribute to the storyline.  I think that it is =important to have a character who embraces their disability.  For those that are learning about disabilities seeing how children’s disabilities affect their lives is helpful in their understanding of that disability.  For the insiders, seeing characters that face the same challenges as they do can be comforting and can be something that they can relate to.  This article does a good job providing information about the ways to use books featuring disabilities and it also gives a good analysis of the types of books available today.

Conclusion

From looking at and reading these books I discovered a few things.  One small thing I noticed about books featuring autism was that many of the characters with autism were named Sam.  Now none of the books I reviewed did, but I found three different books that all had characters named Sam.  It may be a coincidence but it does make me wonder how this came about.  I also noticed that difference was a key theme in these books.  The characters with autism were not portrayed in a negative light, just a different light.  They highlighted how their worlds are different but that different was just different not bad.  And lastly I noticed that many of the books were good for insiders and outsiders.  Many of the books did a good job helping those who do not know about autism learn about it.  But they also did a good job creating characters that those with autism could relate to and make them feel like they are not alone.  But I do have to say that though I found some good books, there were a lot of bad ones.  I was surprised to see there were more books featuring autism than I expected but I think there can definitely be a lot more.  

Book Review 3

Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book

By Celeste Shally

Illustrations by David Harrington

 

Matt is a young boy who has autism.  Throughout the book we see how autism makes Matt’s world a little different than his friends world, the narrator.  The narrator explains some of the things that Matt struggles with including his attention span and his temper tantrums.  But the narrator also makes sure that when these things arise he helps him because they are friends.  But we also get to see the ways in which they are much the same like their teamwork in basketball and their love of the swings.  I think this book is really intended for outsiders, especially the younger crowd, because it helps explain what autism is.  There is also a forward at the beginning that gives more detailed information about autism, which can be helpful for kids or parents.  The one thing that I noticed was that one of the characters was white and one was black and Matt, the one with autism, was black.  I just wonder how the illustrator made that decision.  I liked the pictures.  I think they were colorful, lifelike and really added to the story.  Overall, I thought the characters were developed enough to get a good story across and I think the message was strong; though kids with autism may see things differently and experience things differently they can still be great friends.  

Book Review 2

Ian’s Walk: A Story about Autism

By Laurie Lears

Illustrations by Karen Ritz

 

Ian is a young boy who just wants to go on a walk with his sisters.  Ian’s autism makes his sister hesitant to take him along.  But through their walk we see life through Ian’s eyes.  This book sheds a new light on disability; in fact the book never refers to autism as a disability.  While Ian is walking we see him smell things differently, see things differently and touch thing differently.  But that’s just it; they are different, not wrong.  The author does a really great job showing that those with autism might have a different perspective of the world however, that perspective is just as valid as the next persons.  The illustrations really add to the feeling of the book.  They are quite life like and help you feel like you are a part of the book.  In the end we see a sister look past their difference and appreciate him for who he is.  This book is not only a feel good book but it is also a great book for young readers looking to learn a little something about autism.  

Book Review 1

Different Like Me: My book of autism heroes

By Jennifer Elder

Illustrations by Marc Thomas and Jennifer Elder

 

Quinn is an eight year old who has autism.  Quinn begins by giving some background information about Autism and how it was discovered.  He then wonders how the people who lived with autism before it was discovered dealt with being different.  We then learn about many different famous people who perhaps lived with autism before it was discovered.  Once Quinn looks at all of these people he finally comes to the conclusion that all of these people did great things even though they had a hard time fitting in, just like him.  This book is a really great book for both insiders and outsiders.  The insiders get a chance to relate to people they may have known.  The outsiders get a chance to learn a lot about the history of autism.  The illustrations are good but I think that they could be more appealing and draw the reader in.  I also think that Quinn’s character could have been developed a little better.  But I think the book can be used to help those with autism but also to educate.  

Bullied for being gay

I was reading this article and it made me so sad.  But it really reminded me of why we need to educate about LGBT.  This article is about a boy who killed himself after being perpetually bullied and called gay.  

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Autism Article

My dad was telling me he found this article about autism that was really interesting.  It deals with the relationship between autism and fevers and is really interesting so if you are at all interested in autism you should definitely read this. 

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1889436,00.html

Project Mulberry Cont.

I was talking with another 448 student in another section about the little pieces in between each chapter.  My initial blog was written right after I encountered the info after each chapter.  I initially thought that I really didn't like those extra conversations because it drew you out of the story after each chapter.  But after talking about it and thinking I think those can be beneficial.  But I also think that they should be saved to read after you read the whole book.  It reminded me of commentary on a movie.  No one would watch a movie for the first time with the commentary.  You would lose so much of the experience by doing that because are not letting yourself get caught up in the story line and the characters.  The same is with this book.  I think that a lot of great info is presented in the commentary but I don't to know about it until I am done with the story.  So my feelings have changed a little but I still think that, for me at least, I want to save those pieces for after the book.  

Project Mulberry

I just started reading Project Mulberry.  I read the first chapter and I was liking it.  It seemed like a quick read and I felt like it was going to be interesting.  Then (and sorry if I ruin anything for people who haven't started) there was a section where the character, Julia, was having a conversation with the author about the ideas and stories behind the book.  As of right now I am not liking that.  I read the first one and decided that for the rest of the book I am going to skip them.  I feel like it takes you out of the story and it makes you realize you are reading a story.  It makes it hard to get into it when you are constantly being reminded that this is a story and isn't real.  I don't know if anyone agrees with me or feels otherwise.  I would love to hear what others think.

Austin

Austin is a boy that I have worked with every summer since he was in first grade. He is currently in fifth grade. Austin has autism. He is a real inspiration to a lot of people in my hometown and so a short documentary was made about him. Here is a promo for his documentary.

Diversity In School

Yesterday in my field placement I came upon something that made me think of our class right away.  Two of our students announced the school was doing a diversity activity type thing.  They sent home a "promise" that everyone who wanted to could sign along with everyone in their family.  The promise was that they would not treat people differently based on their race or culture or differences.  They promised to see peoples similarities rather than their differences.  They also have mixed up shoe day on Wednesday.  They are supposed to wear two different shoes to remind them that though the two shoes look different they have more in common than they different just like people.  It just really reminded me about Bronx Masquerade and how all of the students were able to see people for who they were and were able to look past their differences and see they were all more similar than they realized.  

Bronx Masquerade

I have been reading Bronx Masquerade and have really been loving it. It think it really shows so many different perspectives and really shows that what is seen on the outside isn't always what is on the inside. I found a link to Nikki Grimes website where she discusses the book and I thought I would share it with you. I also found a youtube clip of a classroom that took up the open mike Friday in their class and I thought it was really cool.


Youtube clip

Nikki Grimes Article

insider/outsider

I had really limited knowledge of the insider/outsider issue before doing the readings and having the class discussion.  Before I really felt that only insiders should really be writing about their own culture.  Now I am not sure exactly where I stand.  

Obviously I think that some of the best accounts of different cultures will come from people who are members of that culture and who have had the experiences that they are writing about.  Like we said in class if I had to learn about Asian American culture and I had to choose between an Asian American or a Caucasian American who study the culture I will most likely choose the Asian American because I feel like I could get a more genuine recount of the their culture.  

However, I also think that someone can experience another culture and then write about it accurately.  But then we get into the question of are they then and insider or an outsider?  That is a fine line that I cannot draw.  If I go to Italy and live and immerse myself in the culture for a couple years would I still be considered an outsider?  If I grow up Catholic and then convert to Jewish am I an insider in the Jewish culture or would I still be considered an outsider?  These questions are beyond any answer I have but it plays a critical role in the insider/outsider debate.  

I think it is also important to look at culture as more than race.  Cai notes in her article that "multicultural" means more than the many ethnicities we encounter.  I think when people think of culture they automatically think of ethnicity but it goes beyond that to encompass gender, class, religion, sexual orientation among other.  

I hope this leaves you with some things to think about.

Heart of A Chief

As I have been reading Heart of A Chief I have been torn whether I like it or not.  I find there are several stereotypes and I do not know if the author is trying to combat those stereotypes or if he is fueling the flame.  The first stereotype I found was that Native Americans drink a lot.  This is seen when Mito, the father, is missing in the book because he has to go to rehab.  Another stereotype I see is that Native Americans build casinos.  This one I am not sure about because on the one hand they are trying to build one but on the other hand many people are against it, which could be used to show that not all Native Americans want to build casinos.  Overall I am still torn with these.  I cannot decide what point the author is trying to convey.  My thoughts were somewhat swayed when I read that the author is Native American.  

Hello

This is my TE 448 blog.  In my blog I will be discussing various issues regarding diversity in children's literature.  I have some background in children's literature but very little knowledge as far as diversity goes so I will be exploring new ideas and issues here!