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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 068 915 CS 000 266 AUTHOR Painter, Helen W., Ed. TITLE Reaching Children and Young People Through Literature. INSTITUTION International Reading Association, Newark, Del. PUB DATE 71 NOTE 80p. AVAILABLE FROMInternational Reading Association, 6 Tyre Avenue, Newark, Del. 19711 ($2.75 non-member, $2.00 member) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS Authors; *Childrens Books; Conference Reports; *Elementary School Students; Fantasy; Foreign Relations; *Literature Appreciation; Literature Programs; Reading Habits; *Reading Interests; Reading Materials; Reading Skills; Realism; *Secondary School Students ABSTRACT This book, which contains selected papers given at the 1970 International Reading Association convention, is aimed at people who are looking for challenging material pertaining to literature for children and young people. It is divided into two sections..The first part -- Qualities of Literature, Readers, and Writers in Action--contains a provocative article by Jean Karl, who assesses the present children's literature and looks into the future. Also in Part 1 is an article by Lloyd Alexander and another one about the man and his work. Mr. Alexander is winner of the 1969 Newbery award and has been acclaimed as the author of the greatest recent fantasy for children.. The second section is entitled Literature in Action. All the articles are by people knowledgeable in the field: Charlotte S. Huck presents suggestions for improving interest and appreciation of literature, especially in elementary schools, supplemented with a reaction by Jo Stanchfield; J. W. McKay discusses the development of reading skills through literature at the secondary level; Dwight L. Burton presents his thinking about the content of the high school literature program; and William W. Crowder points out how literature can foster international relations. References are included. (This document previously announced as ED 047 910.) (Author /DH) r-4 REACHING CHILDREN AND YOUNG 00 PEOPLE THROUGH LITERATURE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION 1.0 THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO. DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM HELEN W. PAINTER, Editor THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIG- INATING IT. POINTS OF VIEW OR OPIN Kent State University IONSSTATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDU- CATION POSITION OR POLICY lla INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION Six Tyre Avenue Newark, Delaware 19711 FILMEDFROM BESTAVAILABLE COPY INTERNATIONAL, READING ASSOCIATION OFFICERS 1970-1971 President:DONALD CLELAND,University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania President-Elect: THEODORE L.HARRIS,University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington Past President:HELENHuus, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri DIRECTORS Term expiring Spring 1971 William K. Durr, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan Mildred H. Freeman, -Urban Laboratory in Education, Atlanta, Georgia Ethel M. King, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Term expiring Spring 1972 Thomas C. Barrett, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin Constance M. McCullough, San Francisco State College, San Francisco, California Eileen E. Sargent, Nicolet Union High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Term expiring Spring 1973 Marjorie S. Johnson, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Robert Karlin, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, New York Olive S. Niles, State Department of Education, Hartford, Connecticut Executive Secretary-Treasurer:RALPHC.STAIGER,University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware Assistant Executive Secretary:RONALD W. MITCHELL,International Reading Association, Newark, Delaware Publications Coordinator: Faye R. Branca, International Reading Association, Newark, Delaware Copyright 1971 by the lernaiional Reading Association. Inc. Library of Congress Card Catalog Number: 73-I18240 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS COPY "RIGHTEOInternational MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTEO Reading Association TO ERIC ANO ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING UNOER AGREEMENTS WITH THE US OFFICE OF EOUCATION FURTHER REPRODUCTION OUTSIDE THE ERIC SYSTEM REQUIRES PER MISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNER" CONTENTS Foreword v Introduction vii QUALITIES OF LITERATURE, READERS, AND WRITERS 1 Contemporary Children's LiteratureJean Karl 19 Outlooks and Insights Lloyd Alexander 30Lloyd Alexander: The Man and His Books for Children Helen W. Painter LITERATURE IN ACTION 37Strategies for Improving Interest and Appreciation in Literature Charlotte S. Huck 46ReactionJo M. Stanch field 50Developing Reading Skills through LiteratureJ. W. McKay 59 The Content of Literature in the High SchoolDwight L. Burton 66 The Role of Literature in Fostering International Relations Wiliam W. Crowder iii 3 The International Reading Association attempts, through its publica- dons, to provide a forum for a wide spectrum of opinion on reading. This policy permits divergent viewpoints without assuming the endorsement of the Association. iv 4 Foreword LEARNING to read is important, but once an individual has learned to read, the quality of what he reads and the fact that he finds con- tinued satisfaction in reading ought to result in his becoming a lifetime reader. The International Reading Association is interested in all three of these aspectsthe teaching of reading, the quality of the reading material, and the pursuit of reading. This booklet originated at the 1970 convention of the IRA in Anaheim, for these papers, with but one exception, were originally given there. The provocative lead article by Jean Karl views the current status of children's literature from the vantage point of a children's book editor. Miss Karl has the distinction of being the only editor whose books have won both Newbery and Caldecott Awards in the same year. Since Lloyd Alexander, who presented his paper at the Book and Author Luncheon, was a recent recipient of the Newbery Award for his book The High King, it seemed appropriate to in- clude additional background information about him that would illuminate his work and present the man. Consequently, Dr. Helen Painter was asked to prepare an article about this distinguished author. His insightful approach to literature and Dr. Painter's well- researched analysis of the man and his work complete the first sec- tion of the monograph. The second section contains five papersthree that relate to ways in which teachers can utilize literature in the classroom. Char- lotte Huck suggests methods for improving interest and apprecia- tion, supplemented with Jo Stanchfield's reaction, and J. W. McKay reports how reading skills can be developed through literature. The fourth paper, by Dwight L. Burton, describes the content of litera- ture at the secondary level, and William W. Crowder's analysis of how literature can foster international understanding is the final paper in the section and the booklet. Though this volume is thin, its quality is unmistakable. It should be of interest not only to teachers of reading but to classroom teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, and others interested in upgrading the quality of what is read. It is hoped that those inter- ested in the elementary school will read the articles designated for the secondary school, and vice versa, for viewing the total stream of literature throughout the school is important in lending perspective. In addition, the articles are interestingly written, and perhaps the ideas pertaining to one level have application at another. The International Reading Association is pleased to add this booklet to its list of publications about literature. HELEN Huus, President International Reading Association 1969-1970 vi 6 -- -7% Introduction TO THOSE PEOPLE who are constantly looking for challenging material pertaining to literature for children and young people this bulletin should prove interesting indeed. It gathers together a range of signi- ficant ideas that will involve readers engaged at different levels of instruction; yet each paper offers material for the information and ap- preciation of all. The bulletin is divided into two parts: Qualities of Literature, Readers.. and Writers and Literature in Action. The first part con- tains a provocative article by Jean Karl, who assesses the present children's literature and looks into the future. Miss Karl is vice-presi- dent and editor of children's books of Atheneum Publishers. Closely associated with literature, readers, and writers, she has edited many distinguished books, including several award winners. Part one also contains an article by Lloyd Alexander and one about the man and his work. Mr. Alexander is winner of the 1969 Newbery award for the fifth book in a series dealing with the land of Prydain. (Two addi- tional books are for young children.) He has been acclaimed as the author of the greatest recent fantasy for children, and his views to- ward literature are of particular value. Since his background and con- cerns are not known by all prospective readers, the third paper in this section is written by the editor and presents research data. The influences upon Mr. Alexander, his concern with Welsh legends, and his involvement in fantasy are clarified here. Besides the actual set- ting of these stories in a land that is, but "never was," the chronicles of Prydain focus on a hero searching for manhood and on the struggle between good and eviluniversal themes not only in liter- ature but in life. The second section of this volume is Literature in Action and contains a set of papers with sound approaches that need to be brought again and again to readers. All the articles