on 26/2/05 8:30 AM, Alison Croggon at [log in to unmask] wrote:
> Books for young children
> are a very particular gift, I think.
Indeed. I listened to two specialist public librarians at Balwyn last week,
an hour attended mostly by parents of toddlers. I was pleased one held up
Where the Wild Things Are - once thought too scary in certain circles.
Nursery rhymes and verse were strongly recommended - the librarians felt
Mother Goose is not strong in many families nowadays - for the fun and for
the stimulus to language... I went because at my wife's new speech therapy
practice* she reckons I can read books and tell stories to boys who've
missed out.
A book I learned much from when my two kids were being read to -
Elizabeth Cook,
The Ordinary and the Fabulous:
an introduction to myths legends and fairy tales for teachers and
storytellers
Cambridge University Press 1969.
I wonder if it has a successor in the important task of leading us to the
best (ie clear, resonant, etc) tellings of Greek, Northern, Arthurian etc
myths, versions of Grimm, Andersen, etc. She led me to many Dover reprints,
especially the four by Joseph Jacobs, of English and Irish folktales. 'The
Hobyahs', for instance.
As my wife is enlisting me as mentioned above, I may have a chance to try
out some Homer for children, if I find a version listenable-to for today's
kids.
Max Richards
*her first practice was called 'Cooee', and the new one is 'Express!'
In the waiting room there is to be an HO-gauge 'reading express' under
glass. She reckons it will be better than a goldfish tank. Reading
Pennsylvania rolling-stock is being acquired.
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