EDRG 3321 BE. #3

Describe how to effectively evaluate books for Children. Is it Value based?

Books selected by a teacher should provide balance and meet the objectives of the Literature program. The Literature program should help students; realize reading is entertainment and can be enjoyed forever, acquaint the child with their literary heritage, understand the formal elements of literature and lead them to prefer the best literature available, understand themselves and humanity, and help them evaluate what they read.

During the class exercise we used a list of Evaluation Criteria questions for pg. 75 of the text to evaluate a book read by our home group. I found the questions to be opinionated. A person’s values can play an enormous role during their evaluation of a particular book. Literature evaluation can be very subjective and it’s important to be as aware as possible of the cultural beliefs and background of students. There are many “hot button” topics and “stereotypes” that should be avoided when selecting material for a classroom.

The evaluator must take into consideration the way the author uses plot, characters, setting, theme, style, and point of view in the manuscript. Quality stories require believable, well developed characters and plots. The main characters must face some sort of conflict that’s not easily overcome. Most importantly the elements of the story should blend together to seem real to the reader.

Why do character/setting analysis on children’s books? What did it accomplish?

Character analysis helps us to see if main characters are believable and lifelike. It allows us to track the characters development and see how they change throughout the story. These elements are important to ensure an enjoyable, believable story. It can also help us determine if a child will be able to place his/her self in the shoes of the character while reading the story.

The setting allows the reader to experience the stories location in time and place. It can be used to set the mood of a scene of a shift in moods. Used well, the setting helps the reader experience what the characters experience. It also makes the characters’ values, actions and conflicts understandable. The setting analysis helps to identify quality, believable books during the evaluation process. It can also allow you to identify possible areas of concern that may require a backup plan for students whose beliefs prohibit them reading the material.