Reflections from Children's Literature

This class has given me a new way to look at children’s books. I have analyzed novels throughout my life, but I have never had the chance to closely examine a children’s book. I now understand how much each little thing means in a book and how books can have different layers of messages for both parents and children. The observations in the bookstore and the library helped me see how children learn about diversity through books, although I believe bookstores and libraries should be carrying more of these types of books. I now realize just how similar several children’s books are in terms of plot and characters. The counter-narrative project gave me a new appreciation for diversity in children’s books and how little multiculturalism there really is in many of them. I feel that this class has taught me to be aware of the types of books I will use in my classroom and different ways I can use books to teach my students. I would have never thought of half of the activities possible without the text or this class. I have learned to look for all types of issues in children’s books and use them to teach my students about the world. This class changed my perspective of critical literacy and how I view children’s books and has had a clear impact on the teacher I will become after college.