One of the advantages of being retired is that I can spend time with former university students in their classrooms. Recently I did just that for a couple of hours in an elementary school where I answered questions (and asked a lot!) about books, authors and projects that we each are doing.
I am amazed at the curiosity of the young people and their varied interests. They like to discuss current social issues that often reflect the values of their homes and peers, but they are polite when listening to different points of view. They have strong role models in their lives and are open to considering the strengths of others To me, this is a wonderful opportunity to introduce biographies and profiles of people in our world today.During a question-and-answer session, the students wanted to know about my favorite books. I didn't take the easy way out by suggesting the book (or books) that I'm currently reading. After sharing some titles, I told them what makes my favorite list, such as memorable characters or themes that make my heart beat faster! I state that if I don't like the book that I'm currently reading, I stop, which is a shock to some young readers who think that everything has to be finished.
These bright young people had read my column about videos and movies based on stories from books. We debated a few, particularly "Pocahontas," the Disney version, which was a favorite with most of the class. Polite as always, though, they listened as I explained how, since Pocahontas was born 400 years ago, there are many ideas about her appearance but there are no photographs or drawings to give a true rendition. I took a few samples of other paintings people have made from 1660 to the Disney one. One girl said that Disney made her "look cute" and certainly not a person from hundreds of years ago. It was fun to read from "The Double Life of Pocahontas" by Jean Fritz (Puffin) to let them see the difference in language, setting and text.
The class was very concerned when it came to "Babe," the movie made from the King-Smith novel, which I admittedly adored. They were so convincing that I promised to buy the videotape to enjoy, too.
We talked about "James and the Giant Peach," also a favorite book of mine. We considered what events and sections of the book would have to be left out in the film script. Several children invited me to attend the movie with their families, since I don't have children to go with!
I did share with them a wonderful little book by Lucy Dahl, daughter of author Roald Dahl. In "James and the Giant Peach: The Book and Movie Scrapbook," produced by the Disney Studio, Lucy Dahl offers a peek in the author's life through real family photographs, a glimpse at the original manuscript, drafts of the screenplay and behind-the-scenes photographs of the animation process.
I reminded the class that April 24-30, 1996 is the Second Annual TV-Turnoff Week sponsored by dozens of national organizations.
It would be presumptuous on my part to suggest that they were impressed with the figures about the amount of TV watched in the average household (which is nearly twice as much as the time spent in school).
Nor did they flinch when I told them that by the time they leave elementary school they likely will have seen 8,000 violent crimes, mostly murders. But they were eager to hear that nationally, 50 percent of children ages 6-17 have TVs in their own bedrooms. How they choose to utilize that last statistic is probably obvious!
We shared "The Wretched Stone" by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton) and all the children delighted in seeing the connection between this book and the mindless nature of some TV programming.
Our time together ended with recognition of Randolph Caldecott, the illustrator for whom the medal is given annually for the best picture book of the year. The 150th anniversary of Caldecott's birth was in March, and the children enjoyed seeing the changes in the books that have been awarded in his name since 1938.
While I never tire of reviewing books, I realized again after spending an afternoon like this, that a group of children are good critics as they tune in to the literature of today. They are too completely honest to be anything else.