Content Review
Directions:
- Respond to each item. Each response should be concise and between 2–3 paragraphs in length.
- Use MS Word to write your responses, and submit your answers to all three questions in one Word document.
- Copy and paste each question within the document, so that your Instructor can see which question that you are responding to.
- Compare and contrast efferent and aesthetic reading. Share a recent personal efferent or aesthetic reading experience, and explain how your experience as a reader and in life influenced your response to the reading.
- Read two picture books from the following theme categories listed on pages 123–126 of the course text: “Family Relationships,” “Fears,” “Feelings,” “Friendship,” and “Humor.” Compare and contrast the ways that each of these books does or does not exemplify the characteristics of a quality picture book that helps children make connections between personal life experiences and literature. Consider what a child might learn about him or herself from reading each of these books, and how each one might augment a child’s self concept and/or his or her understanding of the world.
- Evaluate the Caldecott Medal or Honor Book that you read in terms of the kind and quality of artwork, and how you would rate the relationship between art and text in this book. For example, how do the illustrations influence your interpretation of the text? How does the text influence your interpretation of the illustrations? How does the interaction between the illustrations and the text help to develop the setting? The characters? The plot? The mood? Based on what you have learned, would you have awarded this book the Caldecott Medal? Why or why not? In your opinion, does this book represent quality children’s literature? Why or why not?
