Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle
Brown Bear Brown Bear is a very popular children's book written by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle. I chose to read this book because of its popularity with young students. I believe we should jump into the shoes of our students more often in order to understand what books they like and why. The pictures in this book are very friendly with vibrant colors. The background and outline of the book is white causing the vibrant colors stick out as much as possible. I can see why the book is visually appealing to kids and a popular one for them to go after. The book is great for kids who are learning their colors, and learning identification skills. What I love most about the book is the catchy tune you find yourself in when reading through it. The words are simple, but create a rhythm that is easy to sing to. I actually had my little sister read this book to me and I loved how she used an excited pitch and tone throughout the book. It showed me that it was enjoyable for her to read. This book would also be great for teaching letter sounds and phonics to students. Toward the final pages of the story you come across a page showing students of all nationalities and skin tones. This provides them with an important message that we all are able to see and experience the same things no matter what culture we come from. We all can appreciate the beautiful things we see in life such as colors and animals. We can also learn to appreciate the differences we find in each other.
Little Red Riding Hood- Comparing Two Perspectives
There are many popular folk tales that are read or told to children at a very young age. These Folk Tales that we know and love are not necessarily THE story. Throughout the world these simple stories have been told in a variety of different ways. Yes themes and characters may be different but there are many differences that could be found between not only different contestants but countries as well.
For example I am going to take Little Red Riding Hood and compare the folk tale between the French culture and the German culture.
We find many similarities between these two right from the start. We have our main character known as Red. She wears a little red cap with a hood and we find her walking alone through the woods. We also have the wolf who is the villain in the tale. Although both versions of the story succeeds in getting the main point across (which in my opinion would be to warn kids about the dangers of strangers and going off alone), each one is unique in the details told about main events. In fact some details can get a bit gruesome.
Now that we have established some similarities lets move along to pointing out these differences. One of the main differences I found in these two stories is the use of another character who is the hunter. The hunter is featured in the German version and not in the French version. In fact, he plays a major role in the actual ending result of the story. You see the French went the rough route and ends the story with 1- grandma getting swallowed in whole by the wolf and 2- Red too getting swallowed by the wolf. Once these two events happen the tale almost drops off a cliff and ends. I can tell you this was not the version I was told growing up! On the other hand, we have the German version which may be a bit more relieving to some. This key character that is not found in the French version is almost like the prince coming to rescue his princess from the wicked witch. The wolf first of all did not eat grandma whole but rather tied her up and locked her in a closet. The wolf also did not succeed in eating Red because the hunter barges in slices open the wolf as he is sleeping. Now here is where it gets gruesome and leaves you wondering why this story is ever told to children. The wolf does not die from the stabbing but rather from grandma and Red filling his body with stones. As the wolf awakens and tries to get up he collapses and dies.
So there you have it! Two versions of the same story by two different cultures. I can only imagine what other cultures have to say about the fate of the Red, grandma and the wolf!
For example I am going to take Little Red Riding Hood and compare the folk tale between the French culture and the German culture.
We find many similarities between these two right from the start. We have our main character known as Red. She wears a little red cap with a hood and we find her walking alone through the woods. We also have the wolf who is the villain in the tale. Although both versions of the story succeeds in getting the main point across (which in my opinion would be to warn kids about the dangers of strangers and going off alone), each one is unique in the details told about main events. In fact some details can get a bit gruesome.
Now that we have established some similarities lets move along to pointing out these differences. One of the main differences I found in these two stories is the use of another character who is the hunter. The hunter is featured in the German version and not in the French version. In fact, he plays a major role in the actual ending result of the story. You see the French went the rough route and ends the story with 1- grandma getting swallowed in whole by the wolf and 2- Red too getting swallowed by the wolf. Once these two events happen the tale almost drops off a cliff and ends. I can tell you this was not the version I was told growing up! On the other hand, we have the German version which may be a bit more relieving to some. This key character that is not found in the French version is almost like the prince coming to rescue his princess from the wicked witch. The wolf first of all did not eat grandma whole but rather tied her up and locked her in a closet. The wolf also did not succeed in eating Red because the hunter barges in slices open the wolf as he is sleeping. Now here is where it gets gruesome and leaves you wondering why this story is ever told to children. The wolf does not die from the stabbing but rather from grandma and Red filling his body with stones. As the wolf awakens and tries to get up he collapses and dies.
So there you have it! Two versions of the same story by two different cultures. I can only imagine what other cultures have to say about the fate of the Red, grandma and the wolf!
My Purpose For This Blog
My name is Melissa Huff. I am currently a teacher candidate for Elementary Education. Through the teaching program I have been enlightened to all of the roles a teacher has. Not only are we educators but we are life coaches to these little ones. My hope is that I can equip my students to develop confidence in themselves and a passion for curriculum. I want to see students break away from the mentality that school is hard or that they will never be able to understand certain subjects. I also want students to develop a desire for reading that they can appreciate as they get older.
This blog will be used for my Children's Literature course at Florida Gulf Coast University. Here I will be reflecting on readings done in class. I will be responding to children's literature I have read throughout the semester. My responses will be based on personal reactions and feelings about the literature, characters, and authors.
This blog will be used for my Children's Literature course at Florida Gulf Coast University. Here I will be reflecting on readings done in class. I will be responding to children's literature I have read throughout the semester. My responses will be based on personal reactions and feelings about the literature, characters, and authors.
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