Researching the three nursery rhymes as been very interesting and informative. All my life, I have heard many of these, but never thought about their origin. It was also interesting to get a glimpse of the hundreds of other rhymes that I knew nothing of. I better start reading more!
Mary Had a Little Lamb
This poem was published in Poems for Our Children in 1830 by Sarah J. Hale, who claims to be the author. There is a bit of controversy to the origin of this poem, as there are to many other nursery rhymes. One story claims that the poem is based on a real incident involving a girl named Mary Sawyer. One day, Mary Sawyer, provoked by her brother, brought her pet lamb to school. It caused quite a disturbance, as you can imagine. The next day, John Roulstone, a visiting Harvard teaching student, present Mary with the first few verses of the poem. According to this story, Mrs. Hale came across the poem, and incorporated it into her poem. Mrs. Hale says that this story is completely inaccurate and she wrote the poem completely saying, "an incident of an adopted lamb following a child to school has probably occurred many times."(Opie, 1951. p.300). A Mary Tyler, supposedly a married Mary Sawyer claims that the John Roulstone version of the origin is correct. In Sterling, Massachusetts, where the young Mary lived, there is a statue of her lamb where her home, which long since burned, once stood. Thomas Edison read the first voice of the poem to make the first recording of the human voice in 1877. Below is the original version of the poem. It has since been edited (repeating words and lines) and set to a melody for singing.
Mary Had a Little Lamb
Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went
The lamb was sure to go.
It followed her to school one day,
That was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play
To see a lamb at school.
And so the teacher turned it out,
But still it lingered near,
And waited patiently about
Till Mary did appear.
And then it ran to her and laid
Its head upon her arm,
As if it said, 'I'm not afraid-
You'll keep me from all harm.
Why does the lamb love Mary so?
The eager children cry;
Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,
The teacher did reply.
Oh Where, oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?
This rhyme was written by Septimus Winner from Philadelphia. He was a music publisher, critic, arranger and composer of more than 2000 pieces. In 1864, he published Der Deitcher's Dog set to the German folk tune "Im Lauterbach hab'ich mein Strumpf verlorn." The original version is also written in a German dialect, which you can read here. Winner also published songs under the name Alice Hawthorne, which became very popular and known as Hawthorne's Ballads. Another song that Winner is famous for is "Ten Little Indians" also published in 1864.
Oh where, oh where has my little dog gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his ears cut short and his tail cut long,
Oh where, oh where is he?
Wee Willie Winkie
"Wee Willie Winkie" was written by William Miller. Miller was born in Glasgow, Scotland and considered to be the "Laureate of the Nursery." "Wee Willie Winkie" was first published in Whistle-Binkie; a Collection of Songs for the Social Circle in 1841. It was later published in Nursery Rhymes, Tales and Jingles in 1844 and The Cries of Banbury and London. It is interesting to note that Willie Winkie was the nickname for King William III, but it is probably not the case that the rhyme was written about him. William Miller originally wanted to be a surgeon, but couldn't because of his health. Instead, he began working as a woodcutter and a cabinet maker. He also wrote rhymes on the side. After writing and getting "Winkie" published, Miller did achieve some degree of fame, but not any real fortune. He still remained a cabinetmaker. In 1872, he died a very poor man. The original version of the poem is in Scottish dialect, which you can read here. The following is the English translation. The first verse is the one most are familiar with.
Wee Willie Winkie
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown,
Tapping at the window, crying at the lock,
Are the children in their bed, for it's past ten o'clock?
Hey, Willie Winkie, are you coming in?
The cat is singing purring sounds to the sleeping hen,
The dog's spread out on the floor, and doesn't give a cheep,
But here's a wakeful little boy who will not fall asleep!
Anything but sleep, you rogue! glowering like the moon,
Rattling in an iron jug with an iron spoon,
Rumbling, tumbling round about, crowing like a cock,
Shrieking like I don't know what, waking sleeping folk.
Hey, Willie Winkie - the child's in a creel!
Wriggling from everyone's knee like an eel,
Tugging at the cat's ear, and confusing all her thrums
Hey, Willie Winkie - see, there he comes!
Weary is the mother who has a dusty child,
A small short little child, who can't run on his own,
Who always has a battle with sleep before he'll close an eye
But a kiss from his rosy lips gives strength anew to me.
Hymns
I chose "How Great Thou Art." This is one of my favorite hymns and has been performed and recorded by a number of artists, Christian and secular.
"How Great Thou Art" comes from the poem, "O Store Gud"(O Great God), by the Swedish pastor Carl Gustaf Boberg. Boberg is said to have written the poem after being caught in a wonderful and terrible thunderstorm during a walk. He later published the poem in 1891 in Witness and Truth magazine, which he edited. The poem was later translated into German and Russian in 1927. A English missionary to the Ukraine, Stuart K. Hine came across the Russian translation and sang it with his wife during a evangelical meeting. He translated the first three verses into English, and wrote the fourth verse himself, and in 1949, published it in English and Russian in Grace and Peace, a Russian evangelical paper he edited.
There are several different stories about how it came to America, but a popular one is that Dr. J. Edwin Orr of Fuller Theological Seminary brought it over, after hearing it at a revival in India. Eventually, Manna Music obtained the copyright for the song and published it. "How Great Thou Art" became the best loved hymn of the Billy Graham Crusade, with George Beverly Shea, a singer with the crusade, as the most loved singer of the song. In 1959, it became the theme for Billy Graham's "Hour of Decision" weekly radio broadcast. Lawrence Welk once said that it was the most requested song on his television program. There are over 1700 documented recordings of "How Great Thou Art." One of my favorites is by Elvis Presley, who won a Grammy for his live version in 1974, on the album, Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis.
How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
References:
Adams, Lucy. "How Great Thou Art-Old Time Favorite" retrieved from http://www.allaboutgod.com/how-great-thou-art.htm
Baring-Gould, William and Ceil The Annotated Mother Goose.Bramhall House.1962. 350 pages
Bewley, John "Philadelphia Composers and Music Publishers: Septimus Winner (1827-1902)" retrieved from http://www.library.upenn.edu/collections/rbm/keffer/winners.html
"How Great Thou Art" retrieved from http://www.mannamusic.com/hgta.htm
Opie, Iona and Peter. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford University Press.1951. 467 pages.
Tarrant, Margaret. Nursery Rhymes. Ward Lock Unlimited.1978. 96 pages.
"William Miller" retrieved from http://www.undiscovered scotland.co.uk/usbiography/m/williammiller/html
Story time
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
The Newbery Medal and Mr. Popper's Penguins
The Newbery Medal
The Newbery Medal is the first award for children's books in the world. It is awarded every year by the American Library Association's division called the Association for Library Service to Children. The award came about in June of 1921 when Frederic G. Melcher proposed it to the Children's Library Section, a division of the American Library Association. Melcher believed the medal should be named after the great English publisher and "Father of Children's Literature", John Newbery. It was to be awarded to the best children's book in America of the previous year. The medal was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan. It is bronze and the winner's name and year are engraved on the back of the medal. Submissions for the award go to a committee, which decides the winner and also the list of Honor Books for the year, which are other books of distinction. The criteria for the medal are: the book must be a distinguished contribution to American literature for children, published by an American publisher in English, during the preceding year, only authors who are citizens of the United States or residents many win. The award is based on the literary quality of the book in relation to children, not necessarily the popularity of the book.
John Newbery was considered the Father of Children's Literature because he did great things for children's literature in England in the 18th century. His bookshop was called The Bible and the Sun. From here, he published religious works, periodicals, newspapers, books and children's books. In 1744, he published the first book for children, which he wrote himself. A Little Pretty Pocket-Book was the first in a series of books for children. He founded the first children's periodical The Lilliputian Magazine in 1751. Before his death, he wrote and published the classic The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes in 1765. Many of these stories focused on morals and education, which were popular subjects at the time.
Mr.. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Mr.. Popper's Penguins was a Newbery Honor Book for 1939. Mr.. Popper was a housepainter with big dreams. He loved to imagine himself traveling to far off lands. Many days, after a hard day's work, he would settle into his chair with a book about India, the South Seas or an issue of National Geographic. His favorite topic was the polar region. Mr.. Popper dreamed of visiting that area and studied everything he could find about it, and saw every movie that came out about it. The book begins in September, which is the end of the housepainting season. Mr. Popper is about to begin his vacation, because people don't get their houses painted in the winter. He plans to sit around and read his travel books without any interruptions by work. Mrs. Popper is concerned with the lack of money coming in, but is somewhat prepared, having gone through this year after year. While listening to a radio broadcast of the Drake Antarctic Expedition one evening, Mr. Popper is surprised when Admiral Drake mentions him. He received a letter Mr. Popper sent him about penguins and his sending Mr. Popper a surprise. This delights Mr. Popper to no end, but he cannot imagine what Admiral Drake could be sending him. He finds out in a few days, when a package arrives Air Express from Antarctica. It's a penguin! The penguin begins to explore around the home of the Poppers. When the Popper children, Janie and Bill, arrive home from school, they are surprised to see the black and white bird marching around the living room. The penguin is named Captain Cook, after the English explorer who made some discoveries around the Antarctic region. The Popper's set up the icebox (refrigerator) for the penguin to sleep in. They fed him canned shrimp. Captain Cook went around the house, gathering random objects to make a nest. After a few days, they noticed the penguin was not as active, almost depressed. Mr. Popper wrote to the curator of an aquarium a few towns over, where he knew there was another penguin. The curator said their penguin was depressed as well. He sent the penguin, a female, to the Popper's. They named her Greta. Captain Cook and Greta got along famously. Soon, Greta laid an egg. And then laid another, and another. Every three days, she laid another egg, until there were ten. When they hatched, the Poppers had twelve penguins to care for. The penguins had grown tired of the canned shrimp, so the Poppers ordered live fish trucked in for them. They built a cold room in the basement, so the penguins would be comfortable. All this began to take a financial toll on the Poppers, especially since Mr. Popper wasn't working. He decided that he was going to train the penguins to perform an act, which he was going to show to a theater manager, and hopefully make money that way. The manager loved the act, which included the penguins climbing up a ladder, waddling across a board, and tobogganing down the other side, as well as some other things. He booked the Poppers and their penguins for a ten week touring act, at $5000 a week. The show was successful, but the money was not always enough. It was very expensive to travel with twelve penguins, keeping enough ice to cool them. One day, Mr. Popper wasn't paying attention to his schedule and took the penguins to the wrong theater, where they interrupted a seal show. Pandemonium broke out. The penguins were curious about the seals, but the Poppers were trying to round them up, because in the wild, penguins are seal food. The owner of the seal act was furious, and had Mr. Popper and his penguins arrested. They had to stay in jail for a few days, because they didn't have enough money to bail themselves out. The manager couldn't be reached and their paycheck for the week was not due for a few more day. The newspapers got a hold of the story of the jailed man and his penguins. Finally, Mr. Popper and the penguins are bailed out of jail, not by the tour manager, but by Admiral Drake himself! Admiral Drake wanted to take the penguins to the North Pole and start a race of penguins up there. He said that the explorers up there get very lonely, and have no pets. The penguins could fill in as surrogate pets up there, just as they had in the South Pole. At the same time, a movie producer is trying to get Mr. Popper to sign a contract to make movies starring the penguins. In the end, Mr. Popper decided that a life in Hollywood would not be good for the penguins, and that they would fare better in the climate of the North Pole. The movie producer still was able to make a short film about the penguins embarking on their North Pole journey, and the Poppers were paid quite handsomely for it. The penguins were all loaded up on the ship and ready to go. Then Mr. Popper received another surprise. Admiral Drake wanted him to go to the North Pole too, as the keeper of the penguins. So, Mr. Popper finally got to realize his dream of traveling to a far off land.
I am not sure if this book would be chosen as an Honor Book today. It is very simple, maybe too simple for today's children. Also, I wonder if one of the reasons for it being an Honor Book was the topic. The exploration of Antarctica was very new and exciting back then. Maybe people had not seem many penguins or even knew very much about them, so the story seemed exciting. What do you think?
My other thought was about the Newbery Award itself. It is an award for an author who is a citizen of the United States, who writes books in English, published by an American publisher for American literature. But, it is named after an English publisher of children's literature. Does that seem strange to anyone else?
"The John Newbery Medal" retrieved from www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm
"John Newbery, Father of Children's Literature" retrieved from www.mothergoose.com/History/Newbery.htm
Atwater, Richard and Florence. Mr. Popper's Penguins. Scholastic, Inc. 1938. 139 pages
The Newbery Medal is the first award for children's books in the world. It is awarded every year by the American Library Association's division called the Association for Library Service to Children. The award came about in June of 1921 when Frederic G. Melcher proposed it to the Children's Library Section, a division of the American Library Association. Melcher believed the medal should be named after the great English publisher and "Father of Children's Literature", John Newbery. It was to be awarded to the best children's book in America of the previous year. The medal was designed by Rene Paul Chambellan. It is bronze and the winner's name and year are engraved on the back of the medal. Submissions for the award go to a committee, which decides the winner and also the list of Honor Books for the year, which are other books of distinction. The criteria for the medal are: the book must be a distinguished contribution to American literature for children, published by an American publisher in English, during the preceding year, only authors who are citizens of the United States or residents many win. The award is based on the literary quality of the book in relation to children, not necessarily the popularity of the book.
John Newbery was considered the Father of Children's Literature because he did great things for children's literature in England in the 18th century. His bookshop was called The Bible and the Sun. From here, he published religious works, periodicals, newspapers, books and children's books. In 1744, he published the first book for children, which he wrote himself. A Little Pretty Pocket-Book was the first in a series of books for children. He founded the first children's periodical The Lilliputian Magazine in 1751. Before his death, he wrote and published the classic The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes in 1765. Many of these stories focused on morals and education, which were popular subjects at the time.
Mr.. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Mr.. Popper's Penguins was a Newbery Honor Book for 1939. Mr.. Popper was a housepainter with big dreams. He loved to imagine himself traveling to far off lands. Many days, after a hard day's work, he would settle into his chair with a book about India, the South Seas or an issue of National Geographic. His favorite topic was the polar region. Mr.. Popper dreamed of visiting that area and studied everything he could find about it, and saw every movie that came out about it. The book begins in September, which is the end of the housepainting season. Mr. Popper is about to begin his vacation, because people don't get their houses painted in the winter. He plans to sit around and read his travel books without any interruptions by work. Mrs. Popper is concerned with the lack of money coming in, but is somewhat prepared, having gone through this year after year. While listening to a radio broadcast of the Drake Antarctic Expedition one evening, Mr. Popper is surprised when Admiral Drake mentions him. He received a letter Mr. Popper sent him about penguins and his sending Mr. Popper a surprise. This delights Mr. Popper to no end, but he cannot imagine what Admiral Drake could be sending him. He finds out in a few days, when a package arrives Air Express from Antarctica. It's a penguin! The penguin begins to explore around the home of the Poppers. When the Popper children, Janie and Bill, arrive home from school, they are surprised to see the black and white bird marching around the living room. The penguin is named Captain Cook, after the English explorer who made some discoveries around the Antarctic region. The Popper's set up the icebox (refrigerator) for the penguin to sleep in. They fed him canned shrimp. Captain Cook went around the house, gathering random objects to make a nest. After a few days, they noticed the penguin was not as active, almost depressed. Mr. Popper wrote to the curator of an aquarium a few towns over, where he knew there was another penguin. The curator said their penguin was depressed as well. He sent the penguin, a female, to the Popper's. They named her Greta. Captain Cook and Greta got along famously. Soon, Greta laid an egg. And then laid another, and another. Every three days, she laid another egg, until there were ten. When they hatched, the Poppers had twelve penguins to care for. The penguins had grown tired of the canned shrimp, so the Poppers ordered live fish trucked in for them. They built a cold room in the basement, so the penguins would be comfortable. All this began to take a financial toll on the Poppers, especially since Mr. Popper wasn't working. He decided that he was going to train the penguins to perform an act, which he was going to show to a theater manager, and hopefully make money that way. The manager loved the act, which included the penguins climbing up a ladder, waddling across a board, and tobogganing down the other side, as well as some other things. He booked the Poppers and their penguins for a ten week touring act, at $5000 a week. The show was successful, but the money was not always enough. It was very expensive to travel with twelve penguins, keeping enough ice to cool them. One day, Mr. Popper wasn't paying attention to his schedule and took the penguins to the wrong theater, where they interrupted a seal show. Pandemonium broke out. The penguins were curious about the seals, but the Poppers were trying to round them up, because in the wild, penguins are seal food. The owner of the seal act was furious, and had Mr. Popper and his penguins arrested. They had to stay in jail for a few days, because they didn't have enough money to bail themselves out. The manager couldn't be reached and their paycheck for the week was not due for a few more day. The newspapers got a hold of the story of the jailed man and his penguins. Finally, Mr. Popper and the penguins are bailed out of jail, not by the tour manager, but by Admiral Drake himself! Admiral Drake wanted to take the penguins to the North Pole and start a race of penguins up there. He said that the explorers up there get very lonely, and have no pets. The penguins could fill in as surrogate pets up there, just as they had in the South Pole. At the same time, a movie producer is trying to get Mr. Popper to sign a contract to make movies starring the penguins. In the end, Mr. Popper decided that a life in Hollywood would not be good for the penguins, and that they would fare better in the climate of the North Pole. The movie producer still was able to make a short film about the penguins embarking on their North Pole journey, and the Poppers were paid quite handsomely for it. The penguins were all loaded up on the ship and ready to go. Then Mr. Popper received another surprise. Admiral Drake wanted him to go to the North Pole too, as the keeper of the penguins. So, Mr. Popper finally got to realize his dream of traveling to a far off land.
I am not sure if this book would be chosen as an Honor Book today. It is very simple, maybe too simple for today's children. Also, I wonder if one of the reasons for it being an Honor Book was the topic. The exploration of Antarctica was very new and exciting back then. Maybe people had not seem many penguins or even knew very much about them, so the story seemed exciting. What do you think?
My other thought was about the Newbery Award itself. It is an award for an author who is a citizen of the United States, who writes books in English, published by an American publisher for American literature. But, it is named after an English publisher of children's literature. Does that seem strange to anyone else?
"The John Newbery Medal" retrieved from www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/aboutnewbery/aboutnewbery.cfm
"John Newbery, Father of Children's Literature" retrieved from www.mothergoose.com/History/Newbery.htm
Atwater, Richard and Florence. Mr. Popper's Penguins. Scholastic, Inc. 1938. 139 pages
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Carlo Collodi, the creator of Pinocchio
Carlo Collodi was the pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini. He was born in Florence, Italy on November 24, 1826. The parents of Lorenzini were poor servants, and he was one of ten children. Only two of his siblings survived to adulthood. When Carlo was a child, he was sent to live with his grandparents in his mother's hometown of Collodi. The employer of his parents, the Marquis Lorenzo Ginori paid for Carlo's education. He spent five years studying the priesthood at Seminary of Val di Elsa (Liukkonen, 2008).
After graduation, Carlo went to work at a bookseller, Libreria Piatti, where he prepared catalogs with Giuseppe Arazzi, who was a specialist for manuscripts in Italy (Zipes, 1999). Italy was in political upheaval at the time, and while working at the bookseller, Carlo began to identify with ideals of the patriots. At the age of 22, he became a journalist.
In 1848, he started a satirical newspaper, Il Lampione. The paper was shut down by the censors a year later(Wunderlich, 2002).
Over his life, Carlo volunteered for military service twice. The first was during the unsuccessful revolt against Austria in 1848. The second time was in 1859, during the Piedmontese War against Austria. (Wunderlich, 2002). He volunteered for the calvary, and that endeavor was successful.
Over time he wrote political commentary, a novel, an opera, music and theater criticisms, contributed to the new Italian dictionary, and some children's books.
The first use of his pseudonym, Carlo Collodi, occurred in 1860. He took the pseudonym from the name of the town where his mother grew up. He used the pseudonym on a booklet, Il Signor Alberi ha ragione! Dialogo apologetico. It was a defense of unified Italy and was written as a response to an disagreement between Carlo and Professor Eugenio Alberi de Pisa (Zipes, 1999). The first book to have the name Carlo Collodi was his translation into Italian of French fairy tales by Charles Perrault in 1875.
In July 1881, Carlo Collodi began his first installment of Storia di un burattino (Story of a Puppet) in Il giornale per i bambini (The Children's Magazine). It was an immediate success, although the Church was afraid that the story would encourage rebellion in children (Liukkonen, 2008). Originally, the story was supposed to end in Chapter 15, with the puppet hanging on a tree, left for dead. There was a public outcry, and demand for Collodi to continue the story. The story ran from 1881-1883. In 1883, Felice Paggi published the story in book form under the name Le avventura di Pinocchio (The Adventures of Pinocchio). The original illustrations were done by Eugenio Mazzanti. The first English translation was by Mary Alice Murray in 1891. It was published by T. Fisher Unwin in London, just in time for Christmas. That edition included the Mazzanti sketches borrowed from the 1883 Italian edition(Wunderlich, 2002). In 1940, Walt Disney adapted the story into full length animated feature. This is actually the version of Pinocchio that many people are most familiar with. The book has been translated in over a hundred languages and become a bestseller all over the world.
Carlo Collodi also wrote a series with a character Giannettino, which included several children's textbooks. Although his most famous work is a children's book, Collodi never felt his writing for children was his true calling(Liukkonen, 2008). He never married, and died on October 26, 1890 in Florence. He is buried in Cimitero Monumentale Delle Porte Sante, Firenze, Toscana, Italy. Currently, the National "Carlo Collodi" Foundation, in Italy, promotes education and the works of Carlo Lorenzini. (Merriman, 2006). There is also a Park of Pinocchio in Collodi, which attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Adventures of Pinocchio is the most famous work of Carlo Collodi. It is the story of a puppet, who desires to be a real boy. The beginning of the story begins similarly to other fairy tales: "There was once upon a time...."A king!" my little readers will instantly exclaim. No, children, you are wrong. There was once upon a time a piece of wood.(Collodi, p.3). This is how we are first introduced to Pinocchio. The carpenter Geppetto takes the wood, which is somewhat enchanted (it talks!), and carves a puppet from it. After the puppet is complete, it comes to life and runs off, causing Geppetto the first of his hardships. Throughout the book, Pinocchio is confronted with decisions common to all children. When he lies, his nose grows, and either has to be cut down, or at one point during the stories, woodpeckers peck it down to the right size. He is tempted and must face the consequences of his decisions and actions. He truly desires to be a real boy but must first prove that he can be a good boy. After many adventures, near death experiences, and many disappointments to his "father" Geppetto, Pinocchio finally does the right thing and becomes a real boy. As Geppetto says at the end of the book, "Because when boys who have behaved badly turn over a new leaf and become good, they have the power of bringing content and happiness to their families." This book was intended for children and adults. Some of the behaviors of Pinocchio are extreme and may not appeal to younger children. They probably would care much for the murder of the Talking Cricket, or for Pinocchio being hung from the tree and left for dead. Collodi actually portrayed the child realistically and comically. All Pinocchio is concerned with is what is good for him and what he wants. The results of his actions on others are not important to him, at least not at first. Pinocchio can be used as a cautionary tale for what happens to children when they disobey their parents and are selfish.
Collodi, Carlo.Pinocchio. il., Anne Heyneman Lippencott Co., 1948. 231 pages
(not original which was published in 1883)
Liukkonen, Petri(2008) "Carlo Collodi (1826-1890)" http://kirjasto.sci.fi/collodi.htm
Merriman, C.D(2006) "Carlo Collodi" retrieved from http:// www.online-literature.com/collodi
Wunderlich, Richard and Morrissey, Thomas J. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern. Routledge, 2002. 257 pages
Zipes, Jack. When Dreams Came True. Routledge, 1999. 238 pages
After graduation, Carlo went to work at a bookseller, Libreria Piatti, where he prepared catalogs with Giuseppe Arazzi, who was a specialist for manuscripts in Italy (Zipes, 1999). Italy was in political upheaval at the time, and while working at the bookseller, Carlo began to identify with ideals of the patriots. At the age of 22, he became a journalist.
In 1848, he started a satirical newspaper, Il Lampione. The paper was shut down by the censors a year later(Wunderlich, 2002).
Over his life, Carlo volunteered for military service twice. The first was during the unsuccessful revolt against Austria in 1848. The second time was in 1859, during the Piedmontese War against Austria. (Wunderlich, 2002). He volunteered for the calvary, and that endeavor was successful.
Over time he wrote political commentary, a novel, an opera, music and theater criticisms, contributed to the new Italian dictionary, and some children's books.
The first use of his pseudonym, Carlo Collodi, occurred in 1860. He took the pseudonym from the name of the town where his mother grew up. He used the pseudonym on a booklet, Il Signor Alberi ha ragione! Dialogo apologetico. It was a defense of unified Italy and was written as a response to an disagreement between Carlo and Professor Eugenio Alberi de Pisa (Zipes, 1999). The first book to have the name Carlo Collodi was his translation into Italian of French fairy tales by Charles Perrault in 1875.
In July 1881, Carlo Collodi began his first installment of Storia di un burattino (Story of a Puppet) in Il giornale per i bambini (The Children's Magazine). It was an immediate success, although the Church was afraid that the story would encourage rebellion in children (Liukkonen, 2008). Originally, the story was supposed to end in Chapter 15, with the puppet hanging on a tree, left for dead. There was a public outcry, and demand for Collodi to continue the story. The story ran from 1881-1883. In 1883, Felice Paggi published the story in book form under the name Le avventura di Pinocchio (The Adventures of Pinocchio). The original illustrations were done by Eugenio Mazzanti. The first English translation was by Mary Alice Murray in 1891. It was published by T. Fisher Unwin in London, just in time for Christmas. That edition included the Mazzanti sketches borrowed from the 1883 Italian edition(Wunderlich, 2002). In 1940, Walt Disney adapted the story into full length animated feature. This is actually the version of Pinocchio that many people are most familiar with. The book has been translated in over a hundred languages and become a bestseller all over the world.
Carlo Collodi also wrote a series with a character Giannettino, which included several children's textbooks. Although his most famous work is a children's book, Collodi never felt his writing for children was his true calling(Liukkonen, 2008). He never married, and died on October 26, 1890 in Florence. He is buried in Cimitero Monumentale Delle Porte Sante, Firenze, Toscana, Italy. Currently, the National "Carlo Collodi" Foundation, in Italy, promotes education and the works of Carlo Lorenzini. (Merriman, 2006). There is also a Park of Pinocchio in Collodi, which attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Adventures of Pinocchio is the most famous work of Carlo Collodi. It is the story of a puppet, who desires to be a real boy. The beginning of the story begins similarly to other fairy tales: "There was once upon a time...."A king!" my little readers will instantly exclaim. No, children, you are wrong. There was once upon a time a piece of wood.(Collodi, p.3). This is how we are first introduced to Pinocchio. The carpenter Geppetto takes the wood, which is somewhat enchanted (it talks!), and carves a puppet from it. After the puppet is complete, it comes to life and runs off, causing Geppetto the first of his hardships. Throughout the book, Pinocchio is confronted with decisions common to all children. When he lies, his nose grows, and either has to be cut down, or at one point during the stories, woodpeckers peck it down to the right size. He is tempted and must face the consequences of his decisions and actions. He truly desires to be a real boy but must first prove that he can be a good boy. After many adventures, near death experiences, and many disappointments to his "father" Geppetto, Pinocchio finally does the right thing and becomes a real boy. As Geppetto says at the end of the book, "Because when boys who have behaved badly turn over a new leaf and become good, they have the power of bringing content and happiness to their families." This book was intended for children and adults. Some of the behaviors of Pinocchio are extreme and may not appeal to younger children. They probably would care much for the murder of the Talking Cricket, or for Pinocchio being hung from the tree and left for dead. Collodi actually portrayed the child realistically and comically. All Pinocchio is concerned with is what is good for him and what he wants. The results of his actions on others are not important to him, at least not at first. Pinocchio can be used as a cautionary tale for what happens to children when they disobey their parents and are selfish.
Collodi, Carlo.Pinocchio. il., Anne Heyneman Lippencott Co., 1948. 231 pages
(not original which was published in 1883)
Liukkonen, Petri(2008) "Carlo Collodi (1826-1890)" http://kirjasto.sci.fi/collodi.htm
Merriman, C.D(2006) "Carlo Collodi" retrieved from http:// www.online-literature.com/collodi
Wunderlich, Richard and Morrissey, Thomas J. Pinocchio Goes Postmodern. Routledge, 2002. 257 pages
Zipes, Jack. When Dreams Came True. Routledge, 1999. 238 pages
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Popular Toys from 1800-1945
I chose to discuss three toys that were popular in our given time period, but are also still popular today. They are also examples of toys I had as a child.
The first is the Noah's Ark toy. I found this toy to be very interesting. It seems that miniature objects were very popular in the 19th century, including dollhouses, zoos, animals, etc. The Noah's Ark was one of the most popular animal toys in the 19th and early 20th century. Originating in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, these toys were handmade. Entire families were involved in the creation of thousands of these models, from the carving to the painting. However, the income received was often barely enough to put food on the table. Georg Lang was a large producer of these types of toys.
The toys were popular with both boys and girls, probably due to fascination of exotic animals that many had never seen before. The Ark ranged from primitive huts on rafts to more sophisticated ships. A hinged roof was a must, so that Noah, his family and the animals could be stored inside. These toys were often referred to as "Sunday toys because they were suitable to play with on the Sabbath due to their Biblical theme (Dalrymple, 46). The animals were often carved from wood, but their was experimentation with other materials, which didn't work really well. Most of the time, the animals were painted, but it was not always the case(King, 256).
I didn't actually have a Noah's Ark menagerie, but I did have a huge collection of plastic miniature animals, which included exotics, like lions, bears, zebras and other zoo type animals.
The Jack in the Box
A Jack in the Box is a figure that jumps out of a box on a coiled spring when the lid is unlatched. The lid usually comes undone after a crank is turned. It is one of the oldest types of mechanical toys(Dalrymple, 76). The first known appearance of the Jack in the Box is in Europe in the 16th century. It has also been known as the Punchbox, because the figure in the box was usually modeled after the puppets Punch and his wife, Judy. The name Jack in the Box came around in the 17th century. By the mid 1800s, most of these toys were made in either Germany or America.
The boxes were usually made of wood, which was covered with a colorful paper or lithograph, depicting a colorful scene. The figure, maybe a clown, is usually made with molded plaster or papier mache, and painted bright colors. The clothes of the figure cover the coiled spring and were either made of colorful cloth or crepe paper.
The Jack in the Box is still popular today. I had one as a child and, at the time, had mixed feelings about it. The box was plastic, and very bright, and the figure inside was a very bright clown. It wasn't scary at all. When the crank was turned, the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" was played. I just always found the sudden "pop" of the figure out the box a little unsettling. It would kind of take my breath away with surprise. I guess this is part of the attraction of this toy, and the reason it's popularity has lasted several hundred years.
Building blocks
This toy was popular due to its educational and fun factor. The first blocks were alphabet blocks made of wood or bone and used in England in the 1600s(Dalrymple,108). S.L. Hill was the first person in America to manufacture blocks in a large quantity. He patented his "Spelling Blocks" which included letters, numbers and pictures. Most of the blocks used were engraved, but by the 1870s, manufactures began to use colorful lithographs to decorate their blocks (Dalrymple,110). They also began to have more than just the ABCs on them. Many blocks had pictures of various scenes from nursery rhymes or other children's stories. In 1880, the Anchor Building blocks were patented by F. Ad. Rickter Company. These were building blocks of cast cement and were construction toys. The blocks included pillars, arches and other shapes conducive to building. Other interlocking block sets or puzzle block sets were also popular, eventually leading to the popular Lincoln Logs and that style building block sets.
Colorful wooden blocks displaying the alphabet, numbers and pictures are still popular today. It is an excellent way to educate children. I remember my set of alphabet blocks and the many hours spent playing with them.
Dalrymple, Marya. Toys and Games. Time-Life Books,1991. 174 pages
King, Constance E. Antique Toys and Dolls. Rizzoli International Publications, Inc, 1979. 256pages
"Classic Toys: Jack-in-the-Box" (2009, August 4) retrieved from http://www.retroplanet.com/blog/retro-archives/classic-toys/jack-in-the-box/
"Erzgebirge History and History of Noah's Ark" (2011) retrieved from www.germanchristmasgifts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=history
The first is the Noah's Ark toy. I found this toy to be very interesting. It seems that miniature objects were very popular in the 19th century, including dollhouses, zoos, animals, etc. The Noah's Ark was one of the most popular animal toys in the 19th and early 20th century. Originating in the Erzgebirge region of Germany, these toys were handmade. Entire families were involved in the creation of thousands of these models, from the carving to the painting. However, the income received was often barely enough to put food on the table. Georg Lang was a large producer of these types of toys.
The toys were popular with both boys and girls, probably due to fascination of exotic animals that many had never seen before. The Ark ranged from primitive huts on rafts to more sophisticated ships. A hinged roof was a must, so that Noah, his family and the animals could be stored inside. These toys were often referred to as "Sunday toys because they were suitable to play with on the Sabbath due to their Biblical theme (Dalrymple, 46). The animals were often carved from wood, but their was experimentation with other materials, which didn't work really well. Most of the time, the animals were painted, but it was not always the case(King, 256).
I didn't actually have a Noah's Ark menagerie, but I did have a huge collection of plastic miniature animals, which included exotics, like lions, bears, zebras and other zoo type animals.
The Jack in the Box
A Jack in the Box is a figure that jumps out of a box on a coiled spring when the lid is unlatched. The lid usually comes undone after a crank is turned. It is one of the oldest types of mechanical toys(Dalrymple, 76). The first known appearance of the Jack in the Box is in Europe in the 16th century. It has also been known as the Punchbox, because the figure in the box was usually modeled after the puppets Punch and his wife, Judy. The name Jack in the Box came around in the 17th century. By the mid 1800s, most of these toys were made in either Germany or America.
The boxes were usually made of wood, which was covered with a colorful paper or lithograph, depicting a colorful scene. The figure, maybe a clown, is usually made with molded plaster or papier mache, and painted bright colors. The clothes of the figure cover the coiled spring and were either made of colorful cloth or crepe paper.
The Jack in the Box is still popular today. I had one as a child and, at the time, had mixed feelings about it. The box was plastic, and very bright, and the figure inside was a very bright clown. It wasn't scary at all. When the crank was turned, the tune of "Pop Goes the Weasel" was played. I just always found the sudden "pop" of the figure out the box a little unsettling. It would kind of take my breath away with surprise. I guess this is part of the attraction of this toy, and the reason it's popularity has lasted several hundred years.
Building blocks
This toy was popular due to its educational and fun factor. The first blocks were alphabet blocks made of wood or bone and used in England in the 1600s(Dalrymple,108). S.L. Hill was the first person in America to manufacture blocks in a large quantity. He patented his "Spelling Blocks" which included letters, numbers and pictures. Most of the blocks used were engraved, but by the 1870s, manufactures began to use colorful lithographs to decorate their blocks (Dalrymple,110). They also began to have more than just the ABCs on them. Many blocks had pictures of various scenes from nursery rhymes or other children's stories. In 1880, the Anchor Building blocks were patented by F. Ad. Rickter Company. These were building blocks of cast cement and were construction toys. The blocks included pillars, arches and other shapes conducive to building. Other interlocking block sets or puzzle block sets were also popular, eventually leading to the popular Lincoln Logs and that style building block sets.
Colorful wooden blocks displaying the alphabet, numbers and pictures are still popular today. It is an excellent way to educate children. I remember my set of alphabet blocks and the many hours spent playing with them.
Dalrymple, Marya. Toys and Games. Time-Life Books,1991. 174 pages
King, Constance E. Antique Toys and Dolls. Rizzoli International Publications, Inc, 1979. 256pages
"Classic Toys: Jack-in-the-Box" (2009, August 4) retrieved from http://www.retroplanet.com/blog/retro-archives/classic-toys/jack-in-the-box/
"Erzgebirge History and History of Noah's Ark" (2011) retrieved from www.germanchristmasgifts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=history
Friday, September 2, 2011
Discussion Assignment for History of Children's Literature : The Horn Book
I was assigned the years 1935-1939.
Summarize an article from one issue:
In "Book Visits in England and Scotland," Helen Dean Fish met and interviewed several authors of children's books while visiting those countries. Her first visit was with Helen Bannerman, the author of "The Story of Little Black Sambo." After a sequel was written nearly 37 years later, titled "Sambo and the Twins," the public began to be interested in Mrs. Bannerman again and wanted to know more about her. Ms Fish visited the author at her home in Edinburgh, and was invited to tea. The article went into detail about the life of Mrs. Bannerman, of her birth in Edinburgh as the daughter of an army chaplain, and how her family lived all over the British Empire. During her marriage, she lived in India, due to her husband's military career. Her children were left in Scotland for health and education reasons. It was on a train to India that she first wrote the story of Sambo. She wrote it while on the train to India, after being separated from her children. This was just one of the many ways Mrs.. Bannerman corresponded with her children during this separation. Ms Fish also spoke to the daughter of Mrs.. Bannerman, who said that it was very sad without her mother around but the children "cherished the letters she wrote home."(p.356)
In Sussex, Ms Fish went to see Eleanor Farjeon, who had just finished her new book, "Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field." She was ready for a break and they embarked on a picnic lunch. During this lunch, they encountered a man trying to put out a wildfire along the road, so they stopped to help. Before leaving, Ms Fish was privileged to hear a story out of the new book.
The last place Ms Fish ventured to was Blewbury in Berkshire. This was the home of Kenneth Grahame, of "The Wind in the Willows" fame. She just had to include this in her pilgrimage, even though Mr.. Grahame was no longer alive and living there. The present owners did give her a tour of the house, including the study where he wrote and some of the views that were included in the book.
To me, the opportunity to visit these authors, who were popular at the time, and make a pilgrimage to one of your favorite author's homes, seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. What lover of books wouldn't jump at a chance like this? Ms Fish seemed to have a wonderful time during her journey, even if she did have to help put out a wildfire. It's always interesting to see or read about the stories behind the story and here is a person who got to experience it first hand.
Fish, Helen Dean "Book Visits in England and Scotland" The Horn Book v. 13 (November/December 1937) p. 355-358
Compare a regular column in two separate issues:
I chose to compare the editorial. In some issues, the editorial was an opinion peace by the editor. In some, it was just a poem. One editorial I chose describes a character from a book that was just coming out. The other editorial described a certain type of book.
The first editorial was about Mary Poppins and was written by Anne Carroll Moore. The book by P.L. Travers was getting ready to be released. Ms Moore describes the character of Mary Poppins as being sharp with "gifts of magic and cryptic speech."(p.6) According to Ms Moore, all children should read this book and all adults, too. She thought that this book would definitely have a place as one of the best of the 1930s. I wonder if she thought the book and character of Mary Poppins would still be loved as much almost 80 years later.
The second editorial was written by the editor of The Horn Book, Bertha E. Mahony. It is about quest books or adventure, and their popularity among children. In a quest book, there is always some sort of adventure, with one character that possesses magical powers or sees some kind of vision. Most if not all of the other characters do not share in the magic or visions. One book described is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which had been released shortly before. According to the editor, quest books are read over and over again by children, who might not quite catch their meaning, but may realize it many years later.
The interesting thing about these two editorials is they are about books written many years ago, but are still just as popular today. In fact, The Hobbit is being made into a movie right now, to be released next year. And of course, there is a Disney movie version of Mary Poppins that is still enjoyed by children today. There were several other issues that I looked at that featured books I read as a child. It was interesting to read the articles written about them when they were first published, or even to see the descriptions in the advertisements or booklists.
Mahony, Bertha E. "Wayfarers All." The Horn Book v.11 (May/June 1938)p. 141
Moore, Anne Carroll "Mary Poppins" The Horn Book v.14 (January-February 1935) p.6-7
Summarize a review of a nonfiction book:
Jessie Campbell Evans reviewed "Man's Worldly Goods" by Leo Huberman. This book is the "story of man's work from the feudal age to the present."(109). Evans described it as a really good way to describe economic growth and social development to a child. The book is divided into two parts. The first parts discuss the feudal periods of Europe all the way through to capitalism in the 18th century. Huberman discusses the growth of trade, manufacturing and banking and how this led to the revolutions in Europe resulting in the feudal system breakup and capitalism being established. This also led to the discovery of America, because there needed to be more trade and manufacturing, so the different countries sent explorers. All economic development in the world seemed to lead straight into the next one, with no gaps or breaks in between. The second part of the book discusses the time between 19th and 20th century(up until 30s). Huberman's book focused a lot on the combination of industry, money and banking, and the rise of imperialism and the labor movements. One thing he stresses is the oppressive conditions of the Russian people, and how they eventually revolted and became a socialist government. According to Evans, the book is a simple read, with clearly expressed ideas. It is described as a children's book, but some of the ideas might be over a young child's head, but older ones should understand. There are a lack of photographs and maps, which Evans believes would have enhanced the book. Another thing that Evans talks about is the fact that Huberman is overly excited about Russian socialism. He thinks this book would be a great supplement in a European or American history class.
I wonder what people thought of this book a few years later when people were being blacklisted or accused of being Russian spies. It probably wasn't recommended reading in schools during the Cold War. This is another example of how interesting it is to go back so many years and read this reviews about these books. This book was hailed as a great history of economics in 1938, but might have even been banned 25 years later.
Evans, Jessie Campbell "Man's Worldly Goods" The Horn Book v. 14 (March/April 1938)p. 109-112
Summarize an article from one issue:
In "Book Visits in England and Scotland," Helen Dean Fish met and interviewed several authors of children's books while visiting those countries. Her first visit was with Helen Bannerman, the author of "The Story of Little Black Sambo." After a sequel was written nearly 37 years later, titled "Sambo and the Twins," the public began to be interested in Mrs. Bannerman again and wanted to know more about her. Ms Fish visited the author at her home in Edinburgh, and was invited to tea. The article went into detail about the life of Mrs. Bannerman, of her birth in Edinburgh as the daughter of an army chaplain, and how her family lived all over the British Empire. During her marriage, she lived in India, due to her husband's military career. Her children were left in Scotland for health and education reasons. It was on a train to India that she first wrote the story of Sambo. She wrote it while on the train to India, after being separated from her children. This was just one of the many ways Mrs.. Bannerman corresponded with her children during this separation. Ms Fish also spoke to the daughter of Mrs.. Bannerman, who said that it was very sad without her mother around but the children "cherished the letters she wrote home."(p.356)
In Sussex, Ms Fish went to see Eleanor Farjeon, who had just finished her new book, "Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field." She was ready for a break and they embarked on a picnic lunch. During this lunch, they encountered a man trying to put out a wildfire along the road, so they stopped to help. Before leaving, Ms Fish was privileged to hear a story out of the new book.
The last place Ms Fish ventured to was Blewbury in Berkshire. This was the home of Kenneth Grahame, of "The Wind in the Willows" fame. She just had to include this in her pilgrimage, even though Mr.. Grahame was no longer alive and living there. The present owners did give her a tour of the house, including the study where he wrote and some of the views that were included in the book.
To me, the opportunity to visit these authors, who were popular at the time, and make a pilgrimage to one of your favorite author's homes, seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. What lover of books wouldn't jump at a chance like this? Ms Fish seemed to have a wonderful time during her journey, even if she did have to help put out a wildfire. It's always interesting to see or read about the stories behind the story and here is a person who got to experience it first hand.
Fish, Helen Dean "Book Visits in England and Scotland" The Horn Book v. 13 (November/December 1937) p. 355-358
Compare a regular column in two separate issues:
I chose to compare the editorial. In some issues, the editorial was an opinion peace by the editor. In some, it was just a poem. One editorial I chose describes a character from a book that was just coming out. The other editorial described a certain type of book.
The first editorial was about Mary Poppins and was written by Anne Carroll Moore. The book by P.L. Travers was getting ready to be released. Ms Moore describes the character of Mary Poppins as being sharp with "gifts of magic and cryptic speech."(p.6) According to Ms Moore, all children should read this book and all adults, too. She thought that this book would definitely have a place as one of the best of the 1930s. I wonder if she thought the book and character of Mary Poppins would still be loved as much almost 80 years later.
The second editorial was written by the editor of The Horn Book, Bertha E. Mahony. It is about quest books or adventure, and their popularity among children. In a quest book, there is always some sort of adventure, with one character that possesses magical powers or sees some kind of vision. Most if not all of the other characters do not share in the magic or visions. One book described is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, which had been released shortly before. According to the editor, quest books are read over and over again by children, who might not quite catch their meaning, but may realize it many years later.
The interesting thing about these two editorials is they are about books written many years ago, but are still just as popular today. In fact, The Hobbit is being made into a movie right now, to be released next year. And of course, there is a Disney movie version of Mary Poppins that is still enjoyed by children today. There were several other issues that I looked at that featured books I read as a child. It was interesting to read the articles written about them when they were first published, or even to see the descriptions in the advertisements or booklists.
Mahony, Bertha E. "Wayfarers All." The Horn Book v.11 (May/June 1938)p. 141
Moore, Anne Carroll "Mary Poppins" The Horn Book v.14 (January-February 1935) p.6-7
Summarize a review of a nonfiction book:
Jessie Campbell Evans reviewed "Man's Worldly Goods" by Leo Huberman. This book is the "story of man's work from the feudal age to the present."(109). Evans described it as a really good way to describe economic growth and social development to a child. The book is divided into two parts. The first parts discuss the feudal periods of Europe all the way through to capitalism in the 18th century. Huberman discusses the growth of trade, manufacturing and banking and how this led to the revolutions in Europe resulting in the feudal system breakup and capitalism being established. This also led to the discovery of America, because there needed to be more trade and manufacturing, so the different countries sent explorers. All economic development in the world seemed to lead straight into the next one, with no gaps or breaks in between. The second part of the book discusses the time between 19th and 20th century(up until 30s). Huberman's book focused a lot on the combination of industry, money and banking, and the rise of imperialism and the labor movements. One thing he stresses is the oppressive conditions of the Russian people, and how they eventually revolted and became a socialist government. According to Evans, the book is a simple read, with clearly expressed ideas. It is described as a children's book, but some of the ideas might be over a young child's head, but older ones should understand. There are a lack of photographs and maps, which Evans believes would have enhanced the book. Another thing that Evans talks about is the fact that Huberman is overly excited about Russian socialism. He thinks this book would be a great supplement in a European or American history class.
I wonder what people thought of this book a few years later when people were being blacklisted or accused of being Russian spies. It probably wasn't recommended reading in schools during the Cold War. This is another example of how interesting it is to go back so many years and read this reviews about these books. This book was hailed as a great history of economics in 1938, but might have even been banned 25 years later.
Evans, Jessie Campbell "Man's Worldly Goods" The Horn Book v. 14 (March/April 1938)p. 109-112
Fall Semester!!!!
Here we are, only the end of the 2nd week of the fall semester, and already way too much work to do. I am just going to post some of my assignments up here, so if anyone wants to keep up with what I am doing they can. This means you DAD!!!!! Anyway, I am taking 4 classes this fall, which is kind of a lot. But I am determined and will plod my way through. My classes are Intro to Library Administration(required), Organization of Knowledge(required), History of Children's Lit(taught by the famous Dr. Henrietta Smith) and Materials for Young Adults(my favorite!). So far, so good, but as I mentioned, a lot of work.
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