What an interesting class!

Now that Critical Evaluation of Children's Media is coming to a close I reflect back to how I was the first day of class. This is one of my first two graduate classes and I was so nervous about being "thrown" back into school. This class really open up a new world for me. I've never thought I was any good with kids because I did not know much about them and how to think like them. The class really helped me out and taught me a lot about how children see the world. I also liked that we focused on a little bit of everything. I really hate the Australia project didn't work out so well because it was just a really interesting project idea. The discussion boards were a lot of help and fun, and really made the books come alive. I made a lot of good new friends that have been really supportive of me (even being the new guy). All in all I have to say it was a wonderful class, well put together, and really kind of fun. I hope Critical Evaluation of Young Adult's Media will be as interesting!

Love non-fiction

In these last couple of chapters of the text are the genres I really like. Ever since I was child I have immensely enjoyed non-fiction. I love to know about things that have happened to interesting people, places, and things. This maybe due to the fact that I have read the complete 1966 World Book Encyclopedia (no joke) my mom gave me her set when I was six and I finished "z" when I was about ten. My mom noticed that I did not enjoy reading novels and young fiction like my older sister, that is when she got the idea that I might enjoy books based on fact. Needless to say it worked and soon after I had my own subscription to National Geographic, Archaeology Magazine, and other fun pubications. I really do owe it to my mom for a lot for my love of reading.

Upset about the lake of pre-historic children's tails and books

My group for Chpt. 10 had to read children's books based on prehistory or tales from ancient eastern cultures. Granted these are not the most interesting subjects but there was a serious lack of literature based in this genre. Out of about ten books listed in the the text on the subject the Catawba County Library only has two (one being a Newberry Award winner) the other is a middle part of a series of books which they don't carry the rest. This disappoints me.

Poetry

Im pretty excited about the poetry book we are going to be reading. Personally I chose a Robert Frost book which I was surprised to see in the childrens section. I love his works but I never thought they for children.

Reading about Native Americans

Anything Native American is right up my alley. I love the culture and how pure these peoples were before the old world met the new. I'm reading a book called Hidden Roots and it a captivating tale of a young boy who is discovering his ancestry. it really hits on the plights of modern Native Americans many of whom (about 80%) live below the poverty rate, alcoholism is rampant, and domestic violence is the norm. This story is set not many years ago, around 30, and it hits on a lot of the racism toward Native Americans. I'm not finished so I'm just guessing right now how it will end.

Fantasy genre

I am not a "fantasy" kind of person, or a least I thought so. I chose to read Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede as my fantasy choice just knowing that I was going to have to push myself to read it. Surprisingly it kept my interest from beginning to end. I actually found myself getting excited about finding a chance to read another chapter. That has not happened since I read On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Yet our group choice for the fantasy genre was Ella Enchanted and it does not appeal to me at all. Maybe as I get deeper into it, it will grow on me.

I have rediscovered my love of the library!

it has been a really long time since i have been able to go to the library and pick out books i want to read. all through college i had to read what i was told and then write a specific way. it has been a breathe of fresh air to go and read these books i loved as a kid and appreciate them for what they are. i have enjoyed this project especially the epic and legendary heroes books.

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