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Q1.
Ideas- children’s literature can create a sense of understanding of the vast information they are constantly being bombarded with in terms of media, culture, and religion. Children’s literature can sometimes provide insight for children in ways they can understand.

Something that surprised me- there is no golden age in children’s literature, and over time it only takes one book to captivate, motivate and shape a child’s life. (Court, 2018)

Something that resonated for me- the ways in which adults forget to spark their inner child, becoming simple and unimaginative. (Court, 2018) learning to read is possibly one of the most special and important aspects of growing into your comfort zone, just as Leu (2016) mentions of his one teacher impacting his life, by patiently being able to teach him how to read. Growing up, my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Glover would patiently sit with me and explain how the sounds connected differently for different words like the word ‘the’. She would plain that a period meant the end of that thought in the paragraph, I remember mistakenly thinking you had to take a brief pause before continuing to the next. Lerer (2014) explains that books can guide young minds and shape identities, when they touch you in a special way. Children’s literature has been shaped over the course of hundreds of years, and text which have been aimed at sculpting the young mind and creating an understanding through text to complexities of life and growing up.

Something that I disagree with- Not all books are true to its meanings and aimed at providing children with a developed understanding of things that can be questioned and challenged at a young age.

Q2.

Growing up I remember being obsessed with the library and taking home interesting books to read. Before I started school, I remember my parents always reading poems, and telling folk stories to me and my two siblings before bed. When I started JK I remember having access to large amounts of books, while being able to take one during free play and going on the “magic carpet,” to look at the pictures and become immersed in the possibilities of what the book was trying to say. My favorite books at the time were the Franklin the turtle books, Amelia Badelia books, and Robert Munsch. (I read these to my children as well) I couldn’t say which book is my favorite, but I could be in my room reading books, until my mom would come in and summon me back downstairs. I think for me, the books helped with things I was also going through, and I remember thinking like ‘If Franklin could be brave and go to the dentist, so could I.’ I still read many books, and I enjoy being swept into a different world and being able to disconnect from the comings and goings of life.

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While reading "What Reading Chilhood Books Teachers Adults About Themselves" I began to think about how much I enjoy reading to my students and why I think that is. I love sharing books with them that I read growing up. Some of the girls in my class are reading books that I LOVED at their age and I am able to connect with them about these texts. This is what reading does! It connects us and it's absolutely beautiful.
What stood out to me from "Grown-Ups Read Too" is how different people can read the same book and have different takeaways. Even though the author had a main prupose, adults and children can enjoy the same book for different reasons. I beleive this is why books are so special and why they are passed down from generations.

My favourite book series growing up was the Mandie series. I read these books when I was about 8 or 9. There are multiple reasons why I loved them. First, I loved the time period they took place in. I often played believe as if I was living in the 1800s. Second, I loved the adventure they had to offer. Solving mysteries and traveling was very compelling to me. At the same time, the books genre was realistic fiction (my favourite genre still). I think this made it easy for me to relate to the characters and plot, because it could really happen in real life. I literally remember thinking I wish I could just join the characters. Third, my best friend also loved these books and so we were able to connect about them and even began writing our own version of the stories that we hoped to publish one day!

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It struck me as noteworthy in the Court (2018) article that revisiting old books, songs, and films can help adults deal with trauma. Your journey is one of self-realization, recognizing the trauma and working through it at your own pace. The outcome is not tied to your success, there are no time limitations as in an actual therapist's office. "Love you Forever" by Robert Munsch is one of my favorite books by my favorite author, it reminds me of love, it's reciprocity, and its necessity for fulfillment and happiness every time I read it.
When I read Lerer (2014), I started thinking about how we read children's literature from many perspectives. Reading is something I enjoy as an individual, as someone who enjoys and remembers stories and experiences. As a teacher, I read texts as a way to share knowledge and encourage readers to interact with them at a personal level. When I was a parent, I remember taking the train to work and home with my daughter Mary-Anna. Whenever she was with me, I carried books to keep her entertained. I now read a variety of literature to my kindergarten students every day. For example, I would let them imagine they were traveling around the world. The children enjoyed hearing me read because I was able to role play different character voices, which helped them on their marvelous journey.

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1. The act of re-reading my favourite childhood books stood out to me especially as a mom. It becomes more about the memories and the nostalgia of the act then the story themselves. I think also I enjoyed the opinion that theatre and reading can go hand in hand. As someone with a background in arts, this made me see the parallels with both my loves of theatre, performance and with reading.

2. I had 4 favourite books growing up. The number one will always be Beauty and the Beast or as I called it Beast Belle. I loved the majic, the princess, the happily ever after. Then the whole series of Franklin where I could dive into learning about life lessons and fun adventures at any age. I still have my whole collection and read them constantly to my son. Finally, when I was little older I love you Forever by Robert Munch and Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle would daughter and parents bonding moments. They changed my life and they still make me cry to this day when I read them again. I even danced to the song Butterfly Kisses (based off the book) at my wedding with my dad.

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1) The nostalgia of rereading childhood books stood out to me. Sometimes it is less about the actual story than where you were when you read them or the experiences that. For example, when I think of Robert Munsch, I think about my mother reading it to me before bed. It was interesting that Court (2018) wrote about researching why some people reread books or rewatch movies. I have found that it definitely provides me with comfort. If I am feeling stressed, I never turn to a new movie or a new book to help me. I return to something I am familiar with and know how it will end!

These readings made me think about what even constitutes as a children’s book? Both readings referenced C.S Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” which I found fascinating. For one thing I had just read it with my Grade 5 students before the winter break. For another, what makes this book necessarily a children’s book? I think I enjoyed it just as much as my students! This is something I plan on investigating!

2) As a child, I remember one of my favourite books was “Freckle Juice” by Judy Blume. I believe this book meant so much to me because I truly resonated with the story. I had freckles as a child and was very insecure because I didn’t look like all of my peers. The main point of the story was that the main character wanted freckles. I could not believe someone wanted what I had! It made me appreciate my uniqueness. I think what made this book extra special was the fact that my favourite teacher read it to us. We did many fun projects associated with it, such as making our own potions or “freckle juice” to give us something we wanted. It is interesting how even after all of these years there are some stories that stick out more than others and I believe it relates to what Lerer (2014) refers to as the the transformation that happens when we read stories.

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While reading the two articles, I was reminded the importance of literature to a child’s development of imagination. The articles described how our experiences can interpret the book as well as the message from the book differently. What surprised me was the therapeutic benefits from re-reading a book. The articles discussed that re-reading books over time can help to cope with different events in your life. I also found it interesting that sometimes it can lead to a disappointment. When you have such a fond memory of the book and when you re-read it later in life, it can be different from the first time you read the book. I disagree with the authors that because some people will not have the same exposure to things they will not be able to enjoy the book to the same level. I think this will instead provide others with an opportunity to learn the past as well as think of what the world was like in the past. It will allow them to use their imaginations instead which can be even more powerful.

My favourite childhood is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The mysteries and magic that lies within Hogwarts as well as the friendships the characters developed was enticing. Re-reading the book is quiet comforting as it provides nostalgia. I have noticed more details and different takeaways when I re-read the book. I love the entire series but the first book is where Harry's story first began. In a sense, as the series went on, you grew up with the characters, and were able to relate to some problems they may have also been experiencing. Reading it out loud to my students in class has been a wonderful experience. Most of them have seen the movie but hasn't read the book. Listening to the discussion they have in class has been eye-opening.

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1) In reading, ‘What Reading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves’ I reflected on how much I have been enjoying revisiting favourite books from my childhood with my daughters. Court (2018) highlights this opportunity to share with the next generation as one that provides comfort, rediscovery, and relaxation. As adults we can easily get lost in the mental load of our daily responsibilities and rereading a childhood (or any) favourite book allows you to enjoy the narrative at a different pace, to reflect on events, build connections that you may have missed as a child (or during your first read), and just enjoy the details more thoroughly. I’ve been doing this with my daughter with favourites like Anne of Green Gables, the Harry Potter series, Charlotte’s Web, The Baby Sitters Club and so many more.

The notion put forth in ‘For Grown-Ups Too’; that there is no single ‘Golden Age’ of children’s literature rang true for me. I would agree with Lerer (2014-15) that it is more of a system that is driven and determined by those who write, market, and read books. I think this is why classics like Alice in Wonderland or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory can evoke the same enjoyment and wonder that current writings such as Harry Potter or picture books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus do. It truly is all about the connection the reader has to the story and what they take away from it.

2) I’ve never been able to pinpoint a favourite book. There are too many amazing stories within so many genres. I spent a lot of my time growing up reading, and as an adult I have to monitor when I start a new book as it has a way of taking over my daily priorities (I can’t start a new book during report card writing time!) I love the escape and relaxation of it. Looking at some of these posts I find myself getting excited remembering how great they are. I loved those Christopher Pike books too! Currently my 10 year old is reading the original Nancy Drew mysteries and has discovered the Nancy Drew Case Files. They are so much fun to revisit with her. Currently my favourite genre is historical fiction and I am really enjoying the work of Kate Quinn and her dive into World War 2 heroines.

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Lerer (2014) and Court's (2018) writing discusses the richness and emotions evoked by children's literature. In reading both articles, I am reminded of my own experiences with literature. While the audience for children's literature is, of course, children, there are master texts that adults can find enjoyment in. Quality children's books can be read and re-read over a child's lifetime (and well into adulthood). Court (2014) writes of some of the disappointment that arises when certain beloved books (or authors) fail to stand the test of time. This can be particularly hurtful when books and illustrations depict Black, Indigenous and People of Colour with images and words that we would consider to be inappropriate, or hateful today.

2) My favourite book as a child was D.I.S.H. series by Diana Muldrow. The girls in the story were older, independent and aspirational. I quite enjoyed how the authors navigated the individual character storylines.

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An idea that stood out to me from the two readings is the idea to reread your childhood books. I know it is important to reread texts while you are a student, but I never even thought about rereading a book that I read when I was younger over again, with "fresh new eyes". Something that surprised me was that there is no "golden age" for children's lit. It is a simple thought, but it is so true. There is something great from all throughout the ages. What resonated with me was that when you read a book you notice "the continuities and the differences" between the book and your life. I do both whenever I read a book!

I was a very avid reader as a child and teenager. I was really into fantasy/magical kind of books, mystery, romance, adventure, young adult fiction, and teen dramas. It is hard for me to just choose one book since I have read and loved so many. If I had to say one book that really meant so much to me as a kid, it would have to be Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I loved the fantasy/magical type of books (I was in grade 5 when Twilight came out) and it really opened up a whole different world of books to me (before Twilight, I was reading things like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Gossip Girl, etc.). My dad died around the time Twilight came out and this book let me escape and take my mind off everything going on in my world. It helped me through a lot!

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After reading this week's articles, I was greeted back into the children's literature world with many questions, epiphanies and conclusions. The article, For Grown-Ups Too, The Surprising Depth and Complexity of Children's Literature, was a great introduction on what and how Children's Literature came to be. The author describes two ways of reading literature as 1) what it seems to us, and 2) what the author means it to be.  I know as an adult now, that I have a better understanding why a book has had a profound impact on my life. Books such as James and the Giant Peach and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble are stories that have captured my interest as a child.  At the time, my teacher spent many days on revisiting these books it in different ways and through different mediums.  What it seemed to me at the time, was magical and full of fantasy. These books provoked my imagination as a child. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble was one of my favourite books. It helped to solidify my family ideals and touched my heart. It was a story of hope and fear. Most of the stories I recall, had a element reaching your emotions and made connections to real life.  What surprised me in the articles is that children's literature is full of lists.  I am uncertain what it meant, however, I can only conclude that books hold a categorical, or timely purpose.  I would like to learn more about what is meant by lists.

References:
Court, E. (2018). What rereading childhood books teaches adults about themselves. The Atlantic.

Lerer, S. (Winter 2014-15). For grown-ups, too: The surprising depth and complexity of children’s literature. American Educator, 37-41.

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1) In Court’s (2018) article she discusses the idea of revisiting a childhood book and this strongly stood out for me. When I was pregnant with my first, for my baby shower, I requested friends to bring a children’s book as a gift instead of a card. Family and friends wrote messages in the books and addressed why they had purchased the piece of literature they did. Many of the books purchased were some of my favourite pieces growing up such as books written by Dr. Seuss and Robert Munsch. I found myself reading through the different pieces of literature that I had fallen in love with as a child and “going back, {to} see something different” (Court 2018). A bit comedic and surface level, but worth mentioning - I remember yelling out to my husband about the book “I Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch because it was one of my favourites. As I sat there and read it aloud he stopped me in the middle of reading it and said, “that is creepy that the mother would climb through the window and rock him back and forth as a grown adult”. We burst out in laughter and had a long discussion over it – a perspective that I did not recognize as a child. On a serious note, I would agree with Lerer (2014) that “there is no single golden age, no moment when the literature for and of children is better, more precise, or more effective than at any other moment”. Being able to see children’s literature as a child, through the eyes of an educator, and now a mother, there are pieces throughout the year that you fall in love with. From I Love You Forever to The Gruffalo to Wish – children literature, for me, continues and has been a place to highlight real life connections and create a world of wonder.

2) While there are many books that could be a favourite, The Babysitters Club by Ann Martin was a favourite series of mine and worth mentioning. I remember bothering my mom to head to the library when I was finished with one of the books, so I could quickly read the next. Thinking back, I think these books meant so much because I was able to connect with many of the characters; looked up to the characters; and I enjoyed the adventures that took place.

I would like to note that I thoroughly enjoyed reading many of our classmates favourite books. Many popular ones that I also enjoyed as a child such as Jillian Jiggs, The Rainbow Fish, and The Paperbag Princess.

I look forward to learning from and with all of you throughout this course.

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1) Revisiting a work of children’s literature is always surprising for me. I recently read The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis to my 6 year old daughter and stepdaughter. I was surprised by their interest regardless of the new and sometimes difficult language and new terms such as sledge, wardrobe and fauna. Court states that ‘Those adult pleasures can also be commingled with disappointment if the book doesn’t live up to the sentimental memory you have of it.’ Although the children enjoyed the reading of the book, upon rereading, I was left wanting more. I found the story to be quite superficial in its retelling, however, upon first introduction, it seems the children were enthralled with the imaginary world. Lerer states that ‘part of the challenge for the literary critic is to recognize that texts are mutable- that meanings change, that different groups of readers may see different things, and what grown ups find an ordinary item of experience may transform, in the child’s imagination, into monstrous brilliance.’ Lerer provided a reminder of the work of Wartofsky, who describes the work of artists depicting circles as ellipticals, simply due to the fact that they are so frequently perceived as circles. Any work of art changes meaning over time, however, children's literature is often introduced at such a young age that rereading seems to occur more often for people than with other types of literature, especially through child rearing. The subject of rereading of children's literature was especially interesting to me throughout the two readings.

2) My favourite children's book is The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch illustrated by Michael Marchenko. Court states that ‘rereaders will not only rediscover the story, but they may also rediscover themselves.’ I was provided with a new copy of this book when I became pregnant as a single mother. I was told I had always been a fan of the book and it was easy to see why. I wondered why more depictions of emancipated women weren’t prevalent in more children’s literature. The work of Court provided some reasoning when they also point out the attachment to commerce stating that ‘categories of a children's book is codified not just by writers and readers, but by book sellers, librarians, and publishing houses. It seems reasonable to assume that most of the literature provided to me at a young were idealized depictions of the world.

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1) In Court’s (2018) article, she discusses the act of rereading books. As she describes, the process of rereading often “feels mellower and more leisurely” and reflects “the takeaways are often different too, when reading a book through the lens of adulthood” (3). The notion of rereading childhood books really resonated with me. I remember as a child reading the same books over and over again, almost as a way of learning new words (though I don’t think this was my thought process as a child). As an adult, I have returned to many of my childhood books such as Anne of Green Gables and The Polar Express, and cannot help but reflect on how these books fit into my life now, or feel the nostalgia of reading them for the first time. Reading Court’s article reminded me of the first time I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. My mom read it to me when I was young and I did not enjoy the story at all, and we never finished the series. As an adult, I revisited the series and loved it! I think as an adult I was able to appreciate Rowling’s writing, more than I could as a child.

In Lerer’s (2014) article, he discusses the notion “that children’s literature consists of books written for children and that it consists of those read, regardless of original authorial intention, by children'' (38). This statement really resonated with me because I think that there is sometimes a belief that children’s books should be left in our childhood. I think that books read in childhood or intended for children can still serve a purpose in adulthood. Similar to Court’s experience of reading Anne of Green Gables, as a child I was in love with the landscape of the novel and the relationship between Anne and Gilbert. When I re-read the book as an adult, I appreciated Anne’s adoptive parents, and sympathized with Marilla Cuthbert so much more than I did as a child. I am a big believer that children’s books can continue to teach us valuable lessons in our adulthood.

2) I have so many favourite books from my childhood. One that stands out to me is The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs by Phoebe Gillman. I have many memories of my mom reading this book to me and my sisters at bedtime. I remember enjoying the story because it rhymed and had a sort of sing-song feel to it. I also very much connected with Jillian because my mom would always complain about my messy room growing up 😀.

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1. When reading the Lerer article, I was struck by the sentence that reads “[l]earning how to read is a lifetime, and life-defining experience.” How simple and how accurate. As an avid reader, a lover of books and a Primary school teacher, I’ve always known the importance of reading and learning how to read, but I had never thought of reading as a lifetime, and life defining experience.

With reference to the Court article, the idea of re-reading a book resonated with me, because I understand the comfort that it can bring - the same way rewatching a favourite film or tv show can. She mentions that the second or third time through, is a “mellow, more leisurely” experience and, while I don’t often re-read books, there is a reason that some classics I’ve come to fall in love with as an adult (see below) are still on my bookshelf.

2. As a child, I developed an early love of reading, and had an affinity towards books in series: Fear Street (R.L. Stine); The Baby-sittters Club (Ann M. Martin); Nancy Drew (Carolyn Keene); Goosebumps (R.L. Stine). I loved that the story (or themes from the story) continued on - one book was never enough for me! It wasn’t until I took a University course on Children's Literature during my undergrad that I read many of the “classic” childhood books (Alice in Wonderland, Secret Garden, Little Women, Chronicles of Narnia, etc.) and I was intrigued by how much I liked them, as an adult. It made me realise - as discussed in the Lerer article - that children’s books are not only for children.

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1) The article by Court (2018) expresses the comfort that comes from re-reading books from childhood. I fully agree that it is an exercise that allows the reader to escape safely into another world that is familiar and free from any upsetting surprises or discoveries. She also notes that although re-reading childhood stories is often comforting, it sometimes forces us to wrestle with beliefs that have evolved since last reading the familiar text. Lerer (2014) argued that the depth of children’s literature is shaped by time, institutions, and personal interpretations.

2) My favourite book growing up was The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I think this story meant so much to me because it was different from all the other stories I was accustomed to reading. I remember being gifted the first three books at Christmas time, shortly after my aunt perished in car accident.  The realization that life can be cruel and scary paired well with this unusually dark series. I have re-read the series many times, and tried my hardest to be kind to tv and cinematic adaptions. The series continues to be my favourite.

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1) From the readings this week, the idea that was the most poignant and relevant to myself, that I was drawn too, was from Court's (2018) article. She say's, "Childhood books offer an opportunity to sit down in the river of time, if just for a moment, and ponder the full scope of one’s life." I like this for a couple reasons. First and foremost, I myself have recently re-read a couple of books from my own childhood; the Mortal Engines series, which was a large part of my teen years, and Georges Marvellous Medicine, by Roald Dahl, from my childhood. in doing this I had my own memories of childhood brought back to me. I remember camping trips with my dad, where he would read to my brother and I in the tent before bed. I remember using a flashlight to read the books. These are nostalgic memories of a time where life is simple and where your stresses are so meaningless compared to the adult issues we face today. It is a connection to our upbringing and our past that we are able to connect too in a way that I think is important for us to be able to foster to our next generation.
2) In terms of a favourite book that I remember from my childhood it has to be Roald Dahls, "Danny, the Champion of the World." It is not considered one of Dahls most popular, but in it a young boy is able to come up with a way for his family to poach  pheasants to cause issue with a local magnet. Do I remember every detail? No. However I think what I remember most about this is how often my father would read this to my brother and I. I think it must have been a dozen times or more, and it was a regular before bed story. This connection with my own dad is mirrored in the story through Danny and his father, which is what I think makes it so powerful.

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1) The readings from this week, particularly Court’s (2018) “What Reading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves”, allowed me to reflect on the books that I enjoyed as a child and gave me insight to why I may have enjoyed them so much. I gained a deeper understanding of when I read the ‘over the top’ YA romance novels as a teenager, I used them to escape into the somewhat predictable world of the characters when my own world seemed chaotic and unpredictable.

2) Reflecting on my favourite books as a child, I vividly remember the book The Sheep Follow by Monica Wellington. Although it may not be a well-known book among young readers, I enjoyed it because of its repetition and predictability. I remember my parents reading it to me, often at bedtime, and I could join them on the repetition parts and felt a sense of pride in myself for ‘reading’ the book. Eventually I was able to ‘read’ the whole book by myself and again felt the sense of pride that I could read it on my own. I believe the book meant so much to me because it was associated with a positive experience with my family. I always looked forward to reading with my parents and was happy when I could then join in with them. I think the sense of self-pride also contributed to the positive associations with the book.

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1. The idea that resonated with me from the Lerer (2014) article was the distinction the author made "between claims that children's literature consists of books written for children and that it consists of those read, regardless of original authorial intention, by children" (38). I really like this perspective; that a book, any book, has the potential to be a children's book simply by virtue of being read by a child. As for the Court (2018) article, while I enjoyed it, I couldn't identify with it. I am an avid reader and have been since a very young age, however, as much as I have thoroughly enjoyed certain (many) books, I have never re-read a book. I don't seem to have an interest for that process of repetition, the most I've done is re-read passages of a book but never the entire book.

2. One of my favourite books, at a young age, was Chrysanthemum. I believe it was the complexity and uniqueness of the name (and how many times it was repeated throughout the story) that made me love the book. I think this is the case because I didn't remember anything of the story itself but fondly remembered the title and the way I loved successfully pronouncing the main character's name over and over again.

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(1)   The two articles are interest read. They all point out the importance of literacy in early years in which one of such aspect in building children literacy is through reading. Both books made me to recollect my first read and how different books with animals and trees were read to us while in school. Rereading such books now is a connection to one’s history and pleasure of rediscovery (Court, 2018). What I find interesting in both books are (1) findings from the study conducted in 2012 why people reread, rewatch movies and revisit places (Court, 2018) and (2) the statement from Lerer’s book that children’s literature is inseparable from the history of the childhood (Lerer, 2014). I reread so as to be able to tell the story to my children and to connect the lesson learnt to one’s experiences.

(2)   I can’t say that I have a favourite book. Reason being that, when I was young, lot of books were read to me, and I don’t have these books at my disposal considering where I grew up. Any time I had the opportunity to lay my hands on a book, I try to get the best out of it with little opportunity to reread. A few to mention are the ones tailored to Nigerian environment- “Eze Goes to School”, “Catch that Goat”, “Ajapa the Tortoise”. These are books tailored to Nigerians because of our experiences and culture. Eze Goes to School is a popular book in Nigeria. The book talks about how Eze struggles to get formal education due to his poor family background. He finally made it due to his intelligence. Rereading this book, connects me how formal education is important and why government should provide resources so that children don’t struggle to get to school due to their poor family background.

References:
Court, E. (2018). What rereading childhood books teaches adults about themselves. The Atlantic.

Lerer, S. (Winter 2014-15). For grown-ups, too: The surprising depth and complexity of children’s literature. American Educator, 37-41.

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From the two readings this week what stood out to me was the notion of rereading childhood stories. Court, 2018 refers to childhood literature as comforting and safe to return to and I have to agree with this sentiment. I recently rediscovered a childhood summer read I had loved, That Silent Summer by Elaine Medline. I probably read this book a hundred times as a preteen in rural Ontario. I reread it in summer, alongside the lake as I had as a child and it brought back memories and feelings from a simpler time. Court writes that returning to childhood stories we tend to see and experience different feelings and themes than we may have the first time. For example, going back to a story you had previously seen as a love story and finding appreciation for female friendships (Court, 2018). This also goes along with a story that was one way in your mind, but when reread as an adult is completely different. I loved the term “sitting down in a river of time” to describe returning to the comfort of a childhood story.

My personal experiences with children’s literature started young. I have always been an avid reader and sought solace in a good book after a hard day. When school bullies got me down, I could delve into a world where Draco Malfoy does not come out on top and remind myself the “good guy” always wins in the end. While I love the thrill of a new book, I also appreciate the nostalgia of returning to an old, familiar tale. In 2019 when rereading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (one of the most reread books according to Goodreads (Court, 2018) I was brought back to my fourth-grade classroom, a portable outside the main school with a particularly rambunctious class who would spend a half hour a day with our heads on our desks listening to our teacher read from this series to us. This reread also made me rethink my sibling relationships, especially from childhood, and a growing appreciation for my siblings arose. This book even inspired my daughter’s name – Lucy.

Court, E. (July 27, 2018). What Rereading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves, The Atlantic

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1) The article by Emma Court really resonated with me. The author raises a lot of interesting points that align with my perspectives and experiences with children's literature that I read when I was a child. Often, I will go to my school library to select books for my class and come across a book that I remember my teachers reading to me. Sometimes these books were incredibly meaningful to me (for example, The Polar Express. I remember my kindergarten teachers telling us about how we could take a ride on it as well and the magic that encompassed reading the book) or one that I had forgotten about but clearly it had made an impression on me (for example, Silly Sally by Audrey Wood. When I saw this, I can remember being in my grade 1 class and laughing at the story with my peers). I think books and literature can bring you back and remember all of the excitement and imagination that grew within you as a child as you read a book that interested you. As an adult, selecting or seeing these books for my own class, I often tell them about where I was and what I was doing when my own teacher read these books to me. It allows me share my own love of reading with my class and hopefully create an excitement in the book for them. I agreed with the author of this article, that, at times, re-reading a book we loved as children may not resonate in the same way as our own experiences shape who we are as adults. This can be a disappointment but there are so many opportunities to look at the growth of society and ourselves (where we were then vs where we are now) in these instances, however sad it can be. I think mostly, re-reading children's literature that you loved as a child is a comfort and brings a joy that is hard to attain otherwise.

2) The first book that I remember loving was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis. My grade 1 teacher  read it to our class everyday and as soon as we had finished it in class, I asked my mom to read it to me at home until I could read it on my own. I think this book, and by extension my grade 1 teacher, created a love of reading in me. The magic in this book that was created with the world of Narnia and all of the characters left me amazed at what a book can do. I remember wishing I could go to Narnia and pretending I had actually done so by hiding in my closet and emerging twenty minutes later to tell my sister the adventures I had while gone (of course, she did not believe me, but it had sparked my imagination!)  Even now, when I have re-read it, I remember her showing us the small pictures at the beginning of each chapter and how these limited and small images depicted exactly what I had imagined. I have re-read this book (and many other childhood favourites) whenever I need a bit of a "lift." Just as the article said, these favourite books can bring a joy to adults. Over the years, many teachers read many different books to me, but none can I remember as the first time I heard The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

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1) As I read books to my grade 4 class, I often go back and think about the first time I read the same books as a child.  One article mentioned seeing the story in a new light as an adult as opposed to a child's point of view.  I think about that all the time when reading fairytales, from the original stories to the Disney format. The list of books that were discussed in the articles, Swiss Family Robinson, Anne of Green Gables, Charlotte's Web, all brought a smile to my face reminding me of the love I had/have for these stories.
2) I can not say that I had a favorite book growing up. I did like Dr. Seuss, The Bernstein Bears, Clifford the Big Red Dog and The Critters. I did not read the books by Robert Munsch until later on in life when I had my own children. How I fell in love with his books. My youngest child really enjoyed his books. We had an opportunity to go to a museum in Montreal when she was in Elementary School to see a montage of rooms they had put together depicting different scenes from his books. I don't know who enjoyed it more, her or me! Now, in my class, I often put on a Munsch book on the SmartBoard after lunch for the students to listen to. I believe the love for his books has now been spread to another generation.

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A book that was read to me as a child, and now I read to my two sons.

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1. Court (2018) and Lerer (2014) reminded me the importance of literature both personally and culturally. Not only do stories have an impact on us, they are a result of historical, social, political, and cultural events (just to name a few). For example, I just read a children's biography on Dr. Fauci with my boys, and it covered his youth, basketball career at college and his desire to solve puzzles--this is all, no doubt, a product of the Covid-19 situation. Both articles mentioned how we can draw a direct line between certain events and thinkers and the stories that we have come to know. I very much enjoyed Lerer's commentary on what is left out of the literature as well, but I am optimistic that this is changing as my boys are often picking up books from the library that tell stories about different cultures and people--it is actually quite remarkable the spectrum that children's literature covers.

2. After reading through the two articles by Court ((2018) and Lerer (2014) I began thinking about the many hats that we wear as readers of children's literature. I read as an individual, one who remembers and loves stories and experiences. I read as a teacher who reviews text, teaches text, and encourages readers to respond on a personal level. I read as a parent with my two young boys sitting by my side. I love where reading takes me; for example, I uploaded an image of Nobody Listens to Andrew which was bought for me a child. It had been years since I had read it, and found it on a shelf in my sister's house. Flipping though the pages brought back all of these memories from my childhood. I sat  Ewan and Edan next to me (my lads) and read through it with them--it was magical. The illustrations from the 1950s are still great.

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1) Lerer (2014-15) discusses the transformation that takes place when we read stories.  I am very compelled by the way stories help us shape our existence and ourselves. I can confidently say that Hermione as a bold, femme protagonist inspired my pursuit of academia and allowed me to distinguish myself as someone who enjoys reading and learning from a young age.  R.L Stine's Goosebumps series marked the beginning of my love for horror and theatre of the absurd. As an educator, I always aim to create opportunities for my students to begin uncovering facets of themselves in the stories we read. I like to think that novels are like a door handle, presenting a choice to leave the door closed or to walk through it. But the important thing is the presence of the handle itself!
2) Roald Dahl was one of my favourite authors as a child. In James and the Giant Peach, the moral of finding family and connection in unexpected places resonated with me in a very deep way.  I have an unconventional family and appreciated that this children's book did not depict a nuclear family. Although James faces a cruel reality, he is able to carve a new, boundless existence. The whimsy and surrealism of this story  are elements I still deeply appreciate as an adult.

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The articles for this week gave me a real sense of responsibility as a kindergarten teacher to encourage the love of reading and books at a very young age. I read to my students many times a day, but we have a set time right before lunch where I dedicate the 10 minutes or so to reading a picture book to them. I relate to the article where they say "the experience [of rereading a childhood favorite book] brings him back to his childhood, transcending the passage of time" (Court, 2018, p. 2). I feel so much joy in my heart when I reread a childhood favorite story to my students and they become entranced with the story, as I was at their age.

My favorite book as a child was The Rainbow Fish. I have vivid memories of myself in kindergarten rereading this book countless times at home and at school. The shimmery scales of the fish were so beautiful and was an added hands-on addition to the story, which still brought the story to life as a pre-reader. The message of the story, kindness, friendship, and sharing with others, is such a universal, yet profound message for all ages. My kindergarten teacher introduced this book to us during an under the sea unit, and I feel a lot of nostalgia and happiness when my students are glued to the story during our under the sea unit. It brings me back to my childhood when I live these moments in my classroom.

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The phrase which made me reflect in the article “What Rereading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves” is the sentence “books that are taken into childhood, foster social communication”.

Growing up, I was taught how to read and enjoy literature through hearing fables recited to me, practicing reading/singing poems, and learning how to write letters to other students. So, if the topic was The Seasons of the Year, the teacher would read fables about a particular season, we would read poems related to the season, as well as write letters to each other on how we enjoyed the different seasons. I don’t recall reading or enjoying any book in particular, but I do strongly recall having positive feelings related to reading and writing. Here is a picture of my first-grade reading book. Translated in English means “The most beautiful readings”.  The fables, poems/letters within this workbook engaged me deeply, helping me apply the morals of the fables/stories to my own life. We were encouraged to write about how we felt, how we would respond/react, and most importantly we discussed how the story related to our own life. I believe this book, which I have kept in my closet for 40 years, is strongly related to how it helped fostered social communication in the classroom and helped me learn about my classmates.

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1. What stood out to me in the Court (2018) article is that revisiting old books, songs, films, helps us as adults to process trauma. You’re going through this process of self-realization, acknowledging the trauma, and moving through it at your own pace. There is no pressure to be successful in the end, there is no ticking clock as if you’re in an actual therapist office, as the woman who rewatched Message in a Bottle acknowledges, it can simply be a mechanism of processing an upsetting event. Maybe it is a clean breakup that you haven’t fully worked through, maybe it is something more complex like intergenerational trauma, or maybe it reminds you of a positive event that has faded deep into distant memory.

Something that the Lerer (2014-15) article got me thinking about was how visions/interpretations change in English-speaking countries but also across the world. I’d be curious to explore how various books are altered or remain the same across translations. Would a Dr Seuss book work in French? In Arabic? Swahili? Does the tone of Grimm fairytales shift when translated from German to English?

2. I wouldn’t necessarily say I had a favourite book growing up. Reading through words wasn’t the way thoughts and concepts resonated with me and felt very much like a chore. For me it was the read aloud of Berenstain Bears books, or laughing at the pictures and stories told in Archie and Jughead comics, or the unorthodox story-telling of Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants. They weren’t traditional stories and people often dismissed these types of literature. The important thing, at least in retrospect is that it gets children reading and interested in reading who might not have been interested in more traditional books and stories.

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What stood out to me in the “what rereading childhood books teaches adults about themselves” reading was the mention of comparing the same information to when we were younger to now. I choose this because as an adult, I enjoy rewatching cartoons from my childhood and comparing my thoughts to what I thought then to what I think now. Growing up, I enjoyed books written by Dr. Suess and by Robert Munsch. When I read it now as an adult, I still feel the same excitement because and similar to what was said in the reading about rereading creates opportunities to have a different takeaway =]

What stood out to me in the “for grown-ups too, the surprising depth and complexity of children’s literature” reading was the inspiration of knowing that children’s literature is for all ages and not bound to an age group, which creates an inclusive environment for all readers when reading =]

Growing up as a child, I do not think I had a favourite book, but I loved (and still do) reading/rereading books by Dr. Suess. What initially gravitated me to this set of books was the illustration, and the words from these books brought these illustrations to life for me =]

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1) While reading the article "What Rereading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves", the part that resonated with me was the notion that rereading brings comfort for the reader because they know what to expect. I make it a point to read my favourite classic Robert Munsch books to my kids for this very same reason: I know how they end, I can do all the voices and know the characters. I really want them to have the same warm recognition that I get when I see them in bookstores. I also read "Goodnight Moon" to them, and the article “For Grown-Ups Too The Surprising Depth and  Complexity of Children’s Literature” pointed out that it is a book of lists. I had never given it a second thought and took the simplicity of the story at face value. The analysis that was provided in the article offered new insights into the story and why it may have been written that way.

2) The most memorable books that I read when I was younger were the Christopher Pike series of books. I would borrow stacks of them from the library and read them in a matter of days. I think I was about 10-12 years old when I was introduced to them and I still think about them now.

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1) What stood out to me from “What Rereading Childhood Books Teaches Adults About Themselves” is how when we reread a book as an adult it can have so much nostalgia or we may have different feelings about the book. I will often tell my students during story time if a particular book that is chosen was one that I had read when I was little. I think sharing personal experiences about stories can create connections. I thought it was interesting how the reading mentioned when a favourite book is deemed significant for someone it can be an anchor for one’s life. I did not realize the power a book can have.

What stood out to me from “For Grown-Ups Too The Surprising Depth and  Complexity of Children’s Literature” was the idea of interpretation and how we can each relate to a book differently as well as differently from what the author may have intended.

2) I loved reading Robert Munsch as a child, in particular Moira’s Birthday was my favourite. The illustrations really brought the story to life. It was a fun story and enjoyable to read or listen to.