Taking Humor Seriously in Children's Literature: Literature-Based Mini-Units and Humorous Books for Children Ages 5-12

by Patricia L. Roberts

Overview

Educators and librarians are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of humor to children, especially the way it stimulates their interest in reading and enhances the quality of the reading experience.

Presents quality humorous children's literature and experiences that develop children's sensitivity toward humor. Literature-based mini-units are accompanied by discussion questions and a variety of ideas and activities that emphasize the components of humorous stories. Creative librarians and teachers can use the mini-units as models to adapt other books to the children they work with daily. Each unit is followed by additional readings about the subject that include features such as cartoon-like illustrations, humorous details, exaggerated expressions, and parody. The annotated bibliography, which is divided by age group and the subjects used in the mini-units, lists additional humorous literature, describes the humorous events in each book and indicates the appropriate age levels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810832091
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/20/1997
Series:	School Library Media Series , #11
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	8.52(w) x 10.92(h) x 0.53(d)

About the Author

Patricia L. Roberts is Professor of Education at California State University, Sacramento. She is the author of twenty teaching works including Alphabet: A Handbook of ABC Books (Scarecrow, 1994), and Multicultural Friendship Stories and Activities for Children 5-14 (Scarecrow, 1997).

Editorial Reviews

...may provide the sanity-saving lesson that both teachers and students need from time to time.

Library Lane

...an excellent introduction...a most useful book. Its treatment of humor is thorough, and it combines this with numerous practical ideas for looking at humor as a serious topic in the elementary classroom. A must for all elementary libraries.

Appraisals

A good starting point for identifying humorous books, units of work based on humour, and research into children's development of and through a sense of humour...

Orana

...a compelling argument on the benefits of teaching children about humor...activities and annotated bibliographies are excellent...teachers and librarians wanting to incorporate humorous literature into classrooms and libraries will find good information in this book.

American Reference Books Annual

Roberts presents a compelling argument on the benefits of teaching children about humor. The author feels that humor needs to be taught and she has provided a resource for the parents and for the children.

Lisca

...a reasoned argument for the use of humor in the teaching and learning process...supported by a large bibliography...there are some interesting ideas here...

School Librarian

...a compelling argument on the benefits of teaching children about humor...activities and annotated bibliographies are excellent...teachers and librarians wanting to incorporate humorous literature into classrooms and libraries will find good information in this book.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)

This useful book begins with a concise introduction outlining different types of humorexaggeration, slapstick, parody, etc.and explaining why humor is so important psychologically. The first half offers curriculum units based on popular children's books, describing how to use the books with students. There are good, though fairly standard, ideas for writing, art, and other activities. The units are divided into two sections: books for ages five to eight and books for ages 9 to 12. These sections are further divided by subject, such as holidays, animals, and rhymes and verses. The units offer very specific directions on how to introduce a book to a class, something most librarians would not need but which is common in books geared to teachers. The last half of the book is a very good annotated bibliography of more than 500 titles. The units are most appropriate for classroom teachers and school librarians. The bibliography would be useful to public libraries as a supplementary resource. Penny Peck, San Leandro Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

Combines short teaching units with an annotated bibliography of over 500 books for librarians, teachers, parents, youth group leaders, and people involved in home schooling. Roberts (education, California State U.-Sacramento) presents the books by categories and includes a variety of ideas, activities, discussion questions, and suggestions for further reading. Among her categories are animals as humans, holidays, jokes, nonsense, rhymes, and unusual characters and creatures. She also notes potentially unfamiliar words the book might introduce. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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