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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Anne Phillips, 785-532-2167, annek@k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/phillipsbio.html
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

K-STATE PROFESSOR SAYS MAKING TIME FOR READING IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN, SUGGESTS BOOKS FOR KIDS TO TRY

MANHATTAN -- Children's literature means more than just books for children, according to Kansas State University's Anne Phillips, an associate professor of English.

Phillips, who teaches courses in literature for children and literature for adolescents at K-State, said that children's literature actually has many different elements, including situations that children understand like family and identity, making friends, keeping secrets and growing up. And, of course, children's literature is literature that has children, in some shape or form, in the story.

Children's literature comes in a variety of formats, including novels, picture books and easy readers. When it comes to choosing a book to read, Phillips suggests trying books from one these five key genres: adventure, mystery, family stories, historical fiction and fantasy.

"The problem is that no one book is one size fits all," she said. "That's why I would rather suggest five genres that all children should experience. If they keep trying, they will eventually find something that they like."

Just as important as what children read is the simple act of reading itself. Making time and the space to read every day is important, Phillips said.

"To me there is just something enriching and fulfilling about losing yourself in a good book. You develop your imagination and you are creating something in your mind that's not being forced on you," Phillips said.

"When you watch a movie, someone else is imposing the images on you and dictating how the story will go. You do more of that yourself when you are reading a book, even though someone else has given you the plot and the characters," she said. "You are still creating the pictures in your mind and thinking about how the story will go. You may be picturing yourself in the story and may be learning more about yourself or someone else through reading.

"Reading gives you things that your family, your community, and even your own experience might not give you. Reading can take you to places and times that you might not ever be able to get to," Phillips said.

Reading is an activity that parents and children can share, she said.

"Get the children to the library. Read with them, let them see you reading -- don't just make it something the children have to do. Make it a family activity, not just in your home, but in the library. Reading can be a great time to spend together for adults and children," Phillips said.

When it comes to the different types of children's books, Phillips has some suggestions to get parents and children started:

* Picture books -- "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak; "Gorilla" by Anthony Browne; "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" by Virginia Lee Burton; "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown; "Olivia" by Ian Falconer; "Go Dog, Go!" by P.D. Eastman; "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter; "The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base; "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg; and "Tuesday" by David Wisener.

* Children's novels or series -- "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum; "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll; The "Little House" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder; "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George; "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich; "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien; "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle; "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien; and "Anne of Green Gables" by L.M. Montgomery.

* Easy and early reader books and series -- The "Little Bear" books by Else Holmelund Minarik; the "Frog and Toad" books by Arnold Lobel; the "Amelia Bedelia" books by Peggy Parish; the "George and Martha" books by James Marshall; the "Henry and Mudge," "Mr. Putter and Tabby" and "Poppleton" books, all by Cynthia Rylant; and the "Nate the Great" books by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.

* Some "must reads" for adolescents -- "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson; "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee; "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott; "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier; "Whale Talk" by Chris Crutcher; and the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Philip Pullman.

Among the children's authors who Phillips says kids shouldn't miss are Kevin Henkes, Lois Lowry, Beverly Cleary, Katherine Paterson, Gary Paulsen, Elizabeth Enright and Dr. Seuss, as well as books from the William Allen White book list. She also recommends multivolume fantasy series such as J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" books.