Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Learning Craft from Children's Books

 

I remember years ago someone imparting the advice that if you need to do research on something, start with books written for children. They'll give you the basics which might be as much as you need to know, but if not they will at least make the subject understandable so you can pursue it more easily.

I was reminded of that advice a few weeks ago when I picked up a book I am supposed to use with my Jr. High ELA classes. It's called How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids.



Full confession - my husband bought a copy of the original How to Read Literature Like a Professor years ago. It sat on a shelf that I passed many times a day. I often thought I should read it. I never did. Now I wish I had.




As I was reading the children's version to prepare to teach lessons from it, I realized that many of the points made for children are a good craft reminder for writers.

The Amazon blurb says:

In How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For KidsNew York Times bestselling author and professor Thomas C. Foster gives tweens the tools they need to become thoughtful readers.

With funny insights and a conversational style, he explains the way writers use symbol, metaphor, characterization, setting, plot, and other key techniques to make a story come to life.

 As I read that, I was amused to think that some writers (like this one) may benefit from a reminder of what we are doing. 

I'll digress for a moment to talk education. As a teacher, I usually deplore the kinds of questions on standardized tests that ask about the author's purpose or author's craft. It seems futile to ask a 12 year-old to try to step inside the mind of an author to figure out what they were trying to accomplish. I could go on at length with some ridiculous examples, but that doesn't help us become better writers. The reason I bring it up is that this book, in helping students understand what a writer is attempting, can also help writers better understand what is behind many of the things we do intuitively. 

I really do believe that writers who are avid readers naturally absorb many of the tenets of storytelling.  But I also believe that it's good to sometimes stop and reflect on what we are doing and how we can do it better. This book actually helped me to be more aware of what I'm doing when I write. And if I'm aware, I can be more intentional.

Do you ever turn to children's books for research? 

Do you consciously use literary devices such as allusions, symbolism, metaphors, motifs, imagery, etc. when you write (or does it seep in there unconsciously)?

FYI - If you prefer an adult take on this, Here's a link to 45 Literary Devices and Terms That Everyone Should Know. 

14 comments:

  1. You know my middle grade crew might like this book. We talk story all the time. That's the downside of having an author as a grandmother, everything is a story, everything has a point, and the ways an author can surround someone with emotion, setting, characters, anticipation, joy and angst.... and expectation of what might happen!!!... those are the things I like them to recognize.

    Cate, thanks for this idea!

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    1. It's fun when they grow up and turn it back on you, Ruthy. My "baby" the librarian now talks craft at me about all the books she is reading and cataloguing as part of a project they do in Maine to have students choose their best books - sort of a student version of the Newbery award.

      Hope the middle grade crew enjoys it.

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  2. A few years back I went to the library and checked out children's books about pioneer life and took a book at a time to school. This was preschool and even their little 4 & 5 year old minds got a kick out of seeing how children went to school, cooked, etc. Throughout the year they would ask me to bring back the books "about a long time ago when I was little." I got a kick out of that! Childrens book authors continue to amaze me with their creative stories!

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    1. Sorry, Cate, I should have also said I enjoyed reading your post. And yes, I have read children's books for research.

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    2. Karen, I stand in awe of children's book authors!

      I love that you did this, and the "long ago when I was little" made me chuckle. I had a similar experience with my middle schoolers when I showed them a You Tube show called Kids React. It shows "technology" from the dark ages - like the original Apple computers or rotary phones. When I tell them I was alive for things like that, they look at me like I must be the oldest person alive!

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  3. I have a shelf full of history research books that were written for children. I find that the information I need is more accessible and condensed. They become a starting point for deeper research - or sometimes the visual illustration of, say, washing clothes in a laundry tub is enough for the background of the scene I'm writing.

    I'll have to look up Thomas C. Foster's books - they look interesting!

    Thanks for the great post, Cate!

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    1. That's exactly it, Jan. The illustrations are so helpful.

      I think sometimes the simplistic explanation helps us wrap our minds around the basics of the craft. For example, in this book, he sums up the Hero's Journey as all characters going on a quest - even if it's just to the local shop to pick up a pizza for dinner.
      But this - I loved the simplicity:
      From page 7 - "A quest needs five things:
      1. a quester;
      2. a place to go;
      3. a stated reason to go there;
      4. challenges and trials along the way;
      5. a real reason to go there."

      The diamond doesn't quite shape out the same, but it reminded me of an even more simplified version of your craft tip from Monday.

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  4. I read children's books for research. It is a good starting point if nothing else. This was a fun post, Cate.

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    1. Thanks, Sandy. And sometimes, as Jan pointed out, that's all you need. It can also save us research nerds from losing valuable writing time falling down rabbit holes.

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  5. Hi Cate!
    I love children's books! Such great examples of characterization, point of view, pacing, and all sorts of other things. And because they're shorter than adult books (usually) you can read several and learn more in less time. Definitely agree that they're a great resource for for crisp, concise historical information (plus they're likely to have lots of drawings and pictures). This is a good reminder for me. Thanks for that! :-)

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    1. Hi Jenna,
      I was visiting my daughter today, and she was showing me so many great middle school books. I wanted to read them all! She showed me a really cool nonfiction one the other day that had the most intriguing illustrations. Love it.

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  6. Thanks for an interesting post, Cate. Yes, I've used children's books for research. I once read the book WHO WAS WALT DISNEY? and did a blog on it. His determination and vision worked perfectly into a motivational blog for writers.

    I always chuckle with folks say they want to write a children's book, thinking it will be an easy sell. Little do they know that children's books are a very, very hard sell!

    Great tips in all the comments. I loved hearing about Jan's historical research books!

    My middle school grandson was studying THE HERO'S JOURNEY! We discussed it over the dinner table, which made me happy!

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    1. Yes, Debby! I do that with my middle schoolers.
      I vaguely remember that Walt Disney post (I think), but I had no luck trying to find it in the archives. Was it for Seekerville?

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  7. I'm in the in between phase of my life where I haven't read children's books in many years because my kids are grown and haven't given me any grands yet, but this is great advice. Well-written children's books are the best!

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