Thread by @PaulWHankins

A problem of the anthropomorphic presentation within picture books we might share with younger, will-be readers is that they are read aloud without further appreciation of shared traits or characteristics with the human reader. Story is read. Left at that. #DisruptTexts 1/?

Presented here is a case for moving from “left at that” to “leads to this.” @ProfessorNana calls this “laddering.” I like to think of this as “leading.” But, in order to do it, one must have a deep awareness and appreciation of picture books both past and present. #DisruptTexts

Here, for #bookaday day reading,I was reminded of a 1971 William Steig title while reading @carlsafina’s 2019 adaptation for young readers. Texts separated by almost fifty years now side-by-side for deeper consideration for both lead and need reader alike. #DisruptTexts

Of course, as coincidence or serendipity might have it, @nytimes recent published a Page Turner article featuring Steig’s titles: newyorker.com/books/page-tur… This is where we might talk about a bridge (or ladder) between fiction and nonfiction via character/subject. #DisruptTexts

But, what we really need to talk about is awareness, appreciation, access, and action all come together in classroom practice. Steig died in 2003. About the time this year’s senior class members were beginning to sit up straight. #DisruptTexts

So, in about four to five years as the class of “clear/clarified” vision (2020) exits their collective undergraduate teaching programs, who among them will know William Steig. Not even when Shrek! was popular did we see Steig’s book in the big box stores. #DisruptTexts

Anthropomorphic picture books read and “left at that” robs both the human and the animal of what that shared reading might “lead to” by way of understanding the choice to convey and communicate a feature, trait, intent, or action of the character depicted. #DisruptTexts

Steig was awarded the Caldecott for Sylvester and the Magic Pebble when I was one (1971). Steig’s books were not a part of my childhood, my early education, or my young adult reading. I found his books in a survey children’s literature course at thirty. #DisruptTexts

Pulled from our home library are these William Steig titles. I enjoy being a part of #DisruptTexts because the conversations had here lead us all to the discovery of texts.

Here are two excerpts from William Steig’s Caldecott Award Acceptance. The first speaks to anthropomorphism/personification and how this left the artist with what would lead to his life’s work. The second too good to miss. #DisruptTexts

A reason to share William Steig’s work here at #DisruptTexts is to suggest that the complex subject matter presented by this author/illustrator was somewhat eclipsed by Seuss in the 60s/70s at the household (and perhaps classroom) levels. Steig did not shy from pressing issues.

In the tweet that started this thread, we made a fifty year connection between fiction and nonfiction. Here we connect a mouse facing mortality. And a whale that rescues. Read @carlsafina’s work. They talk. They commune. They feel. #DisruptTexts. Discover them too.

@threadreaderapp Unroll me please.