The following is a blog post patterned after a painfully boring "beginning reader," which I listened to some Kindergarteners read today:
See me blog.
See me blog with a dog on my lap.
The dog can nap, nap, nap.
I can tap, tap, tap.
I can tap fast.
I can sip, sip, sip.
My blog is done.
Okay, so maybe my blog isn't done. But really, how dull does a beginning reader have to be? Are we trying to foster a love of reading in our children, or show them that reading will put them to sleep? For the good of all future "beginning readers," I hereby issue this challenge to any writer with the desire to rescue our children from literary misery:
Write an easy reader that is BOTH easy for a beginning reader and at least a little bit interesting. It's not easy to do, but you don't have to be Dr. Seuss to make it work. I've seen very simple, easy books that made kids giggle. Even beginning readers (just not many of them).
Are you up for it?
I am just a bit intimidated to write children's fiction. Where do one start? But--that just means I need to do more research.
ReplyDeleteSad, but true. Easy readers usually make me want to poke my eyeballs out. YOU can do it!
ReplyDeleteTiffany--Easy! You begin by reading children's fiction.
ReplyDeleteSherrie--they make you want to poke your eyeballs out? Is that reading them or writing them? ;-)
I just read one of Arnold Lobel's Owl books with Jordan tonight We laughed our heads off. When Owl is upstairs he misses his downstairs. When he is downstairs, he wonder how his upstairs is doing. Ha!
ReplyDeleteCorey--we have that one! Not quite the time of reader I was talking about, though. My frustrations are with the "See spot run" variety.
ReplyDeleteThis would definitely be a challenge, Rebecca, but I'd love to try writing one one day. Right now I'm working on a MG historical novel . . .
ReplyDeleteHave you tried the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems? Those make me laugh. And Fly Guy - always gross but funny.
ReplyDeleteI'm desperate for books with bigger concepts but easy words (for dyslexics and late readers). Something interesting enough in topic for an older reader but still fairly easy to read.
Any ideas on that one?
Elise--Mo Willems is a genius! I also love Sandra Boynton's board books. They're so cute and funny and short!
ReplyDeleteCrystal--you may get your chance. Just try out this week's JOP Madness challenge!
The books that the kids read at school, the ones published by "educational publishers" to go along with a curriculum, they are often the WORST. Though the ones that have some cute little twist at the end are at least tolerable. Sometimes even pleasant!