It is hard to imagine a book that could take the wonder of children's literature and more thoroughly destroy it. The cover illustration makes you feel momentarily safe. Then the texts begins and hope is slowly and mercilessly trodden into the dust. Take this for example:
"Another approach to the study of art is recommended by Stephen F. Eisenman and Thomas Crow, who use art criticism that focuses on the relationship between art and ideology, the economic and social conditions expressed in the art (a Marxist approach to criticism)."
Now pause briefly and consider this is a book about *children's* literature. Let us continue to some questions that should be used in this analysis:
"What role does class play in the work of both the artist and the viewer?
In what way might the artwork serve as propaganda?
What is the dominant ideology that the artist challenged?"
I'm now preparing to write a whithering review of the oppression inherent in the "Cat and the Hat".
All of this wouldn't be so bad if books were actually presented. Instead we get lots of small type with a reference to a random children's title in every other paragraph and the impression that children's literature is either dominated by the enlightened academic class or club wielding classist Neanderthals. You know, the kind that make you read books like "Through the Eyes of a Child".
DO NOT USE THIS IN YOUR CLASS. You will be torturing your students in a manner not allowed by the constitution. Hopefully, that at least, will carry some weight. |
Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children's Literature (7th Edition) Books In Print, Audio Books.