She might like Harriet the Spy. At that age, I loved Caddie Woodlawn, Roller Skates, the Little House books, the Black Stallion books, the Trixie Belden books, and books by Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Enright, Edward Eager, Eleanor Cameron, E. Nesbit and Marguerite Henry. A little later, I became obsessive about Rosemary Sutcliff. It's hard for me to know if the modern child can related to any of these.

It's hard for me to know if the modern child can related to any of these.

Oh Ginger, I feel your pain!

When I began teaching this age, I kept thinking, "Why don't you like the books I liked!" But then I began reading contemporary junior fic and realized it's totally different. sometimes edgy, sometimes funny, issue-laden and so good. The world's a totally different place now.

For my super strong readers, they'll still gravitate to children's classics, but for most readers, especially kids who live in urban settings and are struggling readers, children's classics are way hard. They have difficulty creating a mental picture of the world necessary to understand those books and to decode as they read.

It just takes a while to build up to those.

I should order pizza, right? I mean, there's no supperish food in the house--I can duplicate breakfast or lunch, but that messes with tomorrow's lazy food-providing.

Once again, I'm with the cowgirl.

Careful with the Melatonin pills. I've heard rumors of liver problems with prolonged usage... but then again, I suppose that is true of any drug ya take. Anyhow, check for side effects.

I should order pizza, right?

Yes. with mushrooms. online. Then I can come over and curl up on your cuddle lounger and eat the leftovers.

There will also be chicken, Kat. I have to warn you.

what kind of chicken? chicken wings? chicken tenders?

I mean, what am I willing to drive over the hill for? But if I do that, I should wait until I clean out my closet and am able to bring you pretty things to try on.

When I began teaching this age, I kept thinking, "Why don't you like the books I liked!" But then I began reading contemporary junior fic and realized it's totally different. sometimes edgy, sometimes funny, issue-laden and so good. The world's a totally different place now.

For my super strong readers, they'll still gravitate to children's classics, but for most readers, especially kids who live in urban settings and are struggling readers, children's classics are way hard. They have difficulty creating a mental picture of the world necessary to understand those books and to decode as they read.

It just takes a while to build up to those.

I couldn't agree more, Kat. Although I don't often teach children's lit. or young adult fiction in high school, I have had to spend a lot of time building bridges between classic literature and contemporary teen culture. To tell you the truth, it's one of the things I love to do. I especially adore watching my ninth-graders go from hating Catcher in the Rye when they read it over the summer to thinking it's amazing as we study it in class during the first month of school. (And on a personal note, we spend a lot of time discussing the difference between liking books and respecting them since Catcher is not everyone's cup of tea but is a very rich text when examined.)

Grilled chicken, Kat. On top with the mushrooms.

But selfishly I think you should maximise the pretties for me, since I'm culling mine.

Hey, Kristin--did you ever ping those students?