tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post2731893976234396112..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: In Praise of The Great William SteigTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-76678520104303602622012-03-23T13:55:22.104-07:002012-03-23T13:55:22.104-07:00Our library didn't have Rotten Island, but I p...Our library didn't have Rotten Island, but I put it on Inter-library Loan, instead they purchased it. Anyways, I finally got it, and read it to the girls last night. Then we spent all morning drawing monsters. It was fun. Thanks!Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12146270736158297146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-76829108731881637222011-10-12T17:50:50.841-07:002011-10-12T17:50:50.841-07:00A rotten island is not reality. When is the last t...A rotten island is not reality. When is the last time you heard of Pigeons pecking out human eyes or someone had to dance it red hot iron shoes until they died?!<br />The average american parent probably over-protects their child from death. <br />But can we please remember that some children are more sensitive than others and do not need their anxieties affirmed?Eliza P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07291195031630421676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-51335674710991822742011-10-12T05:37:18.614-07:002011-10-12T05:37:18.614-07:00My son received a collection of William Steig stor...My son received a collection of William Steig stories when he turned 3. We read a few of them, but set the book aside because I think they were too much for him--especially The Amazing Bone. I know many parents are more comfortable with exposing their kids to intense or dark subjects, but my own son is already suspicious and fearful of people he doesn't know, nearly cripplingly so, that I don't think he needs the extra knowledge right now that there ARE bad people and bad things in the world. He will learn it soon enough.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-28163250754820277682011-10-11T21:25:50.068-07:002011-10-11T21:25:50.068-07:00I have also always enjoyed William Steig, with my ...I have also always enjoyed William Steig, with my children. I do think they appreciate the trick played on the fox at the end by Dr. Desoto.And they appreciate the sense of urgent danger as well.<br /><br />I agree that children can handle danger and some darkness in their stories now and then.<br /><br />BrendaMullin Avenue Workshophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-24882136992272078842011-10-11T19:30:53.636-07:002011-10-11T19:30:53.636-07:00I've found that when children make up a story ...I've found that when children make up a story themselves, and this is something I do with 4- to 5-yr-olds, they often include the grim and unhappy themselves. Animals get eaten or die, children fight, etc etc. Children are interested in the dark side, without a doubt, and NEED to experiment with dark ideas. Bravo- great post.Aunt Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799746597313773030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-54020804216860918032011-10-11T16:57:03.367-07:002011-10-11T16:57:03.367-07:00Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is the book I most ...Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is the book I most remember from my own preschool days. I learned appreciation for things that are just a bit sad and don't have perfect happy endings. Thanks for bringing up William Steig! - JaninaJaninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14539172148938944281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-38065374723001473062011-10-11T14:18:38.280-07:002011-10-11T14:18:38.280-07:00I have never been introduced to these books. Altho...I have never been introduced to these books. Although my two are not quite ready (specifically, my easily spooked daughter), I will definitely pick some of these up and introduce them soon.Cave Mommahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02446689918377947144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-36311695167696688222011-10-11T14:10:49.326-07:002011-10-11T14:10:49.326-07:00Sylvester and the Magic Pebble was my very favorit...Sylvester and the Magic Pebble was my very favorite book as a child - I still have my own very worn copy of it. Charlie thought it was very sad and kind of scary, and I guess I understand why. Abel's Island is my other favorite book by Steig. I loved teaching that book in Literature Circles at school. He is such an amazing author.Shellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03732673603804548204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-35835172288730560832011-10-11T10:23:48.719-07:002011-10-11T10:23:48.719-07:00Oh, so well said! I have some squeamish parents i...Oh, so well said! I have some squeamish parents in my group who wonder why I include Steig's books (and others in a similar vein); I'll have to direct them here. Thanks!Lisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16004349018085389442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-50747196009122236072011-10-11T08:50:50.586-07:002011-10-11T08:50:50.586-07:00I couldn't agree more. Addison (my son) and I...I couldn't agree more. Addison (my son) and I have enjoyed reading Steig's books. I have a slightly tattered copy of The Magic Pebble from my own childhood and it is one of our favorite books to read together. I did not know about Rotten Island..I am going to the library today to request it!<br /><br /> We had some friends send us a copy of Roald Dahls The Twits last year for Christmas. Addison was not quite 4. I started to read it to him and I was afraid he might be scared or think it was too gruesome. As it turned out, he couldn't get enough of it and it led to a Roald Dahl-a-thon. We read BFG, Fatastic Mr. Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Minpins..I was surprised my 4 year old would a) actually sit through readings of these books with very little pictures and b) really enjoy these very dark stories!Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16578777299563079924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-53750687653046433642011-10-11T07:23:35.329-07:002011-10-11T07:23:35.329-07:00Thanks for this post and for not being afraid of t...Thanks for this post and for not being afraid of the less-than-perfect ending. I still remember finding the original Little Mermaid, the one where she doesn't get the prince, and I found it infinitely more beautiful and heart-breaking than the Disney version. It's still one of my favorites and while we have some of the watered-down movies in our home, we keep the original stories there too.RobynHeudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11549257304859673021noreply@blogger.com