Book Pathway EDO3472 Semester 1, 2018

A House for Hermit Crab

- 1991

A House for Hermit Crab - 1991

By Eric Carle

By Eric Carle

Themes

• Sharing
• Year
• Dwellings

Sharing

Picture books verbal and visual text creates distinctive meanings that are exclusive to the picture book form (McDonald, 2018, p. 153). It helps support children’s knowledge about the world. Therefore, it is vital that children exposed to literature that is along with topics which might be rich and offer treasured learning experiences, such as 'Sharing' in Eric Carle’s narrative ‘A house for Hermit Crab.’ Sharing is one of the three themes explored through the narrative. Sharing is a vital life skill as sharing teaches children about compromise and fairness. Children learn how to take turns and negotiate and how to cope with disappointment (Raising Children Network, 2017). This necessary social skill provides foundations for social interactions that children learn so they can make and keep friends, play cooperatively and understand that others have needs and wants as well.

Children’s literature is valuable because it nurtures personality and social development, children are sensitive all through their childhood literature can assist them to grow to be caring, sensible, and friendly human beings. Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget says that once students pass from the pre-operational to the operational stage of cognitive development, they grow to be much less selfish. while students in preschool and kindergarten can be centred entirely on themselves, when students get older they start to consider the emotions and viewpoints of others. Being capable of recognizing different people’s views and to no longer be selfish are essential capabilities that adults should nurture in children, children’s literature can foster social development by way of encouraging students to accept different people and their differences only. (Norton, 2010, p. 27). This subject has an important place in children’s literature as it is in the early years where the development of this skill first starts and offers the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of the concept.

Sharing

The Very Hungry Bear goes fishing to catch a fish for dinner, bear instead meets a very friendly

polar bear, a long way from home. When the polar bear suggests a trade his pile of fish in exchange for a new home, Bear can’t resist. The two bears go on a quest through the forest to find the polar bear a new place to live. Young readers will develop an appreciation for sharing and helping others. Page 13 the book uses the word ‘share’. When bear is helping polar bear find a home they ask other animals and he gives them a fish for their help. At the end of the book when polar bear finally has a new home bear has only one fish left and decides to give it to polar bear as a house warming gift.

The Very Hungry Bear (2012)

Nick Bland (Author and Illustrator)

Picture Book

3-7 Years

The Rainbow Fish (1992)

Marcus Pfister (Author and Illustrator)

Picture Book

3-7 Years

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)

L. Frank Baum

Novel

8-12 Years

Room on Our Rock celebrates the truth that there are two sides to every story. This picture book has one story that can be read two different ways. There are two seals perched on a rock, when two others a parent and child are looking for somewhere to rest. When read from front to back, the seals believe there is no room on their rock for others. But when the book is read from back to front, the seals welcome others to shelter on their rock. A heart-warming story about sharing and compassion. Older readers can also make a connection to social issues such as sharing the country with refugees.

Room on Our Rock (2018)

Jol and Kate Temple

Picture Book

7-10 Years

Year

A Year on Our Farm (2002)

Penny Matthews

Picture Book

3-8 Years

All Through the Year (2010)

Jane Godwin

Poetry Picture Book

2-7 Years

In A Year on Our Farm, one of the children who lives on a farm shares his year with the reader. He details the monthly activities and happenings. Each month is shown in a double page spread, with the relevant season named and the key events presented both in the story and the illustrations. As fiction, A Year on Our Farm can be read as a simple story. At the same time, the nonfiction elements introduce months, seasons and farming to young readers.

Town (2007)

James Roy

Short Story

11-17 Years

Leaf Litter (2006)

Rachel Tonkin (Author and Illustrator)

Long Picture Book

6-13 Years

Dwellings

A Home for Bilby (2004)

Joanne Crawford

Picture Book

3-6 Years

Way Home (1994)

Libby Hathorn

Picture Book

8-12 Years

Sticks and Stones, Animal Homes (2014)

Tai Snaith

Poetry Picture Book

3-8 Years

H.O.U.S.E (2010)

Aleksandra Machowiak

Information Picture Book

12-16 Years

H.O.U.S.E (Habitable Objects Unique Spatial Extraordinary), is exemplified by its examination of 35 unusual modern houses from all over the world. Each house is shown with its creator, plans, labelled diagrams and a chirpy description of the house’s objective. A system of icons provides more information. The houses are shown within their settings, whether they are underground, or up a tree. The result is an intriguing set of highly original dwellings, presented in an easy-to-digest format, which may well inspire young readers to take another look at the spaces we live in.

References

McDonald, L. (2018). A Literature Companion for Teachers (2ND edn). Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA). Newtown, New South Wales.

Norton, D. Norton, S. (2010). Through the eyes of a child: An Introduction to Children’s Literature (8th edn). Boston.

Raising Children Network (2017). Friends and Siblings/Sharing: Sharing and Learning to Share. The Australian Parenting Website. Retrieved From http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/sharing.html

Scholastic. (n.d). The Very Hungry Bear. Scholastic Teacher Notes. [PDF]. Retrieved from http://resource.scholastic.com.au/resourcefiles/8097337_66334.pdf

Booktopia (2018). Picture Books and Early Learning: Room on Our Rock. Retrieved from https://www.booktopia.com.au/room-on-our-rock-kate-temple/prod9781742764108.html

Reading Time. (2018). The Children’s Book Council of Australia: Room on Our Rock. Retrieved from http://readingtime.com.au/room-on-our-rock/

Scholastic. (2015). The Store: A Year on Our Farm. Retrieved from https://shop.scholastic.com.au/Product/522747/A-Year-on-our-Farm

Magpies Magazine (2018). Talking About Books for Children, Book Information: H.O.U.S.E. Retrieved from https://www-magpies-net-au.ezproxy.usq.edu.au/book-info?booksno=20706