Bridging to the Classics through the Contemporary

*Note: Descriptions above each video.  Captions are links. 

I can’t help it.  I think authors, especially those who write children’s literature are some of the most interesting people on this planet.  These are the folks telling the stories that will shape the next generation.  They’re tasked with creating the character’s that children want to emulate.  Or, the ones that make them think no way would I ever...

While we all know the tales of Treasure Island and Peter Pan, contemporary literature are their stories.  Can you imagine having been among the first to read Oliver Twist?  Times have certainly changed since the age of Dickens and Barrie but I can’t help but wonder how many other “classics” we would have today if 6,500 books a year were published back then.  Would we even remember Johnny Tremain if there was a larger market at the time?

So contemporary or classic?  Well, I’ll admit- I had never read Peter and Wendy or many other classics for that matter.  I blame the classics for kids series, the ones that take the plot and butcher the writing so our younger audience can decode- and then, in my case, detest them.  

This summer I was having this conversation with Susannah Richards, children’s literature professor extraordinaire.  Her thoughts were, “Why can’t we bridge the classics through the contemporary?  I think she could actually hear the ding of the lightbulb turning on up above my head.  You see, a few years ago I read my first real classic, Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.  At the time, I didn’t think, “Now that I’ve finished The Graveyard Book I shall bridge to a classic.”  But, after reading about Gaiman’s inspiration for his 2009 Newbery Award winner, that’s precisely what I did.  

Lucky us.  This summer our book group came across two very talented and very mindful gentleman authors, Adam Gidwitz and Jonathan Auxier, who infuse classic literature into some of the most fun and engaging tales I’ve ever read.  Both A Tale Dark and Grimm and Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes draw allude to stories that have been around for centuries.  Beginning with last summer's meetings, we spent time exploring the writer's process.  The bulk of the questions that elicited these fantastic responses came from 8-10 year old boys.  Enjoy!

I think you’d be hard pressed to find an author today who doesn’t draw some sort of inspiration from Roald Dahl.  Kicking off the discussion, Jonathan takes us through how getting your wish isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. 

(Click on the Caption)

A Little Dahl

Here, Jonathan talks about his inspiration for blinding poor Peter Nimble.  Tell me that after Jonathan reads just this bit from Treasure Island you don’t want to go dig up a copy. 

Treasure Island

This one’s a double-dose.  While Bradbury laid some foundation for characters in Peter Nimble and his Fantastic Eyes, this clip focuses on the importance of reading out loud.  And, as you’ll hear- reading out loud isn’t just for children. 

Reading Out Loud 

Adam Gidwitz discusses the origins of his 2010 blockbuster, A Tale Dark and Grimm.  Not only is he talking directly from the desk the story was written from, he shows us the very copy of Grimm’s Fairytales that laid the foundation for his brilliant work.  

Grimm's Fairytales

I absolutely adore this clip of Adam discussing the importance of storytelling, the actual act of telling a story aloud, an integral portion of the prewriting phase of our classroom’s writing workshop.  I moved to the edge of my seat thinking, “This fall, more story telling.”  

The Importance of Storytelling

As if we weren’t lucky enough, Adam shows us just how powerful the act of telling a story can be.  Note: the students’ gasps and laughter were not edited in after.  They actually happened in all of the right places.  

Story-Time!

To conclude this idea and plant the seed for the next, I’m leaving you with Jonathan talking about the first time we meet the character Captain Hook.  

Arrrr!

I couldn’t agree more with Jonathan.  I need my heroes valiant but even more importantly, make my villains nefarious.  

I certainly don’t set out to give children nightmares.  But then again, I’ve had some involving people I love the most.   But we’ll talk more about that later on  (Violence in children’s literature, not my nightmares).

Until next time, here's some very wise parting words...

Find What Excites You

I couldn't agree more. 

You can find out more about Jonathan at thescop.com and more about Adam at adamgidwitz.com.