Abstracts, Seminar 8 |
The abstracts are copied as received. |
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Personal Stories and Biographies for Children
Expert on Promotion of Non-Formal Education & Children Books Jehan Helou, Palestine
Professor Ilze Stikane, Latvia
• „Memoirs – Personal Histories and Culture“ (Abstract 89 A) Dr. Evelyn B. Freeman, Ohio , USA
• “Picturebook Biographies: Windows into Lives Past and Present” (Abstract 89 B) Professor, Dr. Patricia L. Scharer, Ohio, USA
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"Personal stories and biographies for children" reflecting experiences of children “Living in times of hardship: under war, suppression, deprivation, in exile, etc.”
Palestinian children have been denied their basic rights as a result of dispossession and long years of Israeli occupation and oppression. However, as the Palestinians embraced education and culture as main elements of struggle for liberation, Palestinian Occupied Territory has witnessed important developments in this field. There are serious endeavors in promoting the habit of reading, establishing children's libraries, integrating children literature in the curriculum, publishing quality books for young people and promoting intercultural exchange. One of the most unique experiences in promoting creative reading and writing and encouraging self expression is the yearly competition for children between 8-15 years, to write what is called “ My first Book ”. This experience (more than ten years old) entailed that children write their personal stories or any story of their choice. Most of the stories written reflected their sad live conditions. These stories deserve to be called “ History in Stories” as they reflect the socio-political situation of the Palestinians and have al lot to say about the contemporary life of the Palestinian people. Jehan Helou*Palestinian Section of IBBY (PBBY)
Profile
Main Jobs:
Specific Voluntary Work
Situation of Poverty, Armed Conflict and Occupation (as part of UNESCO program on Collective Consultation of NGO on Education for all CCNGO/EFA Dec.2004-2006)
International Conferences (Selection)
• Participated in many UNESCO Conferences on Non Formal Education for All
EDUCATION• BA and M.A. in Political Science and Public Administration, minor in Literature, The American University of Beirut• Two years, (part-time) towards a Ph.D. in Politics and Sociology Birkbeck College- London University (did not finish)• Library Science Course, Beirut College for Women• Certificate: Adult Education, Croydon College .* Born in Haifa- Palestine 1943
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MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD IN LATVIAN LITERATURE
Abstract The memories of childhood, the literary style characteristic of Latvian literature right from its start are sketches, short stories, novels where the writer's early childhood or schooldays are depicted. Many Latvian writers want to reproduce the feelings of children and teenagers, their keen natural understanding of the outside world – time and space –, especially stressing such traditionally positive values as family, home, nature, work, education. Memories of childhood are described as actual psychological events happening to people. Light, high optimistic spirits, joy of living and a lot of activity prevail in these books. For the most part readers of these works may be both children and adults, because all of them can find something dear to their hearts: emotions, conclusions and therefore it is not possible to define whether this literature belongs to children or grown-ups e.g.
First name: Ilze Last name: Stikane E-mail: Ilze.Stikane@lu.lv Address: private - Matisa 22-25, Riga LV-1001, Latvia Phone at home: +371 67277035; mobile: +371 26545473
I am the President of Latvian section IBBY, PhD, professor in the Department of Teachers Education, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Latvia . My field of research: the specific, history and system of values of children's literature.
(89 A)
Topic: Personal Stories and Biographies for Children
We are requesting that the following two presentations be grouped together in the same seminar because they explore the same topic and complement each other.
Session Title: “Memoirs: Personal Histories and Culture”
Abstract:
This session, “Memoirs: Personal Histories and Culture,” supports the conference theme by sharing memoirs written for children and describing how they reflect an individual's personal and family history within the context of cultural heritage. A memoir presents events from an author's life based on his or her personal recollection. Often a memoir may focus on one particular event or time period. A range of memoirs will be discussed that are grounded not only in the person's own history, but also that of the culture in which he or she lived. For instance, award winning children's book illustrator, Anita Lobel, shares recollections of her childhood as a Polish Jew during the Holocaust in No Pretty Pictures: A Child of War. China's Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution by Da Chen, who now resides in the United States, describes his life as a boy in China from 1966-1976. Ruby Bridges, who was 6 years old when she integrated the New Orleans public schools in 1960, gives readers a glimpse into her childhood in the award-winning book, Through My Eyes. Other memoirs with a strong link to culture and history will be discussed. A booklist of children's memoirs will be distributed.
Presenter InformationDr. Evelyn B. Freeman, Dean and Director, The Ohio State University at Mansfield , is also Professor of Education, who teaches courses in children's literature.
Address and contact information Dr. Evelyn B. Freeman The Ohio State University at Mansfield 1760 University Drive Mansfield , OH 44906 Phone: 419-755-4221 Fax: 419-755-4241 Email: freeman.5@osu.edu
(89 B)
Session Title: “Picturebook Biographies: Windows into Lives Past and Present”
Abstract:
Biographies invite young readers into the lives of people they will probably never meet. Picturebooks provide a unique opportunity to use both text and illustration in unison to bring to life the past and present as well. This session will focus on the stories told in picturebook biographies and explore the range of literary styles and formats employed by authors and illustrators to illuminate the lives of others. Jonah Winter's biography of Dizzy Gillespie starts with Dizzy's troubled youth and moves through his life to a successful career playing the trumpet using a poetic writing style with a strong rhythmic beat. Dad, Jackie, and Me by Myron Uhlberg views the career of Jackie Robinson from the perspective of the author based on experiences he had with his father watching Robinson play baseball. This book links the challenges faced by Robinson as the first black man to play in the major leagues with those faced by Uhlberg's father who is deaf. Other biographies bring attention to people young readers are less likely to know about from their social studies textbooks. Emily McCully's Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor also begins with Knight's early years but focuses on her young attempts at invention, one of which saved the lives of other girls who worked with her in the fabric mills. These books are a sample of picturebooks that will be shared during this session and noted on a bibliography available for participants.
Presenter InformationDr. Patricia L. Scharer's research and teaching focuses on early literacy and children's literature.
Address and contact information Dr. Patricia L. Scharer, Professor College of Education & Human Ecology The Ohio State University 200 Ramseyer Hall 29 W. Woodruff Columbus , OH 43210 Phone: 614-292-2480 Fax: 614-292-7695 Email: scharer.1@osu.edu
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