25 April 2007
From Picture Books, to Chapter Books to Movies
Chapter books force the imagination to work because they have so few illustrations! I love her chuckles while I'm reading, prompting me to appreciate the subtle humor, letting me know she comprehends. It is also fun to place the bookmark and anticipate the next chapter "tomorrow".
We started our first chapter book, "Charlotte's Web", after watching the new movie with Dakota Fanning. It was one of the best renditions from a book to movie that I've ever seen, so reading the book to my daughter, I noticed there wasn't much room left for her to apply her own imagination. Her attention wavered so I didn't push it. Instead I'll introduce it again when the movie isn't so fresh in her mind.
Our next choice, "The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh." We just finished, and loved it! So, yesterday, while watching the Disney channel, I hear her thrilled voice, "Mama, Mama! Pooh is coming. Darby and Pooh Mom!" She jumped up and down, ran all around so excited.
I'm curious for it to start too. They've only been advertising for the last 3 months! How much will it be like the book? Instead of Christopher Robin, they have chosen a girl character. Will it be the same? Should it be the same? Will Eve be as enchanted by the cartoon as she was by listening to the stories? Will her imagination coincide with their illustrations?
Before I even began pondering these fleeting thoughts, jumps for joy became the start of a mini-tantrum. "It's NOT on yet! When Mama? WHEN?" Tears welled up, the ones she has been expressing lately when she doesn't get her way. "It's NOT coming on! It was just the theme song music video." Disappointment with a capital "D"!
I don't blame her one bit. I want to give her a definite answer, so we log on to the Web site. Not until May 12th!??@#! Another month away? We find the calendar so I can illustrate as best I can how long she'll have to wait. "It's like counting down for your birthday," I suggest to distract her let down feeling. I don't blame her, the concept of time is confusing!
Another example of a classic book transformed by audio/visual media is Curious George. It just so happened that the first episode she watched on PBS was the exact story we had just read the night before. I was struck by her reaction. Just as George gets "curious" and starts to get into trouble, she came racing into the kitchen, scared and didn't want to watch the end. Reading had not initiated that strong of a reaction. I guess the dramatic music and George's animated expressions were contrary to her imagination.
As a parent in today's media crazed culture I will be vigilant. I'm not going to ban TV. I'm going to remember to explain to my children that their imagination will be different from the illustrations they'll experience on screen. We'll read the book FIRST before seeing the movie, and I'll be attentive not to be caught up by the merchandising behind the film.
Most importantly, I'll READ ALOUD Always!
For more information, check out Common Sense Media