In this course, we will give ourselves permission to go back and explore the power and magic of children’s literature. Why is it we remember books we read in our childhood with a sense of nostalgia? Why do these stories impact us now in ways that we did not understand as children?

In her book, Why You Should Read Children’s Books Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, Katharine Rundell states, “Children’s fiction necessitates distillation: at its best, it renders in their purest, most archetypal forms hope, hunger, joy, fear.” Those emotions may have helped us grow and may have contributed to our identity as adults. The great children’s authors wrote with an eye for truth, and they used magic at times to tell a story. There are times in our lives when those great stories are the only stories that will do.

During this six-week course, we will learn about the life and times of great fantasy authors who have set a high bar for children’s stories through picture books and novels alike. We will also reflect on your own experiences reading fantasy and consider how these experiences may have contributed to changes in your identity, attitudes or ways of interacting with others.

As time allows, we will explore the most recent research that supports the value of how and why these great stories can contribute to a sense of well-being and an understanding of humanity not only for children, but also for ourselves.

Join us to share insights and new revelations as we delve into the world of children’s literature then and now.

Session 1: An overview will be given, introducing the authors and titles that will be the focus of discussions throughout the course.

 >Suggested reading for next session: Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Session 2: The life and times of P.L. Travers and the challenge to keep Mary Poppins true to the story she created.

 >Suggested readings for next session: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and/or The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Session 3: The myth and the men who created them. Tolkien is considered the “father of the genre of the modern fantasy.”

 >Suggested reading for the next session: Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little or Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Session 4: The life and times of E.B. White.  

 >Suggested readings for next session: Bring to class a favorite picture book of your choice to share. We will discuss Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Session 5: The life and times of Eric Carle and Maurice Sendak compared to Mo Willems, the modern-day picture book author.

 >Suggested readings for next session: Reader Come Home by Maryanne Wolf.  

Session 6: Reflection and research on children’s literature in the digital age.