I am posting parts of an email I just rec'd here, to ask for your input ...
As most of you know, I love my job as the Children's/Young Adult Librarian here in Upton, and put a lot of effort into planning programs and activities. I thoroughly appreciate all feedback ... so I'm opening this up, sincerely asking for comments ...
- Did others feel this way about storytime this week?
- Are there other issues/concerns about themes or book selections?
(one of my personal favorites, I will happily admit!) is a bit long and didn't seem to hold the younger children's attention in the morning session -- they just wanted to get right to the part with the scissors and glue!Here's an excerpt:
"... As you know, I love our local library, and visit it nearly every week with my kids. We've attended Story Time off and on . . . and always enjoy the songs and stories. I want to express my concern, however, at the particular selection of books presented last Thursday for the preschool age group.
Fairy Houses, by Tracy Kane, seemed innocuous enough -and who doesn't love nature?- but in conjunction with The Care and Feeding of Sprites, by the Spiderwick creators, and alongside Child of Faerie, Child of Earth, Story Time took on spiritual, if not religious, overtones.
As both a woman of faith and an avid reader, I try to foster my kids' imagination while also safeguarding them from darker spiritual elements found in books by the likes of Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi. I realize that discerning where healthy fantasy ends and wicca begins is tricky, but in the future I hope to see our public library choose texts more carefully when reading to a diverse group of small children.
I hope that you won't be offended by my input, but I'm quite sure I'm not the only local mom who would prefer a traditional, wholesome curriculum for our little ones."
(The books that I read, mentioned in this email, are all pictured here, posted on this blog, on September 4th)
Now for your thoughts .... !?
Please feel free to post comments, or email me privately at UptonStoryTime@yahoo.com
thanks!
We haven't had a good discussion like this since December Holidays Dilemma?! back in Dec 2006!
Thank you!
~Lisa
:)
13 comments:
I whole-heartedly agree with the right and responsibility of each parent to choose which material is suitable for their children. Thankfully, Lisa is considerate enough to pre-post the storytime books. This way, parents can preview them and decide the appropriateness for their own children. Having said that, I was at story hour that particular morning, and did not feel there were any inappropriate overtones or suggestive material presented. Lisa is very good at her job and should be commended for her commitment to children's literacy.
Oh my god...all this time I thought the tooth fairy was just that...a tooth fairy...but now to discover she's really a satanic spirt!!!No more teeth under the pillow at my house....
We weren't at the Story Time last week, but my husband and daughter have gone for several years, and have never had an issue with the material presented. In fact, we technically live in Hopkinton, but choose to go to the Upton library because Lisa does such a fabulous job. Keep up the good work.
please, please, please don't get taken down this road - i'm going to be as careful and respectful as i can here, but we all know where this is going - if particular elements of our society are living in fear of fantasy and make believe then, they should stick to a body of work they feel comfortable with, and leave the rest of us to enjoy what makes us happy - it's so hard to comment or reflect on this stuff because you're labeled a faith basher or worse yet, a "liberal" - well, i guess i am a "liberal" and, i do wish to teach our son to think for himself - he will also be taught to treat all people with love and respect or, in a word, be, "nice" - he will not be told that he needs to do these things to satisfy the needs or wants of a cosmic boogieman living in the sky - those are the fairy tales we are wary of and, shouldn't we be given the same consideration? - the public library is a resource for everything and anything our children wish to be exposed to - i'd hate to see that exposure limited by narrow-mindedness and hysteria over fairy tales - you are all welcome to discuss this with me - this is steve martel - and, just for the record, i am a Jesuit educated, Fordham grad. and i've studied theology, and the religions of man, with great interest and great teachers - thanks. - p.s., if you look into wicca, you'll find that it is, not only quite harmless, the basic tenants are the same as every other "religion" - i.e., "be nice" - too bad so few seem to get that straight, no matter what "faith" they find themself tied to. - sjm
I just wanted to share with you that I have only brought my kids a couple of times to Story Time and they loved every minute of it. They listened as you read them the stories because I think your enthusiasm comes through and that is what the children are looking for. I appreciate the time and effort that you put in and I think that you do a great job and should keep on doing what you do.
Keep up the good work, Lisa! Your efforts to communicate are outstanding in the community.
We just returned from the Fairy Building in the forest, what a
fabulous, wonderful morning we spent, as a family, building as a team and connecting with others in the community. The reading in the
midst of the creativity and the children's interest in coming
together to do this was a joy to watch and participate in. So much
better than seeing the children off by themselves with video games or sitting in front of the television. Children have a wonderful ability to pretend and explore their worlds, and very few children's books exist that do not expand on the ability to "make believe" with talking/wrong sized animals or magic situations. It is our job as parents to encourage this exploration of the world and how to relate to what is "story or make believe"
To the original letter writer, I
wonder how your children will relate to a world in which they are not exposed to various thoughts and ideas, and learn to process those on their own. I
I intend to bring up my children to be able to experience all types of beliefs, cultures and countries-and then encourage them to have the grace to allow others to be themselves.
In the world today, with what is true evil out there, this
story time, being nothing more than an event to inspire the
imaginations and joy of children to believe in a little
harmless "magic" did not warrant this reaction. If you would like to spend your time, please direct it toward ending something that truly needs ending.
While I have not been to your Story Time, (my kids are older) I just wanted to say I think you do a wonderful job with ALL the kids. It is quite obvious your love for the kids, the books and your position as Children’s Librarian. You were instrumental in getting one of my teens to pick up a book VOLUNTARILY. Please just remember “you can’t please all of the people all of the time” and please don’t stop the wonderful things you are doing. Please don’t let this comment over the story time effect your plans and ideas for future events.
Just keep up the Great Work!
Frankly I'm tired of those among us who would like to impose their world view on everyone else. I'm not ascribing those values to this mom since I don't know the complete text of her message.... but I'm uncomfortable with her use of the words "traditional" and "wholesome" as they apply to books....shall we start burning books about fairies now?
I think people need to be more open minded, less sensitive, and willing to expand the minds of their children. My question to the person who wrote the message: Did your kids pick up on these overtones or just you?
Lisa,I am so sorry this is happening. Please know that she is only one person and there are many more who only have good things to say about what you do for our children!!!
Hi Lisa,
I know that people are certainly allowed to voice their views and concerns over books you choose to share with our children. Of course, as you know, we were not a part of the book in question, as we attend the LapSit story time, at this point. However, I couldn't let your post go without reiterating what a WONDERFUL job I think you do for the children of Upton. We are extremely lucky to have you as the Children's/Young Adult's librarian of this town. You have brought such amazing programs to us and share your knowledge of literature to even the youngest of our children. I think your endless enthusiasm and your ability to "read the crowd" at LapSit story time is simply amazing! I'd go nuts if I had 10 kids under the age of 3 as my audience... they are all doing something different and yet you still manage to engage them in a book, song, or movement activity. Wow!
Friday is probably our best day of the week, and no, not because it's the end of the work week, but because it is LIBRARY DAY!!! As a former elementary teacher, taking a break to raise my two young girls, I feel extremely grateful to you and the time, thought, and effort you put into your job. Please know how much you are appreciated by the parents of Upton. I know it is hard to not take the concern personally, and I'm sure you are happy that you know of the concern, but try not to "hang onto it". My educational decision was questioned a few years back when I chose to show 2 videos after reading the same novels in my classroom. A parent questioned my judgment about one of the videos and it's appropriateness for the age level and content. Although the movie was a Parents' Choice Award Winner, I felt like it was a personal attack on me, and was aimed to insult my judgment as an educator and a person. I "couldn't let it go" for the longest time... and now wish I had.
I'm really hoping that I get to stay home with my girls a few more years so we can attend your preschool story time. I know that [my daughter] will anticipate the theme of the week, the books, and the craft you choose. And I feel comfortable that it will be just perfect for her and the age group you target!
Our family is so happy to live in a community with such a skilled children's librarian and such a wonderful children's library program!
Thanks for all that you do!
This is like Footloose with Fairies!!! Or CHocolat with fairies!!!
Really Lisa, Last weeks farm theme at lap sit was far too suggestive and had overtones which realy threatened my beliefs as a vegetarian!! Don't you mean
E-I-E-I Slaughter.
:)
I think it is quite sad that a mom who wants the best for her child and expresses herself in a personal letter is so judged by some of you who have posted a comment. If that book was about Jesus or some other Christian-based religion you same people would be up in arms callng for a boycott of the book that was read. That mom has every right to her own opinion if she wants to question something that she feels is inappropriate for her child let her and please hold the sarcasm.
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