Overview

This dynamic book delves deeply into children's responses to literature, and in particular, to works of fantasy. Through close observation over time of children's natural and spontaneous reactions to books they are assigned or choose themselves, Nina Mikkelsen demonstrates how children and adults can engage as equal partners in learning, and also provides important insights into how adults can create settings in which children can experience the joy of literature. Featuring important implications for both literary theory and classroom practice, Powerful Magic: Explores how literature influences children's lives and why children find fantasy so compelling. Focuses on what can be learned from children's responses rather than on what adults might think is important to teach children about literature. Presents rare longitudinal research into children's reading of texts, inside and outside the classroom. Provides an excellent model of the required kind of listening and thinking needed to study children's responses to literature.

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9780807745960

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Reviews

"""If, as Freud said, dreams are the royal road to the unconscious, then fantasy is the royal road into childhood."" - From the Foreword by Laurence Yep, author of The Rainbow People and Dragonwings ""In wondrous detail, this book shows us true literary 'partnership' in which children, teachers, and parents together plumb the deeper meanings of the books they read and come closer to understanding the child's world."" - Vivian Gussin Paley, author of A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play ""There is such a wealth of knowledge and insight here, as well as a passion for understanding children's responses to literature."" - Lawrence R. Sipe, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania ""Nina Mikkelsen is as brilliant as she is original...as insightful as she is accessible. With this courageous book she builds a bridge between the literature and its readers. She opens windows and kicks down a few doors...so the thoughts and feelings and reactions and pleasures and questions and understandings of young readers can fill the 'grown-up' rooms of academic establishments with the certain noises of reaching and growing."" - Arnold Adoff, poet and anthologist for young readers and their older allies ""Nina Mikkelsen leads us through a portal into the world of a child's sensibility. An original, beautifully researched and reasoned book about the nature of children's experiences with reading and hearing stories."" - Barbara Feinberg, author of Welcome to Lizard Motel"""

If, as Freud said, dreams are the royal road to the unconscious, then fantasy is the royal road into childhood. - From the Foreword by Laurence Yep, author of The Rainbow People and Dragonwings In wondrous detail, this book shows us true literary 'partnership' in which children, teachers, and parents together plumb the deeper meanings of the books they read and come closer to understanding the child's world. - Vivian Gussin Paley, author of A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play There is such a wealth of knowledge and insight here, as well as a passion for understanding children's responses to literature. - Lawrence R. Sipe, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania Nina Mikkelsen is as brilliant as she is original...as insightful as she is accessible. With this courageous book she builds a bridge between the literature and its readers. She opens windows and kicks down a few doors...so the thoughts and feelings and reactions and pleasures and questions and understandings of young readers can fill the 'grown-up' rooms of academic establishments with the certain noises of reaching and growing. - Arnold Adoff, poet and anthologist for young readers and their older allies Nina Mikkelsen leads us through a portal into the world of a child's sensibility. An original, beautifully researched and reasoned book about the nature of children's experiences with reading and hearing stories. - Barbara Feinberg, author of Welcome to Lizard Motel

Author Information

Nina Mikkelsen is a former teacher (grades K-6) and Adjunct Professor.

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