LSSL 5385 Chapter 1 Review

The first chapter of the LSSL 5385 textbook is entitled; “Why Do We Share Literature With
Children?” I thought the title of this chapter was fascinating because it really made me think.
Why do we share literature with children? I know you are told to read to children from a very
young age, but why? What does it do for these children. Some of the reasons listed were very
thought provoking in ways that I would have never expected. For example, we share literature
with children, so that children can live vicariously through the characters in the book. This is true.
When I think back to when I was a child, I would pretend to be some of my favorite characters in
books and live vicariously through them. Growing up, Harry Potter was just coming out, and I
would like to imagine my life as Harry. Perhaps this is where my obsession with England began?

Another reason listed for why we share literature with children is because it can transmit culture.
This is certainly true, especially now in this day and age. Growing up, there seemed to be very
few books to choose from that discussed other cultures. I have always been fascinated with
learning about how other people lived, but I would always have a hard time finding books that
transmitted this idea, unless I were to look in the nonfiction section. Now-a-days, authors are
writing books that talk about mixed race families, trans-gender characters, cultures of other
races and ways of living. This is, in my opinion, wonderful progress and a way for others to learn.
Where were these books when I was growing up?