Animal stories, mysteries, sports stories,

Mysteries use clues and suspense to help readers develop their powers of

observation.

Sports stories may be about baseball, football,

or flying.

Humorous stories use ridiculous situations, exaggeration, and the

unexpected to create humor.

Animals

In traditional literature & modern fantasy, animals talk & act like people or

have other magical powers.

The animals in realistic fiction have a strong sense

of reality & sometimes tragedy.

When evaluating realistic animal stories, you must consider the following questions:

1. Does the author portray animals objectively, without giving them human thoughts or motives?

2. Does the behavior of the animal characters agree with information provided by knowledgeable observers of animals & authorities on animal behavior?

3. Does the story encourage children to respond to the needs of animals or the need of people to love animals without being too sentimental or melodramatic?

Some authors use animal-against-society or animal-against-person conflicts to

advocate protection of animals.

Other authors stress the human development made

possible by interaction with animals.

Many authors also stress the positive effects of loyalty

and devotion between humans and animals.

Theodore Taylor’s The Trouble with

Tuck

• Emphasizes determination, loyalty, and self-confidence that may develop because of animal and human interaction.

Phyllis Reynolds

Naylor’s Shiloh

• Use several techniques to develop the theme that cruelty to animals is wrong.

Jack London’s Call of the

Wild

• A notable dog

• Story depicts life in the Klondike during the Alaska gold rush

Jim Kjelgaard’s

Big Red

• A mountain boy raises a dog that wins a prize in a big-city dog show.

Marguerite Henry’s Justin Morgan Had a

Horse

• The story of Morgan horse

Mysteries

Mysteries provide escape & enjoyable

reading because of their suspense.

They also suggest that children themselves-if they are

observant, creative, & imaginative-can solve

mysteries.

Donald J. Sobol’sEncyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down

• Lercy solves the case of missing ambassador by reviewing the gifts presented to him at a birthday party.

Gillian Cross’s

Roscoe’s Leap

• Enhances mysterious elements by building suspense

Robert Cormier’s

In the Middle of the Night

• Have a suspense, revenge, and mysterious happenings.

Cormier’s Tenderness

• Presents the portrait of a serial killer

Sports

Many stories deal with the ideal of fair play, the values of

sports, the overcoming of conflicts between fathers &

sons, and the overcoming fears connected with sports.

Karen Raugust (1997) reports a merger between major league sports teams & the publishing of sports-

related books.

According to a quote by the director of marketing for the National Hockey League:

“The sport depends on the long-term development of fans.

Publishing helps to support all of the other fan development

programs.”

Authors who write about baseball often imply that the sport has therapeutic

values.

The emphasis of these books is on the role that baseball can play in

helping children overcome problems at home, develop new

friendships, face physical disabilities, or feel accomplishments.

Matt Christopher’s The Fox Steals

Home• Tells the story of

troubled Bobby Canfield, who is facing his parents’ divorce & the prospect of his father’s taking job far from home.

Alfred Slote’sHang Tough, Paul Mather

• About a leukemia victim whose greatest interest is baseball.

Slote’sThe Trading

Game

• About a ten-year-old boy who matures during his interactions with his grandfather, which is a former baseball player.

Matt Christopher’s

Football Fugitive

• Larry Shope loves football & longs for his father to leave his law practice long enough to watch Larry play.

Betsy Byar’sCoast to Coast

• A strong grandfather & granddaughter relationship.

• It shows that girls can be just as adventurous as boys.

Humor

Authors who write about humorous situations that could happen to real people, allow children to understand that life can be highly entertaining and that it is not always serious.

Sources of Humor

Word play;

Surprise and the unexpected;

Exaggeration; and

Ridiculous situations.

Betsy Byar’sThe Cybil

War• An entertaining story

about a fifth-grade boy who has a crush on a girl

• The war develops as Cybil Ackerman responds in various ways to Simon’s advances, which are intentionally misinterpreted by his best friend.

Beverly Cleary’s Ramona Quimby,

Age 8

• Uses a twist on the words of a familiar television commercial to create a funny incident

Judy Delton’s Angel’s Mother’s

Wedding

• Develops both humor and vivid characters by describing Angel’s worries and imaginings.

Anne Fine’s Alias Madame

Doubtfire

• Occurs when an ex-husband disguises himself as a cleaning woman & baby sitter in his ex-wife’s house.

Joan Bauer’s

Squashed

• Occur when a girl tries to grow the largest pumpkin for the Rock River Weigh-In