Author Study

This month's theme is "Author Studies".  When I choose an author to study with young children, I like to find an author who writes chapter books and picture books.   These two types of books give the children very different experiences. When we read picture books, we generally read them in one sitting; the illustrations join with words to create the overall image of the story.  Chapter books (novels), we read over several weeks.  The children must follow the story line over time and create most of the images in their own minds.

For this year's author study, I chose Jane Yolen.  For years I have been reading Jane Yolen's book, Owl Moon, to children, but I had no idea of the depth and breadth of her writing.  Yolen has written literally hundreds books for children of all ages. 

This month, we will be looking at a very small selection of her works.  The novel we will read is the first in a trilogy.  It is a fantasy called Wizard's Hall.  We will also be reading a variety of her picture books.  If your child enjoys her stories, you will have a vast array of books to read for years to come.