5-Step Guide: Getting Started on Children's Literature
Getting started on your assignment in Children's literature is not a daunting task, as the plot is easy to follow. The question would be how.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and Toothless make an unlikely duo in "How to Train Your Dragon", published in 2003, yet Cressida Cowell's amusing, if not disarming, narrative about the rites of passage of young Vikings would be anything but uneventful. Hiccup, the son of the Viking chief in the remote island of Berk, is smaller and emancipated compared to other Viking boys of his age. And his dragon would look like a fly if compared to the sea-dragon that would wash up in Berg's shore after a violent storm. You could make your own argument after reading the first few chapters, as Cowell might have found her inspiration from the hobbits of Middle-earth. Moreover, she would remind her young readers that there won't be a shortcut to success. Luck is part of the grand scheme of things, which doesn't apply to paper writing.
Writing an essay on a Children’s literature could be summed up in five easy steps. And you don't need to brush up on your history lessons. It may surprise you, but it's true. All you need is a playful mood (while thinking about your argument), as imagination is part of the (wonderful) process.
Evaluation of Children's Book from a Right Perspective
Check out the illustrations. Writing a paper on Roald Dahl, or any of his short tales, would be easier after looking at Quentin Blake's illustrations. They may seem simple at first glance, yet it's not. (Check out those eyes, as no two characters have the same features.) On the other hand, the illustrations of the young Vikings (from "How to Train Your Dragon" would be far from the dapper look of Harry Potter in the front cover page of J.K. Rowling's novels. First impressions DO make a lasting statement here.
Take note of the heroes and animals. Hiccup is probably the best illustration of the least-likely hero, but he is the latest in the long line of young heroes made from this mold. Dahl would make a name from these (young) characters, with Matilda Wormwood standing out like a sore thumb. (And it's a compliment.) The same thing applies to mammals. (The facial expression says it all.) If you can see the pattern, then it's time to go to the next item.
Weigh the relationships between heroes and animals. It's far from the ideal, if not romanticized, depiction between these characters. Either they are victims or they are searching for their own happiness. Keep in mind that the latter seems too good to be true. After all, you may wonder about the parents. You almost forgot the exaggeration that these authors would come up, as it's the only way for them to catch the readers' attention. You might have doubts about it, as Daniel Handler’s series would come to mind. “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” is an overlapping of genres, and black humor wouldn’t be recommended for the little ones. In this regard, there’s a good reason for letting the kids take the spotlight. Let’s go to the next item.
Check out at their lifestyle. The most striking feature of "How to Train Your Dragon" is the harsh, unforgiving terrain of Berg. It would turn young Vikings into fearless warriors, which may happen too early. Then again, they can't take granted of the humongous dragons, who are sleeping in the depths of the sea for many centuries. They would make the current generation (of younger readers) spoiled, yet a different lifestyle would make them less interesting. And writing a paper can be more challenging than it seems to be.
Read the story again (and again). It won't take a day to read a children's book, and it won't take a few days to write a paper on it. You might have to read it slowly and carefully, which would save you time. (You might have another assignment afterward.) You might state the obvious, but don’t forget your characters. Try to put a good word for them.
Consider the Effect on a Child's Self Image
It would be foolish to write a paper on Children’s literature without taking heed of the moral lesson(s). If you can't imagine it, then look for your (younger) kin and tell your story aloud. (If you don’t have one, then don’t hesitate to approach a stranger. A much younger one.) You can also say it to your roommate, if not a coursemate whom you value his (or her) opinion. They may turn out to be right.
A discussion of this genre would be incomplete without a mention of fairy tales. The original version of these stories is darker than what you read (recently). Children are the protagonists in these stories, which might send a mixed signal to some readers. They are right, but they must take note of the antagonists. Many of them are four-legged characters. The lesson is loud and clear. The appeal doesn’t diminish after all this time. And the story goes full circle.
