Something from nothing: exploring dimensions of children's knowing through the repeated reading of favourite books

Abstract

Witte‐Townsend and DiGiulio explore some of the dimensions of knowing that children, teachers and parents may engage together during story‐time. They reflect on some of their own long‐term relationships with children and children's books, especially Phoebe Gilman's Something from nothing (published in 1992) and Simms Taback's Joseph had a little overcoat, published in 1999. The authors probe issues such as why children ask to hear a favourite story over and over and why they suddenly abandon all interest and move on to a new book. They explore the meaning of the silences that sometimes arise during story‐time, pooling around the young listeners as the last words of the book are read. Witte‐Townsend and DiGiulio remind us of the value of literature in the lives of children and they affirm that the reading and re‐reading of favourite stories enables the understanding of complex human issues and contributes significantly to social, emotional and spiritual growth.

Keywords:

• Comprehension
• Aesthetic values
• Moral development
• Social development
• Emotional development
• Children's literature

Notes

Corresponding author. 109 McClelland Hall, Johnson State College, 337 College Hill, Johnson, VT 05656, USA. Email: [email protected]