Developing a Literary Canon for Children
How ought a school go about choosing what students read?
In a sense, I have taken a stand regarding what books children should read. My Young Wanderers program includes 30 works of classic imaginative literature that I think elementary-age children ought to read. I left many good novels, stories, and poems out for the sake of narrowing my list, and the works included will likely change over time.
But, nonetheless, I believe that some works of fiction are worth reading more than others, and the former are the ones that parents and schools ought to introduce to children. However, I do not advocate a top-down approach — as in the federal department of education choosing who reads what. Instead, parents and schools can follow some key principles to make their choices.
I lay out a few key principles in my recent article for Discourse Magazine. Take a peek and let me know what you think in the comments!
If you are interested in enrolling your child or a child in your life in a summer reading challenge, check out the Young Wanderers 3-month Summer Reading Subscription Box. Enrollment closes tomorrow, May 31st, at midnight.