Modern Fantasy: Exploring Enchantment & Imagination in Children's Literature

1. Universidad del Sagrado CorazónDepartamento de EducaciónEDU 324: Elementary Children's Literature in the ESL ClassroomProfessor Naomi Vega Nieves Presentation by: Vanessa Sánchez-Negrón

2. Modern Fantasy

3. Objectives • Explain and describe the genre. • State the types or categories within the genre. • Explain and describe each type. • Inform the best or classic examples of books of the genre and the authors. • Bring samples of books of the genre and types for the audience to see and explore. • Provide examples of books or stories of the genre by grade level (K -2, 3-4, 5-6).

4. What is Modern Fantasy? • Modern fantasy has magic and enchantment! • Highly fanciful and supernatural elements that do not occur in real life. • The story elements break the natural physical laws of our world without explanation. • In modern fantasy the authors are known, unlike traditional fantasy where the authors are unknown.

5. What is Modern Fantasy?(continued) • Modern fantasy has a variety of magical elements. • High quality and well written modern fantasy does not use the elements of magic lightly or casually, it has a specific purpose in the story.

6. Artist: Tony DiTerlizzi

7. Types of Fantasy • Animal Fantasy • The characters are anthropomorphic animals, which means they possess human characteristics. They can think, act, live and express emotions like humans. • Literary fairy tale • It follows the patterns set by the oral traditional folklore but it is written by an identifiable author.

8. Types of Fantasy (continued) • Animated object fantasy • This type of fantasy brings to life inanimate objects like a toy boat, train, doll, a big machine, or a loving tree. • Human with fantasy character • An ordinary human with a fantasy creature are the main characters. The fantasy creature can be a monster, a strange beast, or even an element of nature.

9. Types of Fantasy (continued) • Extraordinary person • The characters are humans who are unrealistic or extraordinary in some way, such as possessing strange powers or unusual size. • Miniature humans • Flying people • Talking with animals • Extraordinary abilities

10. Types of Fantasy (continued) • Enchanted Journey • The story begins in the real world, but the main character is transported to another world, which is often an enchanted realm. • Journey to fantasyland • Journey to the historical past

11. Types of Fantasy (continued) • High Fantasy • Colorful adventure, enchantment, and heroism are the hallmarks of high fantasy (Colbath, 1971). • The protagonist engages in a monumental struggle against a powerful evil force in the ageless struggle of good and evil. • The story may begin in the real word (known as primary world) but the major setting is a self-contained fictional world that is inhabited by imaginary creatures and has its own time frame (secondary world).

12. Types of Fantasy (continued) • Supernatural Fantasy • Explores the possibilities offered by the supernatural. • Beings that exist outside the natural world like ghosts or by powers that go beyond natural forces like telepathy. • Supernatural powers • Communication with spirits and/ or ghost

13. Types of Fantasy (continued) • Science Fiction • Uses advanced technological wonders instead of magic. • Incredible and inconceivable characters and events are given rational scientific-sounding explanations. • The time setting can be the past, present day with some type of secret advanced technology or in the future. • Based on scientific extrapolation in which speculative scientific developments and discoveries are reality.

14. Types of Fantasy (continued) • Unlikely Situation • There is no magic, and none of the characters are a talking animal, live toy, monster, ghost, or other unearthly creature. • The story may have realistic characters and setting. • The key is that the characters engage in completely unrealistic situations. • Example: A maid that takes her household chores literally. When the maid is asked to dust the furniture, she puts dusting powder all over the furniture.

15. Books & Grade Level Artist: Vladimir Kush

16. Examples of Animal Fantasy • Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Nobel • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White • A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond • The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss • Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

17. K – 3rd 4th – 6th 2nd – 4th K – 2nd K – 3rd

18. Examples of Literary Fairy Tale • The Moorchild by Eloise Jarvis McGraw • The King’s Equal by Katherine Paterson • The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Fairytales by Jon Scieszka • The Three Pigs/ Los Tres Cerdos by Bobbi Salinas • Knee-Knock Rise by Natalie Babbitt

19. 4th – 6th 3rd – 6th 1st – 3rd 1st – 4th 1st – 6th

20. Examples of Animated Object Fantasy • The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams • Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni • Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne • Choo Choo: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away by Virginia Lee Burton • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

21. K – 3rd 1st – 3rd 1st – 3rd 1st – 3rd 1st – 3rd

22. Examples of Human with Fantasy Character • The Imp That Ate My Homework by Laurence Yep • There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer • Flossie & the Fox by Patricia McKissack • James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl • The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

23. 3rd – 6th 1st – 4th K - 3rd 4th– 6th K - 3rd

24. Examples of Extraordinary Person • The Borrowers by Mary Norton • Abuela by Arthur Dorros • The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl • Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

25. 3rd – 6th 3rd – 6th 3rd – 6th 3rd – 6th 3rd – 6th

26. Examples of Enchanted Journey • Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum • Peter Pan and Wendy by Sir James M. Barrie • The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen • Dinosaurs before Dare by Mary Pope Osborne

27. 4th – 6th 4th – 6th 6th 7th – 10th 3rd – 6th

28. Examples of High Fantasy • The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien • The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis • The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’ Stone by J.K Rowling • Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor

29. 9th – 12th 5th – 9th 8th – 10th 5th – 12th 7th – 12th

30. Examples of Supernatural Fantasy • The Dragon of Doom by Bruce Coville • Book of Magic: Tales to Cast a Spell on You by Bruce Coville • Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy • A Time of Angels by Karen Hesse • Stonewords by Pam Conrad

31. 4th – 6th 4th – 8th 4th – 6th 6th – 8th 7th – 9th

32. Examples of Science Fiction • From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne • This Place Has No Atmosphere by Paula Danziger • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle • Lost in Cyberspace by Richard Peck • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

33. 5th – 7th 5th – 8th 5th – 6th 7th – 9th 6th – 9th

34. Examples of Unlikely Situation • Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard • And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss • A Series of Unfortunate Events by Daniel Handler • Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

35. K – 3rd 5th – 8th K - 3rd K– 2nd 1st – 3rd

36. Guide Questions to Select Modern Fantasy Books • Is the theme worthwhile for children? • Is the plot original? • Are the fantasy elements of the story well developed? • Is the setting authentic and integral in the story? • Does the author’s characterization allow readers to suspend disbelief? • Is the story logical and consistent within its chosen format?

37. Guide Questions (continued) • Is the point of view consistent? • Does the author use appropriate language that is believable and consistent with the story? • For high fantasy: • Is the main character truly heroic? • Are all the characters plausible in their own setting? • Is the secondary world believable? • Is the quest purposeful?

38. Guide Questions (continued) • For science fiction: • Is the technology convincing? • Are purposeful questions about the future raised?

39. Questions? Comments?

40. References Anderson, N. A. (2002). Modern Fantasy. Elementary children's literature: the basics for teachers and parents (2 ed., pp. 113-146). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Exodus Books - Animal Stories: Fantasy . (n.d.). Exodus Books . Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.exodusbooks.com/category.aspx?id=5906 Funke, C. (n.d.). Amazon.com: Children's Fantasy Books. Amazon.com. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Fantasy-Books/lm/3CELZYQPNOJ7 Popular Modern Fantasy Books. (n.d.). Share Book . Retrieved April 7, 2011, from http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/modern-fantasy

41. Thank you!