美国中小学生要读哪七类书？

常听美国华裔家长对各自的孩子们说，读书，娃们，你要多读书啊。即使我本人，也常常这样提醒自己的孩子要多读书。书是一个大概念，尤其是市面上有这么多琳琅满目的儿童书籍， 我们这些家长到底要让孩子们读哪些书呢？仔细想想，我们大海捞针般地为孩子们选择图书，其实是件很不容易的事儿。

以我家小宝为例，每次去图书馆，已经上初一的他，还是爱看像哈利波特这样的魔幻小说。如果我提醒他读读世界名著，他经常不屑一顾，甚至还振振有词地告诉我，“我读的书，我的同学们也在读。我就是爱看科幻魔幻小说。”无独有偶。在美国亚马逊的购书网站上，销量最高的儿童图书确实是科幻魔幻类图书。这种购书状态间接解释了为什么美国孩子都爱读这类书。

显而易见的是， 不管孩子们多么迷恋哈利波特，他们肯定不能只靠魔幻书籍汲取知识的营养。博览群书，对孩子们同样适用。在美国的图书市场上，一共有七类儿童书籍可供选择。根据孩子的兴趣和年龄，我们这些家长要时刻准备着，随时为孩子们的图书选择做好必要的调整。

言归正传，美国中小学生到底要读哪七大类图书呢？

　　第一类：经典故事。白雪公主，小红帽，属于这类体裁。

　　第二类：历史小说。以过去的历史为背景，和孩子成长有关的小说故事属于这一类。

　　第三类：当代小说。顾名思义，就是和现代孩子的生活与教育有关的小说。

　　第四类：儿童诗集，亦即适合孩子们阅读的儿童诗集。

　　第五类：人物传记类图书。

　　第六类：信息类图书。比如那些以卡通的方式为孩子们讲解科学知识的图书就属于这一类。

　　第七类：魔幻科幻小说。现在的孩子最迷恋这类图书，哈利波特属于这一类。

这七类书，就像七种食物一样，孩子们必须均衡阅读，才能得到全面健康的知识养分。所以说，我们这些家长应该尽量让孩子们阅读这七类书中的每一类书籍，不能让孩子只沉浸在哈利波特的世界里。

值得一提的是，根据孩子们的升学情况，美国学校也在随时调整这七类书中不同书籍的阅读比例。特别需要指出的是，随着孩子年级的增长，信息类图书的阅读量要持续增加。美国中小学现在有一个“共同核心”(COMMON CORE)教学大纲，除了弗吉尼亚和得州以外，美国的其他州都接受这个教学大纲。在这个教学大纲的指导下，在美国中小学，文学和信息类图书的阅读比例是：

四年级： 文学类书籍占阅读的50%，信息类书籍占另外的50%。

八年级：文学类书籍占阅读的45%，信息类书籍占另外的55%

十二年级：文学类书籍占阅读的30%，信息类书籍占另外的70%。

这组数据说明，在美国学校，随着年级的增长，学生要阅读越来越多的信息类图书。换句话说，随着孩子年龄的增加，家长要为孩子提供更多的信息类图书才对。只有这样，家庭才能和美国学校的阅读要求合拍，孩子们才能在阅读中获得最大的效益。

以上的这些儿童图书信息，主要来自最新的美国儿童文学教学内容。为了体会这些内容，美国教授要求美国儿童文学课的学生们做一个大课题：阅读每类图书，体会不同类别儿童书籍提供的不同内容，书写各类图书报告。

以下是我本人在阅读这七类图书之后书写的读书报告。经过这个课题的磨炼，我本人确实意识到，让孩子阅读不同类别的儿童书籍，对他们的知识成长是多么的重要。

　　1. 信息类图书：

　　The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA

　　Schultz, Mark (Author)

　　Cannon, Zander and Cannon, Kevin (Illustrators)

　　New York: A Novel Graphic from Hill and Wang, A Division of Farror, Straus and Giroux, 2009

　　This graphic information book is a detailed introduction of Genetics by a perspective view of an alien, Bloort 138, who needs to explore and understand the life on the planet earth in order to master the genetic troubles on his unknown planet. By the narration of this alien, the evolution of life on earth is explained at different levels: atoms, DNA, RNA and protein. Key scientists for the development of Genetics are introduced as well. Readers are provided with all the essential information about genetics in this well-illustrated book, which include five chapters discussing the human genetics and its clinical application to benefit human beings (ANNOTATION)。

　　This book is a good example of blend-genre book in children literature. In this information book, alien and fantasy are involved as a way of narration. The black-whites illustrations in this book make difficult topic in genetics become easier to understand. The text content of this book is very difficult and not suitable for young readers, although the illustrations are fun for young readers to read. Therefore, this book mainly targets high school students. Science teachers in high schools or colleges can benefit from this book, too. The evolution concept in the book might offend Christians who believe that God creates life. (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: High School

　　GENRE: Informational Book, Graphic illustration

　　142pp。

　　Topics: DNA, RNA, Protein, Chromosome, Genetics, Evolution, Gene Therapy, Genetic Disease, Genetic Scientists

　　2。儿童诗集

　　How to eat a poem & other morsels: food poems for children

　　Agree, Rose H。

　　New York: Pantheon Books, 1967

　　This is a collection of young children poems selected by Rose H. Agree. From Soup to Nuts, Snacks, Tutti-Frutti and Mind Your Manners are four sections on different topic about food, snacks, fruit and table manners in this book. Thirty well-known poets contribute their works to this collection. Traditional and Mother goose poems are also included in this book. Simple and humorous illustrations are provided for each piece of poem. The majority of poems are well-rhymed and easy to read. (ANNOTATION)

　　This poem selection will provide both pleasure and understanding of life to young children. Several poems are narrative to tell stories about life. By reading these poems, young children will learn how to appreciate other people’s work in a non-didactic way. The young children are also able to learn how to have a good table manner and what to eat for a healthy life. Although it was originally published in 1967, this poem book is still suitable for today’s young children (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: K-2

　　GENRE: Children Poetry

　　87pp。

　　Topics: food, fruits, snacks, table manners, healthy life, family

　　3。历史小说

　　Sounder

　　Armstrong, William H。(Author)

　　Barkley, James (Illustrator)

　　New York: Harper Trophy, 2002 (Revised Edition)

　　This story happens in the nineteen-century South where a poor African-American family has a painful struggle in their life. After the father in this family is put into jail and their dog Sounder is wounded by a white official, the boy of the family begins his lonely journey to find the place where his father is in prison and the wounded dog Sounder which wanders around without any trace. In his searching journey, the boy experiences several failures and disappointments. It is his mother who encourages him to be patient and wait for Lord for help. The boy gradually learns the life wisdom with the help of his mother and a teacher whom he randomly meets in a school. After the family has reunion with the crippled father and three leg Sounder, the boy begins to understand the true meaning of life and death under the lecture of his teacher: “Only the unwise think that what has changed is dead。” When both the father and the dog Sounder eventually die at the end, the boy faces the fate with calmness。(ANNOTATION)。

　　The title of the book is a little bit misleading to readers. Although the dog Sounder is the main character of the story, the book mainly focuses on the growth of the boy. As a historical realism fiction, this book also provides a coming-of-age story in which the growth of the lonely boy is well shown. There are many allusions to Bible in this book, which might indicate the religion belief of the author. The mother in the story is a great woman and she is the life guidance of the boy, just like the mother in movie Forrest Gump. Therefore this fictional story could function as a parenting book in which moral lessons are taught in a non-didacticism manner. (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: 3-12

　　GENRE: Historical realism

　　116pp。

　　Topics: family, race, relationship between animal and human beings, parenting, religious education, coming-of-age

　　4。经典故事

　　Cinderella

　　Brown, Marcia。

　　New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1954

　　There are many different versions of Cinderalla in different cultures around world. Based on the French Version by Charles Perrault, this picture book was translated and illustrated by Marcia Brown, an American writer and illustrator (1918- ). This book is written for children aged 5-8. As a universal story, this book tells a well known story about the love and life journey of a mistreated girl (Cinderalla) by her step-sisters and step mother. (ANNOTATION)

　　Although this book aims to target children aged 5-8, many words in the book are difficult for young children to understand. The ending of this version is different from the Grimm’s version in which Cinderella’s stepsisters are blind as a punishment. The happy ending of Cinderella’s stepsisters in this book reflects forgiveness and hope of human life. The fantasy in this traditional children literature book will continue to attract children in the years to come. (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: K-3

　　GENRE: Traditional Literature/Folktale

　　32pp。

　　Topics: love, patience, forgiveness, family and hope

　　5。魔幻小说

　　The Secret River

　　Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan

　　New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011

　　This is a children fantasy book with illustration at each page. Calpurnia is little girl who lives with her parents and her dog. As an owner of a fish store, her father is going to lose his business because no fish are available for sale in the store. To help her family to turn hard times to soft times, Calpurnia goes to a forest that holds a river for fishing. After her gets lots of fish from this river, her father’s store has fish for sale and their life becomes better. However, when Calpurnia wants to go for fishing again, the river in the forest is gone. After asking her mom for answers, Calpurnia finally understands that “The secret river is in my mind./I can go there anytime。” (ANNOTATION)

　　This story has a backdrop setting thus the similar story could happen everywhere. Although no race is mentioned in the text, the illustrations show that Calpurnia is a black girl. This illustration might provide stereotype for African American families where poverty is common. The author uses magic realism technique to tell this fantasy story in which frog talks and the secret river is like a dream. Young readers could learn life morals from this story easily. The story is touching but not didacticism. (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: K-3

　　GENRE: Fantasy

　　56pp。

　　Topics: family, poor life, hope, dream, fishing, animals talking, forest, river

　　6。传记图书

　　Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

　　Carson, Ben。

　　Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996

　　Dr. Ben Carson is a well known neurosurgeon who did a pioneered surgery that separated joined twins for the first time in the whole world in 1987. In this autobiography/biography, he talked about how he grew up from a poor black child into a world- famous medical doctor. In his personal and career stories, he recalled his struggling in his school life (high school and college) and in his career life when he worked as a neurosurgeon in John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. As a conclusion of this book, Dr. Carson told young students that his success in life resulted from THINK BIG. (ANNOTATION)

　　The majority of the book is written by Dr. Carson. However, his colleague Susan Warnick and his mother contributed some writings in this book. Therefore this book belongs to Autobiography/Biography. Overall, his stories are very inspirational to both young students and adults. It is clear that he has strong faith on God and he believes that God gives him his gifted hands. At the end of the book, he criticized American education in an indirect way. He questioned that the public media emphasizes too many news on school sports and music, which might mislead young students for impossible success. His willingness to help and guide young generation is deeply appreciated by me. (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: 6-12

　　GENRE: Biography/Autography

　　224pp。

　　Topics: race, personal dream, Yale University, John Hopkins University, medical field, neurosurgery, family, education, God

　　7。当代小说

　　Maybe I will

　　Gray, Laurie

　　Carmel: Luminis Books , 2013

　　This is a contemporary story about life struggling of a high school girl named Sandy. After she is sexually attacked by her girl friend's boy friend, who is the popular star of the school, her life goes to the wrong direction immediately. To ease her pain silently, she first becomes a thief to steal the wine from a store. Then she is questioned by the store police and deeply hurt by different so called helpers. Peer pressures, sexual assault, friendship, alcoholism or self-destructive behaviors are all described vividly in this book. (ANNOTATION)

　　I feel very sad when I read this book. The girl in the book is innocent but she suffers the greatest pain by herself silently. Friends leave her. Parents do not understand her. Almost no one trusts her. How poor girl she is! This book should be recommended to all the high school girls for the potential warning and advice: Sexual assault could happen anywhere, even in the friend's house. Be careful with peers. Do not suffer silently and ask help when needed. (PERSONAL RESPONSE)

　　GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

　　GENRE:contemporary fiction/Coming-of-age

　　206pp。

　　Topics: high school, tryouts for musical performance, parenting, family life, friendship, peer pressure, sexual assault, alcoholism or self-destructive behaviors。