Thanks so much to all of you who responded to my question about the suitability of
Goosebumps books on the elementary level. Without exception, the responses favored
including these books since they do get kids to read and that's what its all about!
1. While I don't have any Goosebumps (it's not been asked for), I have other series
such as Scooby Doo and Captain Underpants and a small but growing collection of
graphic novels. I tell the kids, I would put cereal boxes on the shelves if they
would come into the library and read them. The point, especially with boys, is to
give them what they want to read. I have many "classics" on my shelves which rarely
circulate. You are liable to get parent complaints as I have about the quality of
these books. I usually ask, with a smile, if they ever eat junk food. Then I have
research from experts like Sullivan and Aronson and Jim Trelease to back me up.
2. I started volunteering at the elementary school my daughter attended prior to
going to work in the school system. I was really surprised the media specialist had
purchased these books - I remember thinking 'she seems like such a nice person, why
would she order these books for the students. 'Well, I found out why she ordered
them - many students like to read them!! And, when I started working in 'my own'
media center, I made sure we had Goosebumps too - although I like to try to get
them donated from a home collection a high school student has outgrown - or
purchase them at Goodwill rather than spend several dollars for books I'm not
totally crazy about....
3. Yes, too restrictive. Some kids are not ready for "good literature". These
books have scary covers but are rather tame stories. Nothing too frightening or
inappropriate.
4. I had a box of goosebumps donated at one library. I put a few on the shelf and
they were very popular! I will not replace them as they are worn and weeded -
better material to spend my budget on!
5. From a Middle School LMS:
All of my sixth graders come to me having read Goosebumps, and many of them are
still reading them, while others are looking at the next step up - the Fear Street
books by Stine. My motto - if the kids want them, and they are not really horrible,
I will get them - but I NEVER pay full price. I buy my R.L. Stine's at the used
book store, or, even better, three for a dollar at my hometown library's fall book
sale. I usually come away with thirty or forty titles to add to my collection
(which, by the way, I keep in a large basket near the paperback books.)
6. We do not purchase Goosebumps; however, we have more than enough donated to
suffice for our K-5 library. We create brief MARC records for these paperbacks and
they are very popular.
7. I have them - bought a set over 10 years ago and my kids sill clamor for them.
They are great for hooking reluctant readers. I've had a few parents express
concern and ask me to guide their children toward other books, which I've done
(after 15 years in the same school I know my kids and their parents - our families
then to have 4, 5 & 6 + kids).In terms of bang your buck or price per circulation,
I would say I've more than gotten my money's worth on those!
8. No, they are not good literature, but if it gets them reading, I'd say buy them.
I have students who started reading goosebumps, then graduated to better literature
after having it recommended to them. Buy a few and see what the response is. You
may want to buy more.
9. I have a few hardbacks I bought when we set up the library. I've picked up some
paperbacks as donations and from garage sales. The paperbacks are only minimally
cataloged and I don't mind if they fall apart.
R.L. Stine has deliberately written Goosebumps to be not too scary or crude for
elem. school. But stay away from his Fear Street; Ghost of Fear St. is OK. It may
not be great literature (hence I don't like to use school money for it) but kids
need to keep up their reading skills and they do read these.
10. They were popular when I left K-5 three years ago. I was replacing worn copies
during the year. Do watch out a bit, there are several Stine series, Goosebumps are
fine for the 4-5 set (and probably some 3rd graders), but many of the other series
are more MS. Not 'great literature' but not surprisingly, all the main elements are
there. You could do foretelling, setting, character traits, word choice.... And
sometimes Mac 'n Cheese just fits the bill, other times we try fancy pasta and
four-cheese sauce.
11. My Goosebumps are wearing out and I'm surprised to find that I may replace some
of them. Some kids read them who will not try anything else!
12. I held off as long as I could, because I feel the same as you about good
literature (OBVIOUSLY MY OPINION ONLY IN STUDENTS EYES) I didn't want any "junk" in
my library! Well, aren't I arrogant. After about four years, I broke down and
ordered ones that we already had test for and I had long thrown out the paperback
books. The children love them. I have softened through the years and know now that
WHATEVER they read is READING and that is what is important. I wouldn't like anyone
choosing what I want or my public librarian discriminating against some genre. So
they're here, kids love them and are READING and they get hooked on it and that's
all I need--we circulated 65,000 books last year for 710 students. Believe me, I'll
buy anything (within reason) that they want to read--they've proven their desire to
me
13. We've had Goosebumps for years. First graders need a note from parents if they
want to check them out. I have had no complaints in ten years. I did have a parent
complain about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark though.
14. I felt much the same as you when I began in K-4. After a few years I changed my
tune - I still think the books are gross and brainless but the kids read them and
in the end that is what it is all about. Boys who wouldn't touch fiction started
checking out 3 and 4 at a time when we had a big donation of Goosebumps. My feeling
is it isn't our job to provide "good literature" - a subjective analysis at best,
but to interest the kids in reading. You can always move them from Goosebumps to
Poe! I have to admit I never bought hardbound Goosebumps - I just couldn't do it!I
did have just a couple of parent complaints, and I was careful to put restrictions
on those individual students when I was asked. I was on Alexandria which allows you
to put alerts on certain students so it made it easy to customize checkout options
for different kids.
Marjorie Pettersen
Library Media Specialist
East School
215 Hogan Drive
Torrington, CT 06790
860-489-2303, ext. 235
controller53@excite.com
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