There were so many responses that I have had to divide the posting of this second
HIT into two parts. Again, most of the responses were supportive of including
these books since they do get reluctant readers interested in books. So, I am
definitely going to start a collection and have asked my fourth graders for some
donations to get started. Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond.
1. I was the same way when I was an elementary librarian (I think when Goosebumps
first came out), but the principal remarked one day that she saw kids reading who
she had never seen read before and that kids were carrying a book around with them
and reading everywhere, even on the playground and in the lunch room. So that
changed my mind. They’re not that bad.
2. I am in a K-5 library and have had Goosebumps for several years. I have never
had any complaints, can't keep them on the shelves and have found boys will ask for
something similar at which time I can steer them toward "better literature".
3. I have several copies of Goosebumps in my elementary school library. I don't
like to purchase them, but most of my copies have been donated. As a previous
reading specialist, I would agree that these books aren't great literature.
However, I have many reluctant readers (mostly boys) checking out these books and
reading! They are like a series, so they continue to read these books and their
fluency and confidence improves. So, if these books encourage reluctant readers
and improve their reading skills for future reading, then I'm all for having them
in my library!
4. I would be more than happy to donate you a few copies to review/try out in your
library. I have read a few myself and I would also agree that the GB series is far
from what most would call quality literature, but it gets the kids to work that
reading muscle... (This was from Scholastic Books. Thank you for your very nice
offer!)
5. At the elementary school where I worked for the last 5 years, Goosebumps were
VERY popular, starting with some 3rd graders, and more particularly with 4th and
5th grade boys. I've never read one myself, but I never had a parent complain. I
know there were parents who told their children NOT to check them out, but that was
between parent and child. My entire collection of Goosebumps books was donated by a
teacher whose sons were in high school. If you do buy any, I would recommend a very
good binding, such as buying them from Perma-Bound. Why don't you read one of the
books and see what you think?
6. I have tons of Goosebumps and can't keep them on the shelves. I even buy them at
yard sales because they are checked out so much I can't afford enough hardbacks.
Sometimes I get them for 20 cents apiece, so of the tear up, who cares. And who
cares if they aren't great literature. Comic books aren't either, but if it gets a
kid to read, so what. Everything in the library can't be great literature. Some
things have to be just for fun. Just make sure you order the right series. The
media specialist before me ordered a series, (she was in a hurry and was told by
SAC to spend $600 that day) but when they came in they were not for elementary.
They were low reading levels but were definitely for high school. Even the covers
were awful. I wound up giving them to a local high school. I think they were call
Fear Street series.
7. As the mother of two 7th graders, I remember watching them on TV. I thought
they were awful. My personal children love the books. My students also love them.
The books are really worn because they read them over and over and over. My
younger students can't wait to read them. At least there is no sex or dirty
language in them. Order some. I am sure your students will love them.
8. As you see, I am now in H.S. and STILL have my 9th graders (lower reading
levels) enjoying Goosebumps. When I worked in elem. I couldn't keep them on the
shelf from about 3rd grade on. They are definitely not "good literature". They are
formula fiction at it's very worst and I would not read one, much less an entire
series, if you held a gun to my head. BUT, the kids love them. They read them,
discuss them, and recommend them to their friends endlessly. On the up side, they
are published in inexpensive paperback and you can purchase entire series sets very
reasonably. As a friend pointed out to me, how are they going to learn to recognize
good literature unless they have some of the bad to compare it to? Besides, I have
been known to read a Harlequin romance occasionally - AND ENJOY IT(there, I've said
it). Should I deny a budding reader their own trip into the world of mental dust
bunny reading when I am hiding that guilty secret? I never got any parent
complaints. The !
kids that are bothered by the horror genre tend not to read them. The kids that
know their parents will be bothered by the horror genre tend to read them at school
and not let their parents know about it. The parents that are bothered by it and
find out about it tend to tell their kids not to read them and/or ask you to not
allow them to check them out. I can't imagine that you would have any challenges
unless you have a real book NAZI faction. If that is the case, I am sure you
already know who they are.
9. We have Goosebumps and I feel good about it. I think that kids should be able
to read what is of interest to them (and so do authorities on reading). Some
parents object and if they do, I can put a note in the student’s records that the
parent doesn’t want them to check out Goosebumps. (or whatever) Also, I certainly
don’t read ONLY good literature. Sometimes I like to read things that I know are
just trash but they’re fun. Why should kids be any different?
10. I've not had a lot of requests for the Goosebumps books at my current school,
however, we do have several and they are rarely on the shelves. At my former k-5
school library we had a very substantial collection of the series and couldn't keep
them on the shelves. I've always been of the belief that if the students want them,
buy them. I've also found that a lot of students who will not read anything else
will read the Goosebumps books. After they've been reading those for a while I try
to steer them toward more "literary" scary books from authors like Betty Ren Wright
or Mary Downing Hahn.
11. I've not had a lot of requests for the Goosebumps books at my current school,
however, we do have several and they are rarely on the shelves. At my former k-5
school library we had a very substantial collection of the series and couldn't keep
them on the shelves. I've always been of the belief that if the students want them,
buy them. I've also found that a lot of students who will not read anything else
will read the Goosebumps books. After they've been reading those for a while I try
to steer them toward more "literary" scary books from authors like Betty Ren Wright
or Mary Downing Hahn.
Marjorie Pettersen
Library Media Specialist
East School
215 Hogan Drive
Torrington, CT 06790
860-489-2303, ext. 235
controller53@excite.com
_______________________________________________
Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com
The most personalized portal on the Web!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home