Not for early readers, but great for middle school age and up: the Bone graphic novel series! I first read them in sixth grade and they still hold up as an adult, too!
This is FANTASTIC, Alexis! I’m blown away by what I’ve learned. Kudos to you! Also, I choke (due to laughter or horror, who’s to say?) at the thought of a 9th grade version of Dick & Jane 😂
Thank you!! It was fun to research! I feel like I have to leave out so many things I learn too in order to keep the newsletter brief and focused. Haha, what would Dick and Jane be up to at 14 in 1950?!
Our version of Dick & Jane was called Ann & Barry! The pictures and books seared into my brain! Such an interesting newsletter this week and now on a graphic novel deep dive!
Barry!! That feels like such an old man name to me! But I guess so does Dick. Haha. And Jane is perpetually a young girl even though there are no young Jane’s about anymore!! Let me know what great graphic novels y’all find.
I recently read a great article about Dr. Seuss and how his books moved kids away from the "tired" world of Dick and Jane! I will find it and send to you. Also, these graphic novels are great. We've read Owly but not the rest. Do you think you have to read the Zita books first to enjoy the Jack books?
I recently read an article about Seuss being delighted to have moved the readership away from the bore that was Dick and Jane! I wonder if it was the same article? Find yours and I’ll try to find mine!
I’d say the Jack books stand on their own without issue, but it’s fun to have that connection with Zita and her world and adventures when going through the story. But they definitely are two different stories and adventures and don’t require the backstory to love them!
This is so interesting, thank you! We had Peter and Jane here (U.K., or at least, England, not sure if the rest of the U.K. did) in the 1980s, and I think 1970s too, which sounds quite similar, but was, I think, mainly just for infants (age 4—7). It certainly made use of the ‘whole word’ idea rather than phonics. At some point in the 1990s the National Curriculum decided phonics was the way to go, and the Biff, Chip and Kipper books came into play. A heavy focus on phonics doesn’t seem to be doing anything much for England’s literacy levels mins you. Some people have suggested a crazy idea that we focus on getting kids enjoying stories for the sake of it. Ha. That’ll never catch on. 😉
Fascinating! I love hearing what other countries versions are of the Dick and Jane characters! And curious to know that the swing back to phonics doesn’t seem to be the answer necessarily either!!! I’ll be continuing on my reading history series so I’m excited to see what else I learn.
Nice post Alexis! Fond memories of old "Dick and Jane" in the 60's when I learned how to read. But one of my favorite authors in my early school days was Beverly Cleary. I am sure I read ALL of her books by the time I was 10. Jean Stratton Porter was your grandmother's favorite author and she read many of her books when she was 10 (1942). How is THAT for some history! :-)
Beverly Cleary js such a classic and I can’t wait to reread it with my own! Jean Stratton Porter is a new name for me but I can’t wait to look it up! How fun!
Not for early readers, but great for middle school age and up: the Bone graphic novel series! I first read them in sixth grade and they still hold up as an adult, too!
I LOVE Bone, and read them as an adult, but wasn’t sure what age to introduce them, so thanks for the 6th grade suggestion!!
This is FANTASTIC, Alexis! I’m blown away by what I’ve learned. Kudos to you! Also, I choke (due to laughter or horror, who’s to say?) at the thought of a 9th grade version of Dick & Jane 😂
Thank you!! It was fun to research! I feel like I have to leave out so many things I learn too in order to keep the newsletter brief and focused. Haha, what would Dick and Jane be up to at 14 in 1950?!
Our version of Dick & Jane was called Ann & Barry! The pictures and books seared into my brain! Such an interesting newsletter this week and now on a graphic novel deep dive!
Barry!! That feels like such an old man name to me! But I guess so does Dick. Haha. And Jane is perpetually a young girl even though there are no young Jane’s about anymore!! Let me know what great graphic novels y’all find.
I recently read a great article about Dr. Seuss and how his books moved kids away from the "tired" world of Dick and Jane! I will find it and send to you. Also, these graphic novels are great. We've read Owly but not the rest. Do you think you have to read the Zita books first to enjoy the Jack books?
I recently read an article about Seuss being delighted to have moved the readership away from the bore that was Dick and Jane! I wonder if it was the same article? Find yours and I’ll try to find mine!
I’d say the Jack books stand on their own without issue, but it’s fun to have that connection with Zita and her world and adventures when going through the story. But they definitely are two different stories and adventures and don’t require the backstory to love them!
This is so interesting, thank you! We had Peter and Jane here (U.K., or at least, England, not sure if the rest of the U.K. did) in the 1980s, and I think 1970s too, which sounds quite similar, but was, I think, mainly just for infants (age 4—7). It certainly made use of the ‘whole word’ idea rather than phonics. At some point in the 1990s the National Curriculum decided phonics was the way to go, and the Biff, Chip and Kipper books came into play. A heavy focus on phonics doesn’t seem to be doing anything much for England’s literacy levels mins you. Some people have suggested a crazy idea that we focus on getting kids enjoying stories for the sake of it. Ha. That’ll never catch on. 😉
Fascinating! I love hearing what other countries versions are of the Dick and Jane characters! And curious to know that the swing back to phonics doesn’t seem to be the answer necessarily either!!! I’ll be continuing on my reading history series so I’m excited to see what else I learn.
All of this was completely new information to me and such a delightful read. I somehow never connected the dots with Dick and Jane books!!
I’m learning something new every post I make! It’s fun to make those connections and dig deeper into this history as I go!
Nice post Alexis! Fond memories of old "Dick and Jane" in the 60's when I learned how to read. But one of my favorite authors in my early school days was Beverly Cleary. I am sure I read ALL of her books by the time I was 10. Jean Stratton Porter was your grandmother's favorite author and she read many of her books when she was 10 (1942). How is THAT for some history! :-)
Beverly Cleary js such a classic and I can’t wait to reread it with my own! Jean Stratton Porter is a new name for me but I can’t wait to look it up! How fun!