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Introduction and rationale

Hello, and welcome to my bibliography for LLED 441. In the following posts, you’ll find a set of books that I’ve intended for you to follow, from The Lorax to The Hunger Games. The following fifteen books will focus on the theme of good vs. evil for ages 5-12. The coexistence good and evil has always been characterized as a common dichotomy whether it is in religion, media, literature or ethics. From a young age, we have been taught that: “good always conquers evil” from children’s books and movies. The fifteen chosen books use this as the central theme with good and evil coming in all forms, from superheroes to villains to bullies at school. I believe the most influential way to convey a message about good and evil to youth is through the use of children’s literature. Young readers immerse themselves enthusiastically in extravagant, epic quests: viscerally satisfying showdowns between good and evil. Fictional stories provide a different avenue to express the importance of life morals to the youth of today and many more to come. The moral sent to children through the following books is to teach good from evil and instilling these values at a young age can help shape the child’s value set and prepare them for moral dilemmas they may find themselves subjected to in the future. Children are fascinated by stories of good and evil – to believe that we have the power to save as well as be saved. It ultimately enhances our imaginations and aspires us to dream, to go beyond what we have previously known.

As you progress through the book list, you’ll notice that the literature presented to the reader develop in accordance with the reading difficulty and the skill level required. This guided reading is a teaching approach designed to help individual readers build an effective system for processing a variety of increasingly challenging texts over time. As you progress through the book list, the stories slowly evolve, teaching and applying the concept of good vs. evil. By progressing through this levelled approach, readers are able to learn more about themselves and reinforce self-belief and learn to develop certain capabilities in relation to good and evil. Furthermore, because this is a theme of good vs. evil, it allows readers of all levels to easily immerse themselves within the book list. For example, the corruption of good by evil is fascinating in storytelling because it gives the audience a chance to view redemption and hopefully take that into their everyday lives. Good versus evil is something that plays out every day, and seeing it laid in literature offers helps us to cope with the evils of the every day as we always hope that good will prevail. The theme of good vs. evil is very easy to bring to children, and will stick with them for years to come. With this book list, I hope to make reading both a fun and positive learning experience for its users.

Word Count: 502

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Monster Needs His Sleep by Paul Czaja and Wendy Grieb

Ages 2 to 6

In this playful, rhyming story, a boy is trying to get Monster to go to sleep but Monster has other ideas. Finally, Monster goes to sleep after the boy helps him conquer his fears. Monster shows young readers that, with a little help from a friend, the dark isn’t that scary after all.

Czaja, Paul, and Wendy Grieb. Monster Needs His Sleep. Mighty Media Kids, 2014.

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Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster by Mike Wohnoutka

Ages 3 to 6

Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster is a touching read aloud about developing friendships. The Little Puppy wants to play, meanwhile the Big Green Monster has no interest. An unexpected twist begins a friendship that will touch any reader’s heart.

Wohnoutka, Mike. Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster. Holiday House, 2015.

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Super Fly: The World's Smallest Superhero! by Todd H. Doodler

Ages 5-7

This is the story of Eugene Flystein, a small housefly, who also happens to be the world’s smallest superhero and humanity’s greatest crime fighter. Him and his trusty sidekick Fantastic Flea, take on Crazy Cockroach and his army of insect baddies. It’s housefly vs. cockroach in this ambitious battle of good vs. evil.

Doodler, Todd H. Super Fly: The World’s Smallest Superhero! New York: Bloomsbury, 2015.

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How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

Ages 5+

In a town called Whoville there lives merry Christmas-lovers called the Whos, and just outside of Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a foul character who hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos. Yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try befriending the Grinch.

Seuss, Dr. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. New York: Random House, 1957.

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The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Ages 5+

When the Lorax’s beloved Truffula Trees are hacked down to make Thneeds by Once-ler, he protests angrily. The greedy industrialist Once-ler won’t stop until the last Truffula is chopped down and the surrounding ecosystem is hopelessly polluted. The book is commonly recognized as a fable concerning the danger corporate greed poses to nature.

Seuss, Dr. The Lorax. New York: Random House, 1971.

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Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

Ages 5+

When Judy and Peter find a board game in the park, they take it home, hoping to alleviate their boredom. One live lion, an erupting volcano, and a dozen destructive monkeys later, the children are no longer bored. Their jungle adventure game has magically transitioned their normal house into an exotic jungle.

Van Allsburg, Chris. Jumanji. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1981.

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Say Something by Peggy Moss

Ages 6+

At this school, there are children who tease, bully, and hurt other kids by ignoring them. The girl in this story sees it happening, but she would never do these mean things herself. One day, something happens that shows her that being a silent bystander isn’t enough. Will she take some steps on her own to help another kid?

Moss, Peggy. Say Something. Tilbury House Publishers, 2013.

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Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novels #1: The Discovery of America by Geronimo Stilton

Ages 7+

Geronimo Stilton travels through time in order to defend history from his arch nemeses, the Pirate Cats. These devious enemies plan to travel back in time in order to change history to make them supreme rulers of Mouse Island. In 1492, Geronimo joins Christopher Columbus on his voyage from Italy to America in order to stop the Pirate cats and save Mouse Island.

Stilton, Geronimo. Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novels #1: The Discovery of America. Papercutz, 2009.

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The Lunch With by Deb Lucke

Ages 7+

Grunhilda, the Lunch Witch, enjoys scaring the kids until she meets a timid little girl named Madison who becomes an unlikely friend. Madison needs help at school and at home, but helping people goes against everything Grunhilda’s believes in as a witch! Will this girl be able to thaw the Lunch Witch’s cold heart?

Lucke, Deb. The Lunch Witch. Papercutz, 2015.

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Maggie and the Pirate by Ezra Jack Keats

Ages 8-12

Maggie, a little girl in a remote rural community, has her pet cricket stolen from her. The only clue was a note left behind from a pirate. So, Maggie and her friends set out to find the pirate’s hideout, made surprising discoveries, and overcame fears.

Keats, Ezra Jack. Maggie and the Pirate. Four Winds Press, 1979.

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Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Ages 8+

In this book, there exists many good and evil characters in the book. Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up; Tinker Bell, the fairy who hates Wendy and nearly kills her; Captain Hook, the evil pirate; and the three children. The children, Wendy, John, and Michael, fly off with Peter Pan to Neverland, where unexpected adventures happen  

Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan. Random House Children’s Books, 1991.

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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and Pauline Baynes

Ages 8+

Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.

Lewis, C. S., and Pauline Baynes. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.HarperCollins, 1994.

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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Helen Oxenbury

Ages 9+

A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters. This book portrays a clear depiction of good and evil. One key example lies within the Queen of Heart’s actions and a good moral that is conveyed is that Alice acquired the confidence and courage to break free from rules to become the person she aspires to be.

Carroll, Lewis, and Helen Oxenbury. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Candlewick Press, 1999.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Ages 9+

After 10 miserable years with his aunt and uncle, Harry Potter is invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry Potter is a young boy who finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. New York: Scholastic Press, 1998.

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Ages 11+

The rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition, the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl from each of the twelve are selected by lottery to play and the winner brings riches and favour to his/her district. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen’s skills are put to the test when she volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her younger sister.

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008.