Getting hooked on stories this summer...
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20361/G23P40Abstract
Dear Deakin Readers,
In this issue you will find reviews of many new books to enjoy during the summer months, but I know this is also the season of family vacations, festivals, community pools, amusement parks, and beautiful weekend weather. With so much to see and do, I realize how difficult it can be to squeeze in some time for kids (and parents!) to curl up with a good book. If you are about to head off for a family vacation with toddlers, tweens, and teens—whether it’s a trip to a nearby city or a faraway country—I would encourage you to consider a visit to a museum, art exhibition, book fair, or gallery. Many of these venues are child-friendly and their displays encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and an interest in reading.
On a recent trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba, I was reminded that many galleries and museums do a great job making their exhibitions accessible to children, offering activities and workshops designed to engage children to get the most out of their visit. Many galleries are free, such as the Pooh Gallery that I discovered in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park on the second floor of the Pavillion Gallery Museum, where visitors are introduced to an impressive collection of Winnie-the-Pooh books, print ephemera, toys, and art.
One of the posters in the exhibition explains that Winnie, the famous bear in A.A. Milne’s stories, was named after a real bear in the London Zoo, where it was noticed and loved by Milne’s son, Christopher Robin. Of course, many adults know that the fictional adventures of a young boy named Christopher Robin and his animal playmates were chronicled in books that became favourites with children of all ages, but I presume far fewer people know the interesting story of how the real bear named Winnie ended up at the London Zoo (hint: there’s a Winnipeg connection). Visiting an exhibition like this one presents a special opportunity for us to introduce children to a variety of enchanting stories (with lots of visual aids!). Indeed, if there is one important thing we can all do for the children in our lives this summer, it would be to get them hooked on stories.
Enjoy your summer!
Robert Desmarais, Managing Editor
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).