"Rumpelstiltskin" by Paul O. Zelinsky.

Essay by scubasteveA+, April 2003

download word file, 5 pages 5.0

Downloaded 37 times

English 328

9 April 2003

The book I have chosen to read is Rumpelstiltskin. This version has been retold and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. This story was one of the original Grimm's tales and also received the Caldecott Honor medal. Zelinsky's oil paintings are filled with emotion and beauty. The detail of the illustrations evokes the brilliance of the late medieval setting and the universal appeal of this beloved folktale.

I chose Rumpelstiltskin because it is a popular children's tale. I wanted to choose a book the children were familiar with so they can participate in the reading. The children participating are in third grade; however, a few may be a little older. Children during these ages are said to be Piaget's concrete operational stage of cognitive development. During this stage a child's ability to think logically is greatly improved from the preoperational stage. The child is practical-minded and has difficulty with abstract thought.

Egocentrism is virtually eliminated by this stage and the child can now understand views other than his or her own (Slavin 36).

In this age group reading levels are quite varied, but consistently improving (Norton 13). "As children improve their cognitive skills, they are also developing self-concepts, ways of interacting with others and attitudes toward the world (Slavin 48)." According to Erickson, children between the ages of six and eight are experiencing the industry verse inferiority stage of the psychosocial development. A child's main influence comes from peers and teachers (Slavin 50).

Another characteristic of children in this age group is the growth in their language development. On average, children speak in sentences consisting of nine words (Norton 10).

It is my opinion that children in this age range are quite capable of comprehending and participating in the reading of Rumpelstiltskin. Their social, cognitive,