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From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 18 Oct 2004
Time: 17:27:24 -0500
Remote Name: 205.188.116.201
Kim, I'm glad you are finding the suggestions made in the paper interesting. When a child is old enough to place themselves in the shoes, so to speak, of a book character, identifying with the character, vicariously experiencing the character's joys and tribulations, and able to apply insights gained from doing so to their own situation --- a prime goal of bibliotherapy is to help people find ways to change their perceptions and actions by learning from the similar plights of others --- that child would be old enough to successfully experience the benefits of bibliotherapy. So, it could be appropriate for very young children. One of my key goals for writing Jason's Secret was to show how hiding problems doesn't solve them; it only makes them worse. So, since we all have problems or aspects of ourselves we, at times, would like to conceal, I think it is an appropriate book for any child from 4-8 years old. And you may find other novels are, too. Novels, distinct from poetry and personal sharing, provide enough scope, i.e., character traits and characteristics of the individuals, time and place, story, meeting and dealing with a crisis, for most to find something to identify with and learn from in a readily personal way. Classrooms introducing cultural, societal, and individual differences surely could utilize a novel where stuttering is a feature. Thank you so much for expressing your interest in applying bibliotherapy. Good luck. Ellen-Marie Silverman