Fab 4-Modern Fantasy

Chapter 6 Modern Fantasy

Chapter six in The Joy of Children’s Literature discusses the genre of Modern Fantasy. According to Johnson “Modern fantasy has the ability to take us beyond the world as we know it, defying the natural laws of physics, to a world where animals talk, people can perform magic, and other worlds exist. Because of the never- ending ability that the mind has to imagine the categories of modern fantasy almost seem never-ending as well. Some of these categories include animals, toys, miniature worlds, time warps, magical powers and preposterous characters in out of this world situation.

The joy of teaching using modern fantasy comes from the ability to take an abstract concept or complex idea that would normally be hard to cover in a classroom setting and pairing it with a book that lets the reader explore the concept for themselves, developing connections to themselves as well as the world around them. Through reading this text, I have discovered that modern fantasies can be used across many content areas. Categories such as time warp can be used to teach history concepts and scientific principles. The authors of Modern Fantasy have the ability to take the unbelievable and make it believable in the reader’s eyes through the implementation of the basic literary elements. It is because of this that Modern Fantasy can be used to discuss the truth in fantasy, help students discover literary devices and learn to visualize.

Dodsworth in New York

By: Time Egan

Dodsworth in New York follows Dodsworth on his journey through New York City. However although he has always wanted adventure, he never could have planned for a crazy stowaway duck to join him along the way. Dodsworth’s adventure turns into a wild duck chase through New York City. When everything seems to be falling apart and Dodsworth feels like giving up on his adventure, he realizes that he has been on one all along.

Toys go Out Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic.

By: Emily Jenkins

A collection of stories all about the adventures of a group of toys that have come alive. Each toy has its own personality and it shows as they learn about the world in which they live and their place in it. In addition, each story teaches a lesson that kids can connect with.

Hugo Cabret

By: Brian Selznick

This is a story about a young orphan boy, named Hugo Cabret, who secretly lives in the walls of a Paris train. As a lockmaker’s intern, Hugo works part time to keep the clocks in the station working properly. With the rest of his time, he works tirelessly to repair a mysterious mechanical man called an automaton. One day a mean old man, who runs a toy booth discover Hugo and his notebook containing the private drawings of the automaton, quickly turning the book into a fast paced mystery.