Format Blending for Reluctant Readers
By Kathleen Leaf
Author Dr. Fawzia Mai Tung kicks off her May Fairy series with The Wonderful Tale of Donkey Skin. As discussed in a previous post, Dr. Tung started this series with the aim of attracting reluctant readers (those who have the skill to read but are hesitant to) at the middle-grade level (between the ages of 8 and 12). As a librarian, Kathleen knows how important it is for children to develop positive reading habits. The Wonderful Tale of Donkey Skin—the first in the May Fairy series—appeals to these ambivalent readers by deftly blending oral storytelling with a pseudo-graphic novel format.
The book recounts Charles Perrault’s tale, Donkey Skin. This is no mere retelling, however. The story of Princess Gomikky and her adventure is told as a dialogue between the main characters, Grandma Nainai, and her grandson, Zakiyy. A comic…
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Author Elyse Draper 