The Mystery in the Old Schoolhouse: Why Children's Book Series Have Been Wrongly Excluded from the Classroom

Thesis advisor: Susan MichalczykChildren's series books have historically been frowned upon by educators and librarians alike. Due to this, thousands of the books have been disregarded as the equivalent of ‘trashy' literature for children, and have thus been excluded from the classroom. How has this scorn gained credence? Are series legitimate reading material for children? This paper explores the history and the beneficial uses of children's series books in the classroom. Series books aid in the teaching of reading and provide a forum for children to gain literary confidence. They also assist in the learning of other languages and are instrumental in reading intervention situations. Specifically, this paper considers the literary aspects, practical applications, and criticism directed at the Nancy Drew and Harry Potter series. Examined closely, series prove to be highly educational and indispensable to the formation of lifelong readers.Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2004.Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: English.Discipline: College Honors Program