Symposium discusses children's literature and how it affects us

ANGOLA, IN (03/19/2018) Michelle Blank believes exposure to literature at a young age shapes the way we process conflict and adulthood.

Blank, who serves as the director of academic support at Trine and teaches a course on Children's Literature, will guide her audience through a discussion on relating children's literature to themes found in the Frankenstein narrative.

Beginning at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, in Wells Theater inside Taylor Hall, "Not-Just-for-Children Literature" is free and open to the public, but seating is strictly limited to 75.

"We are all shaped by our early exposure to children's literature," stated Blank, "Hopefully those experiences during childhood prepared us to then address the more complicated themes of adulthood, like those explored through Frankenstein."

In this presentation, students from the Children's Literature course will each share a book talk on a piece of children's literature that touches upon a theme found in the Frankenstein narrative but relays that idea at a child's level of comprehension. Blank will tie these book talks in with her larger discussion on how we are all shaped by our exposure to literature as children.

"Children's literature isn't just for children," said Blank, "Come to hear, and maybe participate in, some of these wonderful book experiences."

The Humanities Symposia is presented by Trine's Department of Humanities and Communication. For more information, contact Jeanette Goddard, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication, at (260) 665-4730 or goddardj@trine.edu.