Dahl Dependency & How to Avoid It: Reading Tips For Students
‘Dahl-Dependency’: How to Avoid It
Here’s a challenge for you: can you name six children’s authors, six children’s poets and six children’s illustrators? If you’re struggling with this task then you are not alone. Teachers were asked this question as part of the ‘Teachers as Readers Research Project’ and were found to have a limited repertoire of responses. 744 of the 1200 teachers surveyed named Roald Dahl as an author, 165 named him as a poet and the most commonly named illustrator was Quentin Blake (who is best known for his collaborations with Dahl). These results highlight a problem which has been termed a ‘Dahl-Dependency’ by Professor Teresa Cremin.
Why is this ‘Dahl-Dependency’ a problem?
Roald Dahl is a well-loved children’s author whose books have excited children and captured their imaginations for decades. There is nothing wrong with teachers and parents endorsing and celebrating the authors, like Dahl, who they read and loved themselves as children. The problem arises when this cycle limits the repertoire of children’s literature that we are exposing our children to. There is a huge diversity of talented authors out there and we are doing a disservice to our children not to introduce them to a whole range of stories.
Some recommendations for fantastic children’s books:
Varjak Paw, by S.F. Said
Recommended for: ages 9 – 11
A wonderfully original story about a street cat who must learn a secret martial art in order to survive in a city full of dangerous dogs, cat gangs and, strangest of all the mysterious Vanishings.
What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety, by Dawn Huebner, illustrated by Bonnie Matthews
Recommended for: ages 5–12
This workbook explains anxiety to children using analogies they can understand and helps them develop techniques to fight it. One of the best books out there to help kids with worry and fear—and it works for grown-ups, too.
The Weight of Water, by Sarah Crossan
Recommended for: ages 10+
Armed with a suitcase and an old laundry bag filled with clothes, Kasienka and her mother head for England. Life is lonely for Kasienka. At home her mother's heart is breaking and at school friends are scarce. Then someone special swims into her life. The Weight of Water is a startlingly original piece of fiction; most simply a brilliant coming of age story, it also tackles the alienation experienced by many young immigrants. Moving, unsentimental and utterly page-turning, we meet and share the experiences of a remarkable girl who shows us how quiet courage prevails.
Skellig, by David Almond
Recommended for: ages 10-13
This book is often used as part of English school syllabuses due to its intricate narrative detail and imaginative plot line: Michael moves to a new home and finds something magical. A strange creature - part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael's help if he is to survive.
The Bone Sparrow: A Refugee Novel, by Zana Fraillon
Recommended for: ages 12-15
Born in a refugee camp, all Subhi knows of the world is that he's at least 19 fence diamonds high and at night he dreams that the sea finds its way to his tent, bringing with it unusual treasures.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr
Recommended for: ages 9-12
An age-old classic: one day, Anna’s father was missing. Then she herself and her brother Max were being rushed by their mother, in alarming secrecy, away from everything they knew – home and schoolmates and well-loved toys – right out of Germany…
The Roman Mysteries, by Caroline Lawrence
Recommended for: ages 9-11
Flavia Gemina is a 'girl-detective' in first century Rome, in this series for children (ages 9-14). Flavia lives in Ostia, Rome's port, with her sea captain father. She solves mysteries with an assortment of friends from a wide range of Roman life.
Useful Children’s Reading Resources
Below are some useful resources when searching for new, different and high quality children’s literature.
An independent British literacy charity that aims to transform lives by getting children and families reading. They have several reading lists on their website which are broken down by age category
The National Council of Teachers of English is a professional organisation, based in the US which is dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English. They have several blogs on their website with great recommendations for children’s literature.
Stonewall is a registered UK charity and largest LGBT rights organisation in Europe. They have a list for both Primary and Secondary schools of inclusive and age-appropriate books that celebrate diversity, challenge gender stereotypes and talk about relationships and different families.
Scholastic has some excellent reading lists included here and they are divided up by genre which makes it easier to navigate and find something you think your child will really enjoy!
By U2 mentor, Kirsten (Biological Sciences graduate, University of Oxford & Teacher, graduate of the prestigious Teach First Leadership Development Program, with a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from UCL).
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