Arlene the Sardine
Written and Illustrated by Chris Raschka
Ages 3-7
**
This is the story of Arlene, a small fish, who wants to be a sardine. The story follows Arlene from her birth in a Fjord, through the ocean and eventually into a sardine can as she finally becomes a sardine.
I had very mixed feelings about this book. At first I was disturbed by the concept. Arlene wants to be a sardine that is her dream, which means- she wants to die. And she does. In simple, repetitive, language Raschka tells of how Arlene goes from swimming with her many fish friends, to dying on a boat deck, to being packaged as a sardine. The fact that Arlene just died almost escapes your notice with the catchy wording and bright illustrations.
I am not surprised that this book is considered controversial because it deals with a sensitive topic, death. However it was not Arlene's death that I found unsettling but the fact that she wanted to die. I know that Raschka has an interesting writing style because he sees children as small adults and does not believe they should be written down to. So I tried to rationalize the story; maybe it represents being at the end of your life and finding peace in death. However Arlene wants to be a Sardine from when she is little. Then I wondered if it was supposed to represent suicide as Arlene happily "throngs" about with her hundreds of fishy friends. Then I thought maybe it was a story of sacrifice, or tragedy such as the Holocaust (it describes the fish being packed and smoked...) or representing how in death we are all the same. My mind wandered a lot of places but nowhere I wanted to go in a picture book. I did not come to any conclusion as to the meaning of the book however I as I reread if for a last time I noticed text before the story started, "So you want to be a sardine?" It reminded me of the So you Want to be a Wizard? books in which serves as an instructional title but also as a warning of what to come...
I would not use "Arlene the Sardine" in my classroom. I do not know what a child might learn about themselves or the world by reading it. This book would definitely be controversial to read in the classroom and I do not have any reason to defend my teaching of it. It might provoke unnecessary conflict with parents. Interesting enough I do not think younger students would be bothered by the book. I think they would see Arlene's death as another step towards her dream. Arlene is not sad about it so why would they be?
Arlene the SardineWritten and Illustrated by Chris Raschka
Ages 3-7
**
This is the story of Arlene, a small fish, who wants to be a sardine. The story follows Arlene from her birth in a Fjord, through the ocean and eventually into a sardine can as she finally becomes a sardine.
I had very mixed feelings about this book. At first I was disturbed by the concept. Arlene wants to be a sardine that is her dream, which means- she wants to die. And she does. In simple, repetitive, language Raschka tells of how Arlene goes from swimming with her many fish friends, to dying on a boat deck, to being packaged as a sardine. The fact that Arlene just died almost escapes your notice with the catchy wording and bright illustrations.
I am not surprised that this book is considered controversial because it deals with a sensitive topic, death. However it was not Arlene's death that I found unsettling but the fact that she wanted to die. I know that Raschka has an interesting writing style because he sees children as small adults and does not believe they should be written down to. So I tried to rationalize the story; maybe it represents being at the end of your life and finding peace in death. However Arlene wants to be a Sardine from when she is little. Then I wondered if it was supposed to represent suicide as Arlene happily "throngs" about with her hundreds of fishy friends. Then I thought maybe it was a story of sacrifice, or tragedy such as the Holocaust (it describes the fish being packed and smoked...) or representing how in death we are all the same. My mind wandered a lot of places but nowhere I wanted to go in a picture book. I did not come to any conclusion as to the meaning of the book however I as I reread if for a last time I noticed text before the story started, "So you want to be a sardine?" It reminded me of the So you Want to be a Wizard? books in which serves as an instructional title but also as a warning of what to come...
I would not use "Arlene the Sardine" in my classroom. I do not know what a child might learn about themselves or the world by reading it. This book would definitely be controversial to read in the classroom and I do not have any reason to defend my teaching of it. It might provoke unnecessary conflict with parents. Interesting enough I do not think younger students would be bothered by the book. I think they would see Arlene's death as another step towards her dream. Arlene is not sad about it so why would they be?
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