Thick air in half and a half

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Thick Air in Half and Half is a children's book story by Ulrich Karger with illustrations by Hans-Günther Döring .

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Summary

The story is told by the children Malte Wolke and Juliane Frischauf, who live in half and a half. Although half and a half is a small village, they only get to know each other better on the first day of school. Because the village is divided into residents on the morning and evening side, who keep coming into conflict because of their different lifestyles. When the two children, who are almost exactly the same age, make friends, the adults on both sides oppose it. As a result, Malte and Juliane secretly “flee” and only the common search for them allows adults to question their mutual prejudices. In the end, the birthdays of Malte and Juliane, forgotten because of the dispute, are used as an occasion for a festival for the entire village community.

theme

This narrative describes prejudice and intolerance as something learned from adults. She tries to make children aware of these attitudes and to expose them in favor of an " ambiguity tolerance ".

The libraries refer to the book u. a. with the keywords children's book , enmity , prejudice , social criticism , dispute , village community , punctuality , difference , tolerance .

Furnishing

The first edition from 1994 comprises 74 pages (19 cm × 13 cm) as hardcover , the new edition from 2011 as paperback 60 pages (22 cm × 15.5 cm). The black and white illustrations usually take up one page in both editions, but some are also designed as half or double pages.

The unabridged text of the new edition has been slightly revised and, in contrast to the first, is set in a new spelling . In addition, teaching materials for use as interdisciplinary school reading in the form of a reading comment with lesson planning aids and worksheets are available free of charge as PDF files.

criticism

The story and its illustrations received positive reviews several times in Germany and Austria. In addition to some print media , organs geared towards children's and youth literature , such as the Working Groups Youth Literature and Media (AJuM) of the GEW and similar institutions of libraries in Austria, have expressed their views on the book and included it in lists of recommendations. "

While u. a. Susanne Kippenberger from the Tagesspiegel emphasizes that this children's book is well suited for reading aloud in the evening for children from the age of 5, others like the AJuM in the GEW Baden-Württemberg emphasize that it is because of its style and language also easy to grasp by first-time readers .

Like everyone else, Norbert Ney appreciates the “witty and smart” illustrations and also believes that this story is “based on a linguistic joke that goes beyond the plot for comic situations and unexpected twists.” Astrid van Nahl sees this as “a skilful and imaginative implementation of one ‚Lehrstücks'“, based on which u. a. Teachers can adequately address problems in order to “sensitize children to interpersonal behavior that can be observed when dealing with any kind of otherness”. And Sibylle Sterzig observes that the story "also teaches us adult readers a loving lesson in matters of prejudice, which on closer inspection turn out to be empty gossip." That it is precisely the children who first come across this insight, "Makes the narrative particularly thought-provoking."

expenditure

Awards

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See report by Prof. Dr. Sigrid Lichtenberger, Saarland University , 1995
  2. ↑ Cooperative Library Association Berlin-Brandenburg (KOBV) u. a. Keywords for the book
  3. ↑ GVK - Common union catalog u. a. Keywords for the book
  4. ↑ a b See the teaching materials available under “Lessons” on the author's website for the book. It is recommended here for use in the subjects of German ( reading , drama), ethics ( dispute resolution ), art , expertise , religion and in support lessons.
  5. ↑ See the quotations listed under “ Reviews ” on the author's website for the book.
  6. ^ Quote from a review by Susanne Kippenberger in Der Tagesspiegel from February 12, 1995
  7. ↑ Quotation from a review by the Working Group on Youth Literature and Media (AJuM) in the GEW Baden-Württemberg; 1995
  8. ↑ A book for the first reading age by Ulrich Karger: Between morning and evening page , quotation from a review by Norbert Ney in the Berliner Zeitung of January 30, 1995
  9. ^ Ulrich Karger - Thick Air in Half and Half , quote from a review by Astrid van Nahl in alliteratus.com on September 13, 2011, PDF file
  10. ↑ Quote from a review by Sibylle Sterzik in Berlin-Brandenburgisches Sonntagsblatt , February 12, 1995

Web links

  • Author's website for the book - with reviews, text samples and available teaching materials