For my picture book I chose A Beginning, A Muddle, And The End: The Right Way to Write Writing by Avi. In this story Edward, an Ant and Avon, a Snail are chatting about how to write as Avon would like to become a writer. Edward serves as a guide to Avon in the learning process through adventure along Avons side and comedy.
In Shor’s writing about Critical literacy she states “Critical literacy thus challenges the status quo in an effort to discover alternative paths for self and social development” (Shor 2). To me I felt this was the perfect way to connect Critical literacy and this story because in this story it takes a creative approach to learning to write by sending characters on an adventure of discovery. Teaching to write in this manner of adventure is an example of “paths for self” (Shor 2) as its another style to help students learn. Not only that but the character of the Ant, Edward provides encouragement and critical conversation to Avon as he is attempting to write, making Avon feel more accomplished as he learns the material. Which is something that Stanbrough mentions in talking about Critical Literacy as she states “Every child and student deserves a champion” (Stanbrough 74). Edward also provides “ [a] clap for [Avon] as they are wobblily pursuing balance when they take their first steps. Someone to smile and cheer with emphatic glee when they utter their first words, matriculate through school, and navigate their academic and social worlds” (Stanbrough 74). The growth Stanbrough is talking about is also the growth that can be tracked throughout the story as with each chapter Avon learns a new skill to becoming a good writer. A good writer but at the same time teaching both Avon and Edward what it means to help eachother through aspects of learning that may be difficult. The dynamic between Avon and Edward could be translated to a teacher student dynamic as Edward on page 11 in the Kindle version states “ ‘to write well, you need to know where you are going. My guess is that your writing has lost all sense of direction’…’nothing could be easier,’ said Edward. ‘Because living where we do, as I’ve said, up in a tree, you’re half way there’ ” (Avi 8). Edward is quick to give criticism of Avon, just like a teacher would give a student, to improve and make him rethink the way he approaches his work. While at the same time encouragement on his journey of learning to write which is something that a teacher should give a student. This interaction could be defined as a Critical Literacy Frameworks Skill and Intellectual Development (Muhammad).
If I were a teacher I would use this in a Critical Literacy classroom as it depicts struggle of developing a skill and understanding a skill which is both frameworks of intellectual and skill development. While, giving students a chance to tell their own story because rather than Edward telling Avon what to right he gives him pointers as to how to find the direction of his writing or what to write about. Allowing for Avon to create his own work based on his own accurate experience.