Dissertations of Note Rachel Fordyce (bio) Abookire, Noerena. "Children's Theatre Activities at Karamu House in Cleveland, Ohio 1915-1975." Ph.D. diss. New York University, 1982. 375 pp. DAI 43:306A. Karamu Children's Theatre has been active since 1915 when it was founded by Rowena and Russell Jeliffe as a neighborhood settlement house. Abookire's study shows the variety of activities at Karamu, analyzes the numerous directors, and assesses its impact on children's theatre in the United States. Included are reproductions of many original photographs, programs, posters, press releases as well as the results of extensive interviews. Adamson, Lynda Gossett. "A Content Analysis of Values in Rosemary Sutcliff's Historical Fiction for Children." Ph.D. diss. University of Maryland, 1981. 176 pp. DAI 42.3475A. Realizing that what most parents and teachers look for in a "good" children's book are values that reflect their own, Adamson analyzes The Eagle of the Ninth, The Shield Ring, the Witch's Brat, and Carnegie-medal winner The Lantern Bearers to see if they reflect "positive values of Western contemporary society." While comparing types of protagonists, settings, conflict, tone, point of view, and theme in the five novels, Adamson concludes that Sutcliff s novels, despite their Roman setting, and probably because of the complexity of their characters, do reflect value systems of western civilizations. Amandes, Joanne Beran. "A Study of Adaptations for Young People of the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid." Ed.D. diss. Texas Tech University, 1982. 194 pp. DAI 43:1024A. Analyzing the treatment of plot, narration, characterization, and theme in thirteen adaptations of Greek and Roman mythic literature, Amandes attempts to show teachers how to discriminate as well as how to approach the use of myth in class. Anderson, Dorothy Jean. "Mildred L. Batchelder: A Study in Leadership." Ph.D. diss. Texas Woman's University, 1981. 404 pp. DAI 42:3332-33A. "Based on voluminous existing records, interviews with Batchelder's contemporaries, and with Batchelder herself," this dissertation in library science traces Batchelder's career with the American Library Association from 1936 through 1966 and highlights her impressive influence on the improvement of library services for children and young people. Antczak, Janice. "The Mythos of a New Romance: A Critical Analysis of Science Fiction for Children as Informed by the Literary Theory of Northrop Frye." D.L.S. diss. Columbia University, 1979. 376 pp. DAI 42:208-09A. Extrapolating from Frye's list of basic literary images, Antczak "explores the role of the genre [of science fiction] as a contemporary romance form" implicit in the mythology of the modern world. She is concerned with models of heroes, quest forms, whether or not settings conform to typical romance styles, and archetypal images in modern romance as well as older mythologies. Barron, Pamela Patrick. "The Characterization of Native Americans in Children's and Young Adults' Fiction, with a Contemporary Setting, by Native American and [End Page 217] Non-Native American Authors." Ph.D. diss. Florida State University, 1981. 191 pp. DAI 42:234-43A. Barron includes 114 books in her study of stereotyping of North American Indians in contemporary children's and young adults' literature. She is particularly concerned with "story setting, attitudes of author in relation to Native Americans, use of dialect, author's portrayal of the values and ethics of Native Americans, author's portrayal of contributions of Native Americans, author's portrayal of contemporary Native American life, characterization of the Native American character, stereotype with regard to characterization, and stereotype with regard to storyline." She concludes that while the most blatant of the stereotypes of Indians have generally disappeared, they have been replaced by more subtle stereotyping and a portrayal of Native Americans as totally devoid of humor. Barros, Maria Dirce do Val. "Monteiro Lobato and the Renewal of Children's Literature in Brazil." Ph.D. diss. Tulane University, 1982. 142 pp. DAI 43:704A. Barros analyzes Monteiro Lobato's substantial contribution to children's literature and, most important, shows how he has contributed to the overall revitalization of children's literature in Brazil. Her thesis is that "Monteiro Lobato's works were a direct response to a need to lead the development and writing...