A concise, engaging, practical overview of children's literature that keeps the focus on the books children read. This brief introduction to children's literature genres leaves time to actually read children's books. Written on the assumption that the focus of a children's literature course should be on the actual books that children read, the authors first wrote this book in 1996 as a "textbook for people who don't like children's literature textbooks." Today it serves as an overview to shed light on the essentials of children's literature and how to use it effectively with young readers, from PreK to 8th grade. The authors use an enjoyable, conversational style to achieve their goal of providing a practical overview of children's books that offers a framework and background information, while keeping the spotlight on the books themselves.

This concise, engaging, practical overview of children's literature keeps the focus on the books that children read. KEY TOPICS: Read, Read, Read; What Is a Good Book? How to Recognize a Well-Written Book; How to Recognize a Well-Illustrated Book; children's Books: History and Trends; Organizing Children's Literature by Genre: Picture Books, Poetry, Folk Literature, Modern Fantasy, Contemporary realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Biography, Informational Books, and Multicultural and International Books; Books in the Classroom; Controversial Books; Teaching with Children's Books MARKET: For classroom teachers, grades PreK to 8th grade.

Are you looking for a brief introduction to children's literature genres that leaves time to read actual works of children's literature? This new, significantly revised, and streamlined edition of Children's Literature, Briefly introduces the reader to the essential foundations of each children's literature genre, supported by practical features and tools to suggest quality books and activities to advance literacy in the classroom. As new teachers build their classroom libraries, the brevity of this affordable new edition ensures that readers have the resources to purchase and time to read actual children's literature. New! Briefer chapters provide essential information on genres, text quality, and censorship, ensuring that new teachers are prepared to teach and read children's literature. Learn to address issues of children's motivation through the use of children's literature in the classroom in Chapter 17. Read descriptions of how children's literature can be used to advance literacy in the classroom in Chapter 18. A unique, colorful illustration guide identifies the visual elements children's literature illustrators use and explains how to evaluate a book by its pictures. Top 10 Favorites as end-of-chapter features provide new teachers with the latest in quick-reference booklists that name the best of the best in children's literature. Notable authors and illustrators features help new teachers get a head start on choosing quality literature. New! Searchable database of 20,000 children's literature titles has been reprogrammed for faster search capabilities, including: Searching for a specific book, Customized searching for award winners or for books by grade level, Tailoring a booklist for a specific child or classroom activity. New! A CD tutorial supports readers in the use of the CD database for the first time. Tech Notes throughout the text suggest where and when to engage the use of the searchable database in coursework and in the classroom. Book jacket.

Offers a fresh perspective on how to implement childrens literature across the curriculum in ways that are both effective and purposeful. It invites multiple ways of engaging with literature that extend beyond the genre and elements approach and also addresses potential problems or issues that teachers may confront.

A rarely discussed aspect of children's literature--the politics behind a book's creation--has been thoroughly explored in this intelligent, enlightening, and fascinating account.

Nowadays it's no big deal or a girl to travel seventy-five miles. But when Charlotte May Pierstorff wanted to cross seventy-five miles of Idaho mountains to see her grandma in 1914, it was a very big deal indeed. There was no highway except the railroad, and a train ticket would have cost her parents a full day's pay. Here is the true story of how May got to visit her grandma, thanks to her won spunk, her father's ingenuity, and the U.S. mail. 00-01 CA Young Reader Medal Masterlist and 01 Colorado Children's Book Award (Pic. Bk Cat.)