In the new edition of this widely popular resource, the well-known, highly respected author team presents a brief compendium of information about and resources for helping future and new teachers share literature with children. Essentials of Children’s Literature, 8/e is designed to awaken and motivate readers to the joy of reading. It presents a rich array of available trade books that can be used effectively to teach children’s literature, while also ensuring coverage of the most important knowledge about literature and about teaching literature to children. Clear, concise, and direct, the book uses recommended book lists, examples, figures, and tables in combination with narrative and prose to empower teachers to free classroom time to involve children with literature.

Kathy G. Short teaches graduate courses in children’s literature, inquiry, and curriculum at the University of Arizona and has taught elementary school in Indiana and Ohio. Her books include Creating Classrooms for Authors and Inquirers, Literature as a Way of Knowing, and Stories Matter: The Complexity of Cultural Authenticity. Kathy is director of Worlds of Words (www.wowlit.org), an initiative to encourage the use of literature to explore global cultures; she is on the 2014 Caldecott Committee; and is the Vice President of NCTE.

 

Carol Lynch-Brown taught graduate and undergraduate courses in children’s and young adult literature, reading, and language arts education at Florida State University. She was a teacher in elementary school and middle school in St. Paul and Minneapolis Public Schools, and taught English in French Public Schools. With Carl M. Tomlinson she co-authored Essentials of Young Adult Literature, 2/e, published by Pearson in 2010, and is a former editor of “The Reading Teacher,” a journal of the International Reading Association.

 

Carl M. Tomlinson taught graduate and undergraduate courses in children's literature and language arts at Northern Illinois University. He was an elementary and middle school teacher in Thomasville, Georgia public schools, and taught classes in English in Norway. He co-authored with Carol Lynch-Brown Essentials of Young Adult Literature, 2/e, published by Pearson in 2010, and is the editor of “Children's Books from Other Countries,” published by USBBY and Scarecrow Press in 1998.

 

CHAPTER ONE   Learning about Story and Literature
Definition of Children's Literature
The Value of Story in Making Meaning of Our Lives
The Value of Literature in Children's Lives
The Value of Literature for Children's Learning
So Why are Reading and Literature at Risk in Our Society?

Invitations for Further Investigation   

References    

CHAPTER TWO   Learning about Children and Literature

Connecting Children with Books:  Know the Child

Connecting Children with Books:  Know the Books

Connecting Resistant Readers with Books:  Know the Books and the Readers

Invitations for Further Investigation   

References    

CHAPTER THREE Learning about Literature 

Approaches to Studying and Interpreting Literature    

Elements of Fiction     

Building Your Knowledge of Literature as a Discipline

The Organization of this Text

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References  

PART TWO Categories of Literature     

CHAPTER FOUR   Picture Books

Definition and Description    

Evaluation and Selection of Picture Books    

Visual Elements    

Artistic Media

Artistic Styles

Book Design    

Observing the Role of Illustrations in Picture Books    

Historical Overview of Picture Books    

Types of Picture Books     

References    

Recommended Picture Books    

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs   

 

CHAPTER FIVE Poetry        

Definition and Description    

Types of Poetry Books    

Evaluation and Selection of Poetry    

Historical Overview of Poetry    

Poetry Types and Forms    

Reader Connections: Poetry in the Classroom 

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Poetry Books  

CHAPTER SIX Traditional Literature     

Definition and Description    

Evaluation and Selection of Traditional Literature    

Historical Overview of Traditional Literature    

Types of Traditional Literature    

Reader Connections: Storytelling in the Classroom   

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Traditional Literature   

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs 

CHAPTER SEVEN Modern Fantasy

Definition and Description    

Evaluation and Selection of Modern Fantasy    

Historical Overview of Modern Fantasy    

Types of Modern Fantasy    

Reader Connection:  Censorship and the First Amendment   

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Modern Fantasy Books    

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs  

  

CHAPTER EIGHT Realistic Fiction

Definition and Description    

Evaluation and Selection of Realistic Fiction    

Historical Overview of Realistic Fiction    

Topics in Realistic Fiction    

Reader Connections:  Paired Character Trait Books

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Realistic Fiction Books    

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs  

 

CHAPTER NINE Historical Fiction and Biography    

Definition and Description of Historical Fiction

Evaluation and Selection of Historical Fiction    

Historical Overview of Historical Fiction    

Definition and Description of Biography

Evaluation and Selection of Biography  

Historical Overview of Biography    

Topics in Historical Fiction and Biography

Reader Connections:  Understanding Historical Contexts   

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Historical Fiction and Biography Books    

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs    

CHAPTER TEN Informational Books      

Definition and Description    

Types of Informational Books

Evaluation and Selection of Informational Books

Historical Overview of Informational Literature    

Topics of Informational Books    

Reader Connections:  Pairing Fact and Fiction 

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Informational Books    

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs  

  

CHAPTER ELEVEN Literature for a Diverse Society

Section One: An Education That Is Multicultural and Intercultural    

Culturally Responsive Curriculum    

Culturally Expansive Curriculum    

Culturally Critical Curriculum    

Section Two: Multicultural and International Literature    

Definitions and Descriptions    

The Value of Multicultural and International Literature for Children    

Evaluation and Selection of Multicultural and International Literature    

Multicultural Literature    

International Literature     

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

Recommended Multicultural Books    

Recommended International Books    

Related Films, Videos, and DVDs   

PART THREE Literature in the School

CHAPTER TWELVE Literature in the Curriculum

The Politics of Literacy and Literature

Planning a Literature Curriculum

Integrating Literature into a Literacy Curriculum

Evaluating the Literature Program      

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References   

CHAPTER THIRTEEN Engaging Children with Literature

Reading Widely for Personal Purposes    

Reading Critically to Inquire about the World  

Reading Strategically to Learn about Literacy    

Invitations for Further Investigation    

References    

 

Appendix A  Children’s Book Awards    

Appendix B  Professional Resources    

Appendix C  Children’s Magazines    

Index to Children’s Books and Authors    

Subject Index