|
|
| Find | Learn | About | Ask Us | Library Home |
| Resources for Children's Literature | ||||
|
Children's literature is of interest to future teachers and to former children who continue to have in interest in these texts. This guide points out some reference books, indexes, and strategies that will help select works and learn about writers and their work. Don't hesitate to ask a librarian for help if you aren't finding what you need. Reference Works / Browsing for Books / Indexes and Databases / Journals / Web sites Biographical and critical sources Something About the Author. Detroit: Gale, 1992 (Ref PN 451 .S6) The single most complete source of biographical and critical information about children's book authors. In addition to lengthy survey articles there are numerous photographs and illustrations. Frequently interviews and autobiographical statements are included. Use the index in the most recent volume to find which volumes include information on a given writer. Eighth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators. New York: Wilson, 2000. (Ref PN 1009 .A1 E36 2000) Contains biographical and critical sketches of children's book authors and illustrators. St. James Guide to Children's Writers. Detroit: St. James Press, 1999. (Ref PN1009.A1 T9 1999) Each entry contains brief biographical information, listings of the author's publications and a short critical essay examining the work of the author. Yesterday's Authors of Books for Children. Detroit: Gale, 1977. (Ref PN 451 .Y4) Provides substantial biographical/critical sketches of children's book authors of the past. Be aware that, because of its publication date, some of the analysis will not reflect contemporary critical approaches or issues. General background sources International Companion Encyclopedia of Children's Literature. London: Routledge, 1996. (Ref PN 1008.5 .I57 1996) Includes essays covering theory and critical approaches, genres, the context of children's book production (e.g. publishing, censorship, story-telling) applications (e.g. developmental stages of reading, bibliotherapy, education and librarianship) as well as country surveys of literature written for children, including many non-western countries. Oxford Companion to Children's Literature. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1984. (Ref PN 1008.5 .C37 1984) This handbook is a place to find quick information on authors, characters, and topics such as "books of instruction" and "chapbooks." It is particularly helpful for historical topics. Recommended books by age or topic Adventuring With Books: A Booklist for Pre-K - Grade 6. 12th ed. Urbanta: NCTE, 2000 (Ref PN 1009 .A1 A39 2000) A list of recommended books arranged by type and grade level. Each reference includes descriptive and evaluative comments. Barr, Catherine. Best Books for Children. 8th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. (Ref PN 1009.A1 B37 2006) This resource contains brief entries for over 23,000 recommended books arranged by literary genre and subject areas. Recommended grade levels are indicated for each book. Gillespie, John T. Best Books for Young Teen Readers Grades 7-10. New Providence, New Jersey: R.R. Bowker, 2000. (Ref PN 1009.A1 B45 2000) This resource contains brief synopses for over 11,000 recommended books arranged by literary genre and subject areas. Recommended grade levels are indicated for each book and despite its title, this resource also contains some books for 5-6 grades and 11-12 grades. Best Books for Young Adult Readers (Ref PN1009.A1C35 1997) also contains suggestions for older readers. Lima, Carolyn W. and John A Lima. A-Zoo: Subject Access to Children's Picture Books. 7th ed. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. (Ref PN 1009 .A1 L715 2006) An index that helps identify books by various subjects, ranging from "barns" and "volcanoes" to "jealousy," "family life," "grandparents," etc. Spencer, Pam. What Do Young Adults Read Next?: A Reader's Guide to Fiction for Young Adults. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale, 1997. (Ref PN 1009 .A1 S74 1994) An annotated listing of 1500 titles for readers from grades 6 through 12, with indexes by time period, geographic location, subject, character, character type, etc. Each entry includes a helpful list of "other books you might like," recommending similar titles. Multicultural children's literature Kruse, Ginny Moore and Kathleen I. Horning. Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults: A Selected Listing of Books, 1980-1990, By and About People of Color. 3rd ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin, 1991. (Ref PN 1009 .A1 K78 1991) Offers citations to literature by and about African-Americans, American Indians, Asian-Americans, and Hispanic-Americans written for children. Miller-Lachmann, Lyn. Our Family, Our Friends, Our World: An Annotated Guide to Significant Multicultural Books for Children and Teenagers. New Providence: Bowker, 1992. (Ref PN 1009 .A1 M56 1992) A guide to books, both fiction and non-fiction, about different parts and populations of the world written for or accessible to children and teens. The annotations are lengthy and introductions for each region or ethnic group put the works in context. Arranged geographically; includes a detailed subject index. Multicultural Resources for Young Readers. New York: The New Press, 1997. (Ref PN 1009.A1 N49 1997) Provides multicultural books divided both by theme and age groups. Each entry lists the ethnicity or special features of the characters and provides both a synopsis of the plot and a critical review of the book. Some entries also provide teaching suggestions. Rochman, Hazel. Against Borders: Promoting Books in a Multicultural World. Chicago: American Library Association, 1993. (Ref PN 1009 .S1 R63 1993) A guide to children's literature that operates on the principle that "the best books break down borders." Essays on topics such as "friends and enemies," "finding the way home," "the holocaust," "apartheid," and "the widening world" introduce good children's books and analyzes their impact. Other chapters are organized by U.S. ethnic groups--African American, Asian American, Jewish American, Latino, and Native. Award winners Bowker Annual Library and Book Trade Almanac. New York: Bowker, annual. (General Collection Z 731 .B78) This annual report on the book trade includes publishing and library statistics as well as prize winners, such as "Best Annual Young Adult Books" and "Best Children's Books" for the latest year. Books are shelved in general subject categories using the Library of Congress classification system. You may want to supplement your use of the catalog with browsing shelf areas for your topic. Be aware that in and advanced search, you may limit a keyword search to the children's literture collection. You may also choose the St. Peter Public Library from MnPALS or use the public library's own Web catalog. Gustavus students are welcome at the local public library and will be able to browse and check out children's books not available here. Below is a brief listing of some of the subject locations related to children's literature.
ERIC - the major index to articles in education journals and reports of education research; contains citations and abstracts to over 900,000 articles and documents, some available in full text. InfoTrac Professional Collection - Includes more than 300 full-text journals for educators in the following areas: arts and humanities; child and adolescent psychology and development; drug and alcohol abuse; health/nutrition/fitness; learning disabilities; literature; school law; science and technology; social sciences; and sports/athletic training. MLA Bibliography - the most in-depth database of literary criticism; includes some scholarly books, articles, and dissertations on children's literature. Journals may be available in full text through various subscription databases . Use our journal locator list to scan journals, both print and electronic, by subject. Specifically in the area of Children's literature, the library subscribes to BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS, v. 10, 1958- Reviews of contemporary childrens books can be found in Pubisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Reviews of specific contemporary children's books can be searched in Academic Search Premier; in the advanced search the "document type" category offers an opportunity to limit your search to book reviews. For older books, consult Book Review Digest (Ref Z 1219 .B72) to find citations to reviews from 1905 to present. Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site -This site is densely packed with ideas, curriculum activities, and book reviews. Children's Literature Web Guide - A well-organized and vast guide to internet resources, including lists of best books, parents resources, information about authors, publishers catalogs, etc. Cooperative Children's Book Center - from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature - compiled by Lisa R. Bartle, a very useful guide to nearly 6,000 books and 73 awards. Particularly useful is the ability to search by reader's age, setting, historical period, ethnicity, and other variables. International Children's Library - an ambitious project to offer digital children's books in their original languages and to create innovative technologies for access and use by children 3-13 years old. Kidsreads - a site intended for kids but full of information about authors, new books and classics, with useful lists of series books. StoryPlace: The Children's Digital Archive - from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County, provides stories and activities in English and Spanish. last updated 11/06 |
||||
|