INLS 732
– Children’s Literature and Related Materials (Spring 2014)
COURSE SCHEDULE
To
help you select your children’s books to read, please use the reference books
we cover (or any others you find) and the booklist web links included in this
schedule. Please try to read new books each week that you’ve never read
before, as the class is supposed to broaden your perspective, not have you
rehash things you read as a child.
The following general booklist sites may also be useful:
http://mcpl.info/childrens/staff-picks - Monroe County Public Library booklists
http://www.carmel.lib.in.us/child/listrecbooks.cfm - Carmel Clay
Public Library booklists
http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/subjects.html
- Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site
http://www.hclib.org/kids/books/ -
Hennepin County Library
http://library.loganutah.org/books/children/ - Logan Library booklists
http://kids.nypl.org/reading/recommended.cfm - New York Public Library
http://www.slcpl.lib.ut.us/libLists/ - Salt Lake City Public Library (scroll down
to “Kids”)
http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/
- The Children’s Book Review (see their “categories” in the left column)
See also the free, web-based,
searchable children’s literature databases at:
http://www3.cde.ca.gov/reclitlist/search.aspx - California
Department of Education’s multi-capability search interface
http://www.dawcl.com/search.asp -
Database of award-winning children’s literature
Perhaps the best resource to know is
the proprietary Children’s
Literature Comprehensive Database, available via Davis Library Electronic
Resources.
Thursday,
January 9th
In Class: Introduction
to the class and each other. My teaching philosophy.
Assignments and grading. What’s on Sakai
(download to read comments)? What is
children’s literature, and of what value is it? Reference
Books and Review Sources, SILS library tour.
Children’s Book Reading: Please read (and bring to class if you can) a copy of The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine
Applegate (2013 Newbery Award winner)
SECTION
1: BOOKS TO
ESTABLISH PRE-READING HABITS (Guiding question: Are these books effective for
exciting pre-reading children?)
Thursday,
January 16th
In Class: Board Books
(3), and Pop-ups (1)
Professional
Reading: Tare 2010 article (Sakai); Stages
of Reading Development; How children learn to read; watch the seven-part Youtube interview with Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart (Paris Interview 1-7), and
explore these websites on pop-ups:
http://www.library.unt.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/popup/main.htm
http://www.library.unt.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/popup2/default.htm
- short history of pop-ups
http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rul/libs/scua/montanar/p-ex.htm
Children’s Book
Reading: Read and bring to class three (3) board books
and one Pop-up book as well as a strong (positive or negative) quote from a
review of one of them.
Help finding a
book for today:
For Board
Books: http://iii.ocls.info/search/X(board%20books)&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&SORT=D/X(board%20books)&searchscope=1&Da=&Db=&SORT=D/1%2C74%2C74%2CB/browse;
or do a Keyword search in the Chapel Hill Public Library Catalog on “board books”
(include quotes); or browse the SILS picture book shelves for books made of
cardboard.
For pop-ups,
try: http://www.amazon.com/Pop-up-books/lm/R1W7081O98AB0I;
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/books/bugs-by-george-mcgavin-and-more.html?_r=0; and search
the UNC Catalog
SILS library collection for the keyword “pop-up” (SILS keeps its collection in
the library workroom, and it’s an “in-library use only” collection, so you’ll
need to ask for help to see these; I’ll bring several of them to class from
this collection, so if you want one of these to show in class, please let me
know).
Thursday,
January 23rd
In Class: Picture Book Format and Design
Professional Reading: Nodelman
1999 article, Smith 2013 article, Crawford & Hade 2000 article, Nikolajeva & Scott 2000 article (Sakai)
Children’s Book Reading: Read and bring
to class three (3) picture books of your choice
Help finding books for today: Browse the shelves as children do
until you find three books you like that are appropriate for these YOUNG
children. Think about the reading level, the content, the illustrations, and
the format: are all of these appropriate for young kids? DON’T use reference or search tools to
find your books this time.
Thursday,
January 30th
In Class: Thematic
Picture Books
Children’s Book Reading: Read and bring to class at least three
(3) picture books that are all on the same theme (Caldecott award winners,
dogs, parties, etc, could be your chosen “theme”)
Professional Reading: Find an article (search ERIC,
PsychInfo, Lib.
Lit. and Info. Science databases, etc.- these
links should work from UNC computers) that addresses your chosen theme in
children’s literature, and be ready to give a short overview of this article
along with your books.
Help finding books for today: Look in A to Zoo on the SILS library reference
shelves (Z1037 .L715 2006). It’s a marvelous
index of picture books that you need to know as a professional resource.
ASSIGNMENT
DUE: Critical Review #1 (board book, pop-up, or picture book) (have a look at
the Webber article on Sakai to help in writing your review)
SECTION
2: BOOKS FOR DEVELOPING READERS
(Guiding question: How do these books help children learn to read
independently?)
Thursday,
February 6th
In Class: Beginning
Readers and Transitional Readers
Professional Reading: Pierce
master’s paper; Stanley & Sturm article, Gately
article, and Szymusiak & Sibberson
article (Sakai)
Children’s Book Reading: Read and bring
to class four books:
Two beginning reader books (limited
vocabulary, large print, large line spacing, such as the I Can Read books) AND
Two transitional readers (early chapter
books, such as the Secrets of Droon, Magic
Treehouse, Cam Jansen, Junie B. Jones, etc.).
Help finding books for today:
Beginning Readers: TITLE search of the Chapel Hill Public Library catalog for:
I can read book
Transitional Readers: http://library.loganutah.org/books/children/Grades2-3.cfm;
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/pages/youngreaders/levels/level3.html
SECTION
3: BOOKS FOR READERS (Guiding Question:
Would children find these books engaging, and, if so, why?)
Thursday,
February 13th
In Class: Folklore
(Dewey 398s)
Professional Reading: Sturm
& Sturm 2003 article (Sakai).
Children’s Book
Reading:
Read and bring to class one folktale collection AND two picture book folktales
(three books total).
Help finding
books for today:
Browse the SILS library shelves under
Dewey 398.2
Use the bibliography from the Storyteller’s Sourcebook (original and
1983-1999 versions): SILS Reference: GR 74.6 M3
Thursday,
February 20th
In Class: Fantasy and Science Fiction
Professional Reading: Greenway
1996 article at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring96/greenway.html;
Brewis 2003 article (Sakai)
Children’s Book Reading: Read and bring
to class one fantasy OR one sci-fi novel.
Help finding books for today:
Fantasy:
http://www.lapl.org/kidspath/books/genre/fantasy.html
- scroll down to the “Older Readers” list
http://library.loganutah.org/books/children/fantasy912.cfm
http://www.fergusonlibrary.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/kids/goodreads/Fantasy.pdf
Sci-fi:
http://www.goldenduck.org/books.php
- Golden Duck Award list of recommended Sci/Fi
(organized by grade level)
http://www.fergusonlibrary.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/kids/goodreads/SciFiBooklist0509.pdf - Ferguson Library Online
http://library.loganutah.org/books/children/scific912.cfm
Thursday,
February 27th
In Class: Graphic Novels for Children
Professional
Reading: McCloud
1993 article, Horn 1998 article, and Sturm Creativity 2013 article
(Sakai)
Children’s Book
Reading:
Read and bring to class one graphic novel for children (make sure it’s
appropriate for children not YAs).
ASSIGNMENT DUE: Critical Review #2
(beginning reader, transitional reader, folklore, fantasy, or science fiction)
Thursday, March 6th
In Class: Historical Fiction & History
Professional Reading: Gillespie Chapter
1; Cai 1992 article
(Sakai)
Children’s Book Reading: Read and bring
to class 2 books:
One historical
fiction novel AND one history book (picture book or otherwise) about the
setting of your novel (i.e., Number the
Stars and a history book on WW2).
Thursday,
March 13th
NO
CLASS – SPRING BREAK (for children’s book reading,
please see next week’s class and get a head start on your best seller fiction
title – not a picture book)
Thursday, March
20th
In Class: Effective reading aloud, engaging research posters, and Children’s
Bestsellers
Professional
Reading: Creating
Effective Poster Presentations (use the TOC in the left hand column for
specifics); Do’s and
Don’ts of Reading Aloud (click through to second page for “don’ts”)
Children’s
Book Reading: read and bring to class one
children’s fiction book from the Publisher’s
Weekly Bestsellers
list. We will compare and contrast
what’s selling with our definition of “quality.”
ASSIGNMENT DUE: Critical Review #3 (graphic
novel, historical fiction, history, or any of the remaining genres we have yet
to cover)
Thursday,
March 27th
In Class: Multicultural
Literature (class visit by Starr LaTronica, ALSC
President)
Professional Reading: Agosto 2007
article and Mongo article (Sakai); Wilson
2009 (you can read the whole Wilson master’s thesis if you wish, but spend
time particularly thinking about the checklist in Appendix A, page 62)
Children’s Book Reading: read and bring
to class one multicultural book that you feel is representative of
multicultural literature
Help finding a book for today: 50
Multicultural Books Every Child Should Know; Celebrating Cultural Diversity
through Children’s Literature; KidActivities; Interracial
Family Picture Books
Thursday,
April 3rd
In Class: Poetry Slam, then discussion of
poetry books you have read
Professional
Reading:
Rosenberg 2005 article (Sakai)
Children’s Book Reading: Read and bring
to class one anthology of children’s poetry AND one picture book of poetry (2
books total). PLEASE don’t everyone bring in Shel
Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky. Yes, they’re
amazing; yes, you loved them as a child; but we need to explore new horizons,
so go find someone else to read! Be prepared to read aloud your chosen
poem. For help choosing, see:
http://www.iblist.com/list.php?type=author&key=.*&by=genre&genre=277&go.x=18&go.y=10
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=11672 note this is a Scholastic website
ASSIGNMENT
DUE: Poetry Slam read-aloud
Thursday,
April 10th
In Class: Information
Books
Professional Reading: Doiron 2003 article, Carter 2000 article, and Cervetti 2009 article (Sakai)
Children’s Book
Reading:
Read and bring to class four books: two information books on different topics
(try to choose one narrative nonfiction and one
informational nonfiction) and two concept books (alphabet, numbers, shapes,
etc.) for young children.
Help finding books for today:
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award
Robert
F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
For concept
books: Subject search CHPL Catalog for: English language alphabet; Alphabet Books list
from Allen County Public Library; Iowa
City Public Library ABC and Numbers booklist; Counting Books from
Allen County Public Library; Seattle Public Library Picture
Books about Concepts
Thursday,
April 17th
In Class: Realistic Fiction
Professional Reading: Rochelle 1991
article (Sakai)
Children’s Book
Reading:
Read and bring to class one realistic fiction novel.
Help finding a
book for today:
Hennepin County
Library Realistic
Fiction booklist
http://www.freedomelschool.com/classes/5/pdfs/RealisticFiction%20Book%20List.pdf includes Lexile
level
Goodreads list: http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/childrens-realistic-fiction
Thursday,
April 24th (last class)
In Class: Student
research poster presentations
ASSIGNMENT DUE:
Research Poster and Presentation
Assignment |
Value |
Total |
Critical Reviews
(3) |
#1: 10% #2: 10% #3: 10% |
30% |
Performance:
Poetry read aloud (1) |
15% |
15% |
Research Poster
and Presentation (1) |
45% |
45% |
Class
Participation |
10% |
10% |
|
Total |
100% |
1. Critical Reviews (3)
This assignment is designed to get you exploring the
reference books and review sources you will need as a professional.
Please use the following template to complete
this assignment. The process is as follows:
1. You scour
the selective bibliographies in the SILS library reference collection to find
if any of them recommend your book, and list any that do with the year and page
number of the reference (i.e., Children’s Catalog, 2011, p. 365; or Best
Books for Children, 20, p. 213).
2. You use Children’s Book Review Index (SILS
Reference: Z1037. A1 C475) or Amazon.com or NoveList K-8 or Children’s
Literature Database to find reviews of your book, and you list two journal
sources with issue, year and page number of the review (i.e., Booklist,
June/July, 2012, p. 73; or SLJ, Sept., 2012, p. 46).
3. You find the
reading level of the book (NoveList K-8 online gives
this as does Children’s
Literature Comprehensive Database, and Elementary School Library Collection for pre-2000 books).
4. You write a
concise plot synopsis, detailing the entire plot (including ending). Do
NOT write a “teaser” or promotional piece. The reader of your plot
synopsis should know the whole story from reading your synopsis. No more than 100 words.
5. You write a
thoughtful, critical review of the book (including selected quotes from the reviews
you have read) in which you address at least these three issues in no more than 150 words:
a. An
evaluation of the quality of the book: is it well written (plot,
characterization, theme, style, etc.) - include examples from the text to prove
your point if necessary. Also consider whether it is a good example of
its genre and why/why not?
b. Would a
child enjoy it and why (look to the developmental literature to help with
this)?
c. How could you
use this book with children (programming ideas, classroom units, etc.)?
2. Performance: Poetry Read Aloud (1)
Your assignment here is to read aloud a poem of your choice
as part of our poetry slam. We will
cover how to read aloud dynamically, and this performance will give you a
chance to practice your skills and receive feedback on your performance in
terms of vocal inflection, enunciation, energy, eye contact, rhythm, etc.
3. Research Poster (1)
For your research, you are to use the methodology of content
analysis to examine a set of books of your choice. You are to devise a question about children’s
literature for young children for in-depth exploration, and then try to answer
this question from the books in your chosen data set. The final product will be a research poster
to present to the class on the final day of class. Please design your poster using some kind of
digital presentation format (though not Prezi or others that requires zooming
about the poster). Please email me your
poster as an attachment. See the “Tips
for research poster design” on Sakai for ideas.
I will use the “Research poster evaluation (2014 form)” on Sakai to
evaluate your research poster, so please consider it when designing your
poster.
5. Class Participation
This part of the grade will reflect how you participate in
class. Do you add to our discussions? Are you prepared, having read
your children’s books and the assigned professional reading? Are you
actively thinking in class and asking profound questions? More is
not necessarily better, but I want you actively involved while in class.
This course is partly lecture, but much of my teaching technique centers on
discussion to bring out the salient points. You will find that the more
you engage in discussion, the more you will learn, and the more you will enjoy
this class!