Children's Literature: Discovery for a Lifetime - Softcover

Stoodt, Barbara D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0137778066 ISBN 13: 9780137778065

Publisher: Gorsuch Scarisbrick Pub, 1996

Synopsis

For introductory courses in Children's Literature. The goal of this book is to prepare future teachers to infuse literature into children's lives, to know to which books children will respond, and to promote continuing interest in books throughout their lives. The theme of literature for a lifetime is integrated throughout the book. The authors offer fresh ideas on how to share literature with children in authentic ways that will stimulate their responses.

About this title

From the Inside Flap

Preface

Television extols the virtues of reading to children. Children's librarians are busier than ever before. Bookstores featuring children's books are flourishing. The authors and illustrators who create exquisite children's books are popular. Although the profusion of books and the widespread interest in children's literature are welcome, they create an even greater need to educate parents, teachers, and librarians about books and literary experiences. Because the dull, the difficult, the obscure can stymie children's pleasure in literature, adults must optimize children's interactions with literature. Moreover, the subjects and the textbooks used in elementary classrooms cry out for the richness of literature.

This book is the product of many experiences as teachers, professors, parents, and grandparents. Our goal is to help adults infuse literature into children's lives very early and to promote a continuing interest in books throughout their lives. Our theme is literature for a lifetime. We hope to prepare the adults in children's lives to:

know which books children will respond to share literature with children in authentic ways that stimulate their responses infuse literature into elementary classrooms and homes identify books that portray children with special needs so their classmates will understand these needs use computer programs and the Internet to enhance literary experiences use multimedia in creating literary experience choose literature that will develop children's cultural consciousness

Chapters 1 through 5 develop a basis for understanding children's literature, including evaluating and selecting literature and encouraging children's response. Chapters 6 through 11 explore the content of children's literature in picture books, poetry, traditional literature, modern fantasy, realistic fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction. We have continued our emphasis on authors and illustrators in this edition by including profiles of them throughout the book. In these profiles, we hope to acquaint students with authors and illustrators and their works, as well as offer models for classroom study. Chapters 12 through 15 prepare adults to nurture children's response to literature by showing how creating a community of readers as well as providing oral and silent reading experiences enhance literary experiences. Moreover, adults need to select literature that develops students' sensitivity to other cultures as well as the life challenges faced by people in our world. Finally, Chapter 15 synthesizes and presents sample guides and units that teachers have used in developing literature-based classroom experiences.

Each chapter opens with a list of key terms, guiding questions, and an overview that previews the content of the chapter. Vignettes are included in each chapter, which give examples of teachers and children involved with literature#151;examples that will serve as models for others. Throughout the book experiences are presented that develop deeper cognitive and affective understandings as well as aesthetic awareness.

Each chapter includes thought questions and research and application experiences. Annotated bibliographies of cited books and recommended books include genre identifications and suggested grade levels. Where appropriate, asterisks (*) indicate books that will appeal to reluctant readers. NEW TO THIS EDITION

Users of the first edition of Children's Literature: Discovery for a Lifetime will find several important changes in the second edition.

All bibliographies and references have been thoroughly updated to reflect the latest children's books. Author and illustrator profiles have been placed throughout the text. Historical fiction and realistic fiction are now treated in two separate chapters, giving greater attention to each genre. A new chapter, "Culturally Conscious Literature," explores multicultural and international children's literature while focusing on broad-based units of study that transcend individual cultures. Books that are especially appropriate for struggling readers are indicated in the bibliographies. SUPPLEMENTS

Supporting this second edition are three supplements that we hope you and your students will find valuable.

The updated Instructor's Manual contains chapter outlines, teaching tips, suggested test items, and model syllabi. Instructors may contact their local Merrill/Prentice Hall representatives to obtain this supplement. Extensive bibliographies have been placed on a dual-platform, searchable CD database packaged free with every copy. Instructors and students can easily use this software to search for children's books by author, title, illustrator, genre, subject, reading, interest level, publisher, copyright year, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, readers can save comments on existing entries and enter bibliographic information for other titles of their choosing. This software will be an indispensable professional resource for years to come. A free Companion Website allows on-line posting of syllabi and has an interactive study guide, links to web-based resources, a message board, and numerous other features. Instructors and students may access the Companion Website at prenhall/stoodt-hill

We hope that our enthusiasm will stimulate you to read to children, talk about books with them, and acquaint them with the joy of literature that will last them a lifetime.

We wish to express our sincere appreciation for the support and encouragement of Brad Potthoff and Mary Evangelista.

We would also like to thank the following reviewers: Susan Knell, Pittsburgh State University; Barbara N. Kupetz, Indiana. University of Pennsylvania; Deborah Overstreet, University of Southwestern Louisiana; Robert F. Smith, Towson University; Pat T. Sharp, Baylor University; and Barbara Stein, University of North Texas.

From the Back Cover

Children’s Literature: Discovery for a Lifetime is an indispensable tool that teachers, librarians, and parents can use to create and foster children’s interest in books. The authors concisely illuminate the highest quality of children’s literature, choosing titles that will captivate children and promote a lifetime of reading. 

 

The fourth edition of this popular text now features:

• NEW! Classroom snapshots that provide concrete examples of teachers promoting cognitive development with literature.

• NEW! Emphasis on graphic novels and manga across several chapters.
• NEW! A chapter dedicated to exploring sensitive and contemporary issues in children’s literature.

 

Readers will also be able to:

• Explore wide-ranging examples of current and classic literature in all genres—picture books, poetry, traditional literature, modern fantasy, realistic fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction books—to understand, select and evaluate children’s literature.
• Review extensive lists of literature references and recommended children’s books by descriptors, genre designations, grade levels, publisher, and copyright information. 
• Stimulate reading and an exploration of children’s literature withpractical Classroom Activities that arealigned with the IRA and NCTE standards.  
• Focus on multicultural literature, illustrating the need to choose books that reflect the voices of many cultural groups and that foster an understanding, appreciation, and respect for our diverse society. 
• Engage children in author and illustrator studies with great models described in Biographical Profiles.
• Learn how to develop children’s social and cultural consciousness by exploring literature-based units that cut across cultures in the Unit Studies chapter.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gorsuch Scarisbrick Pub
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0137778066
• ISBN 13: 9780137778065
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 528