Picturing the World: Informational Picture Books for Children - Softcover

Isaacs, Kathleen T.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0838911269 ISBN 13: 9780838911266

Publisher: ALA Editions, 2012

Synopsis

Enrich your library collection with outstanding informational books that children really want to read. This annotated resource by veteran children's book reviewer Isaacs surveys the best nonfiction/informational titles for ages 3 through 10, helping librarians make informed collection development and purchasing decisions. With information on 250 books, this volume

• Features an introductory chapter which takes a close look at what makes a successful informational picture book
• Provides thoughtful descriptions for each title, including complete bibliographic information, age-level guidance, and notes on book awards won
• Works as curriculum support as well as a tool for elementary RA, with easy-to-use topical organization and a separate subject index

Picturing the World is an invaluable aid to librarians and educators in their ongoing search for high quality informational children's books.

About this title

About the Author

Kathleen T. Isaacs spent many years as a teacher, with intermittent stints as a school and public librarian. She has taught in schools and universities in Baltimore, Washington, Hong Kong, and Xi an, China, and has traveled extensively in many parts of the world. She has chaired selection committees for ALSC s Sibert Award, ALSC s Notable Children s Books, and USBBY s Outstanding International Book Committees, and twice served as a member of ALSC s Newbery Award committee. Most recently, she has been teaching children s literature in the education program at Towson University in Maryland. She regularly contributes articles and reviews to professional publications.

Reviews

Isaacs draws on her considerable experience as a teacher and librarian to produce this useful tool. She begins by clarifying the terminology, followed by a chapter outlining solid criteria for making choices. The remainder of the book consists of seven chapters with such broad titles as "The Natural World Around Us" and "Ourselves and Our World at Home and School," with critical, informative annotations for close to 300 titles, all published within the last 10 years. An appendix provides a list of awards and Best-of-the-Year book lists mentioned in the annotations. Title, author, illustrator, and subject indexes are included. Considering the emphasis on nonfiction in the new Common Core Standards, elementary librarians wishing to flesh out their collections will find this a valuable resource.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

With the advent and adoption of the Common Core State Standards, informational books are getting more press. This title clarifies the term informational as opposed to nonfiction (the latter means books that are so classified in the Dewey system—thus, folktales or poetry are included; the former indicates the author’s intention to inform the reader) and gives a clear definition of picture book. After discussing how to choose good informational picture books, the extended bibliography covers children and their worlds at home and school, the natural world, vocations and jobs, the arts, religion, history, and current times and events. Each bibliographic entry gives the author, title, illustrator, publisher, ISBN, age range, and a detailed extended annotation, written in a clear, readable style. A great tool for teachers and librarians alike, this has a place in most school libraries’ professional sections. --Ann Welton

Edition details

• Publisher: ALA Editions
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0838911269
• ISBN 13: 9780838911266
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 216