Charles Temple
Miriam A. Martinez, University of Texas, San Antonio
Junko Yokota, National-Louis University

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2006
Format: Cloth; 608 pp

ISBN-10:	0205420435
ISBN-13:	9780205420438

Our Price: £56.99
Status: Instock
Published: 23 Aug 2005

This highly lauded text, with a “reader-response” approach and extensive inclusion of culturally diverse literature, has been updated to include coverage of such important topics as technology in the classroom, visual literacy, and the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2000 on reading instruction in the public schools.

Framing the content within a perspective of cultural diversity, renowned authors Charlie Temple, Miriam Martinez, and Junko Yokota  take the reader inside the workings of children’s literature, focusing on ways in which literature elicits responses from young readers, genre by genre and book by book. The text provides a full range of thoughtful and practical suggestions for sharing and exploring literature with children. Thus, there is a natural connection between the presentation and exploration of good books for children (including more than 2,000 annotations) and the rich repertoire of reader-response-based techniques. This connection prepares the reader not only to choose good literary works for children, but to understand their dynamics and be able to engage young readers.

Part 1. Understanding Literature and the Child Reader.                                                            

1. Children’s Books in Children’s Hands.

2. Literary Elements of Children’s Literature.                                                                                  

3. The Child Reader Responds to Literature.                                                                                   

4. Literature Representing Diverse Perspectives.                                                                           

Part 2. Exploring the Genres of Children’s Literature.                                                              

5. Picture Books.                                                                                                                                  

6. Traditional Literature.                                                                                                                      

7. Poetry for Children.                                                                                                                         

8. Contemporary Realistic Fiction.                                                                                                    

9. Historical Fiction.                                                                                                                             

10. Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction.                                                                                        

11. Informational Books and Biography.                                                                                          

Part 3. Creating the Literature-Based Classroom.                                                                      

12. Inviting Children into Literature: Classroom Libraries, Read Alouds, and Storytelling.

13. Encouraging Response to Literature.                                                                                         

14. Literary and Content Units.

• Up-to-date and early discussion of reader response theory and its implications for the study and teaching of children's literature including the most current research findings on children's responses to literature (Ch. 3).
• Two full chapters of practical and specific teaching suggestions:
• Chapter 14, “Literature Units in the Curriculum”, is built around a distinction between literary units and literature-based content units, exploring the development of both types and including lists of books that could be used in a variety of different units.
• Chapter 12 discusses creating classroom contexts that invite children into literature, and provides unique coverage of effective use of the classroom library, storytelling, and read-alouds.  
•  “Ask the Author/Illustrator/Educator” essays by prominent children's literature authors, illustrators, editors, and educators appear in every chapter.
• “Issues to Consider” feature in every chapter presents a much debated issue in children's literature related to chapter content.  
•  “Recommended Books” lists, which include publication data, interest level, and a brief annotation for every book listed, appear at the conclusion of all chapters.
• Useful end-of-book Appendices include: Children's Book Awards and Children's Magazines with Literacy Content.
• Historical material is integrated within each of the genre chapters.

• Packed with new and revised practical applications:
  • “Straight from the Classroom” is a first-person essay from a practicing teacher that describes a successful activity or method used in the classroom.
  • More specific teaching models and ideas for instruction included on the “Encouraging Response to Literature” chapter (Ch. 13).
  • Revised “Teaching Ideas” throughout each chapter provide valuable, practical lesson ideas and activities.  
  • “The Teacher as Student: Activities for Your Continuing Development” are end-of-chapter activities that help readers develop various aspects of their teaching skills. 
• Three key chapters have been completely revised:
  • Uniquely updated Chapter 4 on Multicultural and International Literature  expands the definition of diversity by including discussion of exceptionalities, gender equality, and homosexuality and alternative families, devoting more time discussing literature written from the perspectives of “inside” and “outside” the culture.
  • The richly illustrated “Picture Books” Chapter (5) includes a new discussion on cultural influences on art in picture books; unique discussion of book design, including covers; and unique coverage of visual literacy and “reading” illustrations.
  •  “Literary Meaning-Making and Children’s Response to Literature” (Ch. 3) addresses the need for more attention to illustration by including a unique textual perspective section that presents material on visual literacy and discusses differences in responses to chapter and picture books.
• New and unique pedagogical features:
  • “Top Shelf” booklists in every chapter list the authors’ best picks of titles that exemplify a particular concept discussed in the chapter (e.g. Humorous Picture Books or Multicultural Audiobooks.)
  • “Teacher-Librarian Partnership” feature in every chapter offers suggestions on collaborations between teachers and librarians.
  • “Technology in Practice” teaching tips appear throughout each chapter and provide practical ideas and activities for the classroom utilizing new media technology (e.g. how to create a student book referral database).
• New and expanded coverage of important and timely topics: the re-emergence of graphic novels (aka comic books), the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2000 on reading instruction in the public schools, and censorship all in Chapter 1; visual depictions in traditional literature in Chapter 6; historical evolution of realistic fiction, and magical realism both in Chapter 8.
• TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE —
  • Allyn & Bacon’s Children's Literature Database CD-ROM, Mac and PC helps users search and browse information about over 7,000 books as well as links to related websites.
  • Companion Website with Interactive Appendices include: Professional Organizations; Publisher's Addresses; Book Selection Aids; Children's Literature Websites.
  • “Meet the Authors” video offers interviews with and readings by several of the children's book authors and illustrators featured in the text.