Highlights 10 multicultural children's books examined in a language arts methods class including both picture books and novels and varying topics about current and historical experiences faced by children from a wide variety of countries and cultures. (SG)

Examines the genre of "Myth" in children's books. Discusses 38 titles focusing on mythology in children's books. Considers myths in Africa and Ancient Egypt, Asia and the Pacific, Canada and the United States, and Spanish-speaking America. Discusses story collections from around the world, original creation stories, and Genesis, the Biblical…

Notes how literature has a powerful role to play in fostering children's understanding of mathematical ideas. Discusses 19 books focusing on mathematics. Concludes that children's literature can help restore the story that has often been missing in traditional mathematics instruction. (SG)

Notes that Kathy G. Short, winner of the International Reading Association's Arbuthnot Award for the year 2000, began her relationship with and love for books during childhood. Presents an interview in which she shares the sources of her passion for children's literature, insights into its place in the curriculum, and concerns for the present role…

Discusses how at the National Council of Teachers of English conference, the Children's Literature Assembly sponsors a Master Class focusing on the teaching of children's literature. Presents an overview of the insights shared by each of the three presenters during the Master Class in the year 2000, which focused on illustration in children's…

Discusses how to bring up and discuss the issues of race and class. Explores how to approach, in the classroom, the idea of the white supremacists and the anti-white name-calling in the book "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli. Proposes that educators who are involved with children's literature must rethink how they read children's literature. (SG)

Uses Orbis Pictus Award Committee criteria (accuracy, organization, design, and style) to examine an informational book, "Rice Is Life," by Rita Golden Gelman. Subjects the book to a deeper critical analysis. Suggests that it is important to help students become critical thinkers about everything they read, including informational books. (SG)

Examines the images, both negative and positive, of farm workers in 27 children's picture books. Offers strategies for critical reading. Surveys children's picture books in which a farm setting is integral to plot, character development, or theme. Includes only those books published within the last 10 years. (SG)

Examines images and the written text in the picture book, "The Day of Ahmed's Secret," by Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland. Examines the book in greater detail by looking for issues of authenticity as well as social issues within the book's pictures and written texts. (SG)

Explores different ways of writing to portray the idea of the difference between Asian Americans and Asians living in Asia. Discusses some prejudices the author encountered as an Asian American, born in the United States. (SG)

Analyzes three novels by three authors and conducted interviews to gain insights about their work. Explores with the authors their perceptions of their protagonists as role models or heroes. Discusses with the authors whether or not they would describe their protagonists as conformists or non-conformists. Gains insights from the authors regarding…

Presents an interview with the illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon. Concludes that they hope their illustrations will bring to children a feeling of pride and understanding that they are all important and are all part of one world. (SG)

Notes that a rich body of Canadian children's literature exists that reflects the country's literary and socio-cultural values, beliefs, themes and images, including those of geography, history, language and identity. Discusses how Canadians tend to identify themselves first by region or province and then by nation. (SG)

Discusses the use of literature clusters (8 to 12 children's books on a particular topic) to enhance learning and instruction. Concludes that the process of developing a literature cluster on intergenerational relationships will result in a cluster that expresses both the participants' experiences and their understanding of the intended audience.…

Presents annotations of 30 children's books published in 2000, vivid in language and diverse in genre, content, and style, selected as notable for their potential to enhance language awareness for children in grades K-8. (SG)