Introducing children from kindergarten through junior high school to the joy and benefits of reading, this book examines children's literature and its treatment of important, sometimes controversial issues. Focusing on the personal and societal concerns of today's youth--including sexuality, divorce, heritage, abuse, and death--the book offers practical suggestions for using books to help children successfully confront these matters. Each chapter in the book includes suggested criteria, discussion of children's books, references, resources, and an annotated bibliography. After an introduction, chapters in the book are: (1) Siblings; (2) Adoption and Foster Care; (3) Divorce; (4) Family Constellations; (5) Sexuality; (6) Aging; (7) Death; (8) Gender Roles; (9) Heritage; (10) Special Needs; (11) Abuse; and (12) War and Peace. Appendixes present 102 resources for teaching a literature-based curriculum, 101 additional references for the study of children's literature, 53 activities for extending literature, selected childrens' book awards, and publishers' addresses. (RS)