When selecting and evaluating historical children's literature, there are many questions that must be considered. For example, who will be reading the book? Is the imagined young reader of these historical stories a White, middle class cisgender heterosexual, able-bodied student who was born in the United States, or are child readers from all…

Christopher Myers won acclaim at a young age as a vibrant illustrator of children's picturebooks. In this interview, Myers discusses how he has advocated for diversity in children's literature through themes that weave throughout his writing and illustration, collaborations with other artists, and his participation in the communities of artists,…

For the author's final Master Teacher article, she wishes to pay tribute to a scholar whose work in the field of children's literature has inspired her for years. Throughout her long and distinguished career, Rudine Sims Bishop, professor emerita from The Ohio State University, has shared extensive knowledge and numerous insights on issues related…

How might we understand the experiences of the millions of displaced children around the world on a personal rather than impersonal level? How might we understand in a way that is immediate rather than abstract? The experiences of displaced child characters in global children's literature mirror the experiences of children in our embodied world,…

The purpose of this article is to investigate representations of diversity in books included in early childhood classroom libraries. The authors hope to contribute to ongoing, critical conversations in the field by providing preliminary baseline data that verify and underscore the need for increased critical attention toward the books selected for…

Books can indeed change us, and the Notable Children's Books in the English Language Arts Selection Committee is pleased to share a list of powerful books that they believe have the potential to change individuals. Through this list, they hope readers discover books that not only are worth reading but also can stretch their imaginations and…

Books provide an opportunity through which children can learn what it means to be in the world and to respond flexibly and creatively to a diverse range of situations. Author/illustrator Kadir Nelson creates books that provide these opportunities for readers of all ages. A dominant theme in current conversations surrounding children's literature…

Apps are no longer technical innovation but rather a cultural phenomenon that touches upon potentially every aspect of daily life in Western culture (Stichnothe, 2014, p.198). In this article, Colleen O'Connell, the director for digital books at HarperCollins, is interviewed about the background of book apps and their potential for teaching and…

An understanding of the importance of nonfiction literature in classroom instruction is not new within the field of education. The recent implementation of the Common Core State Standards (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010) has brought an increased policy focus. The Common…

Like other multimodal texts, the design, publication, and delivery of contemporary picture-books have been impacted by the digital revolution and the affordances of digital reading devices. Print-based picture-books are being published alongside digital narratives, and new digital picture-books are being created that no long begin as print-based…

On the 40th anniversary of the Children's Literature Assembly (CLA), it seemed appropriate to document and reflect on where the assembly has been, and to discover how the organization that is so valued has evolved. Knowing the history is helpful for framing the future, not only of the organization but also of the field of children's literature. It…

As readers, we often seek out books that will help us find our way or will provide us with new insights. We select books for classrooms and children based on their interests, questions, and life situations. With this in mind, the selections this year are organized around the theme of searching. We search for peace around the world, among our own…

When teachers work with students to construct a metalanguage that they can draw on to describe and analyze graphic novels, and then invite students to apply that metalanguage in the service of composing multimodal texts of their own, teachers broaden students' analytical frameworks. In the process of doing so, teachers empower students. In this…

Picturebooks are written artifacts that convey cultural messages and values about society and help children learn about their world. Books children read and interact with, including those used in classrooms and educational settings, can influence children's self-awareness (Chaudhri & Teale, 2013) and help them develop a positive self-identity…

Poetry can enhance all content areas. This article shares highlights from the 2014 CLA Master Class focused on using poetry in math, science, social studies, the arts, and physical education/movement. Presenters and participants read poems, asked questions, and engaged in lively discussions about using poetry to enhance all content areas. Chair…