Saavedra discusses how children in the borderlands can inform our language and literacy practices through the Latin American literary genre known as "testimonio." Drawing from the work of Chicana/Latina feminist pedagogy, I frame my "experiencias" with language and literacy in three different moments in my life. Through these…

This article explores the possibilities of graphic novels with young readers. During the 2009-2010 school year, while working with four fifth-grade students, the author examined the question "In what ways do readers engage while reading a graphic novel?" The fifth graders took part in book discussions and one-on-one interviews after reading two…

Nonlinearity that is often demonstrated through multiple story lines presented in words or pictures, or one narrative text that is disrupted and goes in its own unique direction is the most common characteristic of postmodern picture books. This new subgenera is also served by multiple perspectives.

The relative absence of nonfiction in literature for young readers may have serious implications because nonfiction literacy matters. Nonfiction material is the crucible within which readers can gain the knowledge and skills that enable them to reach sound decisions in all arenas of life, avoid gullibility born of ignorance, and participate in an…

A new procedure to assist students in selecting topics and organizing information for planning is developed in the multigenre research. Writing a brief report on the research with passion and purpose is one of the important aspects in this research.

This article focuses on a collaborative project between two fifth-grade dual language teachers (English-Spanish) and a university researcher as they engaged children in a study of memoir. The bilingual children in these classes cultivated their genre knowledge by participating in the ways of writers of memoir through the careful adaptations the…

A kindergarten teacher describes how children conceptualized the genre of Mystery. An exploration of mystery reveals the processes young children use to construct their understandings of genre.

How can teachers help their students write effectively and purposefully in a variety of genres despite the challenges of increased testing and curriculum mandates? Working within the writing workshop framework, a group of elementary school teachers participated in The Zine Project, a personalized approach to writing, in which they created their…

Discusses the themes and elements prevalent in historical fiction and reviews several quality works of historical fiction for young readers. (HTH)

A fourth grader's reading and retelling is studied to demonstrate how he learns about the complexity of the text while he reads. The importance of understanding what a reader learns through transaction with a well-written complex text is also discussed.

Provides brief descriptions of 27 children's books that teachers may use in approaching literary study and organizing literature units. Groups the books around literary elements, structures, devices, and genres. (SR)

Examines R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series, and investigates why children (including the author's two daughters) like them. Explores the lures of the horror fiction genre. Suggests that the attractiveness of the genre can be found in books more rewarding in literary terms, such as those by John Bellairs. Offers suggestions about the…

Discusses the four major concentrations that can form the framework for a childrens literature program: children's interests, literary types, literary elements, and creators of children's literature. (DD)

Introduces briefly the social, meaning-based linguistic perspective of genre. Describes how written language is different from oral language. Shows the complexity of written language structure by illustrating how the "element of description" is realized in various written genres. Examines the implications of making genre a more critical…

Means of organizing a genre study within a reader's workshop to invite students into fantasy worlds is discussed by the teachers of fourth grade. The students can naturally get into critical reading by identifying the characteristics of fantasy.