Explains how children's literature (particularly illustrated tradebooks) makes its way into basal anthologies. Sets an implicit standard for reviewing and selecting such anthologies. (RS)

Provides brief annotations and publisher's information for 100 children's and young adult trade books chosen by school children throughout the United States as the books they liked best. (SR)

Discusses the attitudes and issues of reluctant readers by describing the author's son Jonathan, an intelligent young man who came to hate reading. Offers advice for teachers from Jonathan regarding how they can help students enjoy reading more. Presents annotations of 11 new or overlooked young adult books worth reading. (SR)

Presents brief accounts from four secondary English teachers describing short stories and short story units that they have successfully taught. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions of 34 children's books that are excellent for reading aloud: some of them for inviting interaction, for laughing out loud, for prompting discussion, for living vicariously, for lingering over language, and for making curricular connections. (SR)

Explains the need to think of curriculum as consisting of units of study across a writing year. Outlines a predictable structure for genre study and helps teachers think about how to choose literature to support these studies. Appends a sample year-long curriculum chart and a blank chart to use for planning. (RS)

Examines aspects of censorship that professional educators do not usually acknowledge--a silent, self-imposed censorship. Asks at what point book selection policy becomes a means to justify rejecting the purchase or provide for the removal of specific titles from the bookshelves. Suggests a solution: a written selection policy at the school and…

Presents a short dialogue on issues of representing children's literature for a wider audience, regarding "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Discusses a featured book and offers brief descriptions of 5 picture books and informational texts, and 6 autobiographies, discussing them in tandem with 15 landmark children's books. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions of 16 children's books published between 1997 and 1999 (discussing them in tandem with landmark children's books), focusing on the wide range of narratives about the world and about childhood that adults create for children through children's literature. Discusses picture books, poetry in picture books, and books for…

Argues that recent translations of works into Spanish are a great way to engage Spanish-speaking adolescents in the reading process. Offers brief descriptions of 16 such books that offer appeal for reluctant readers, accessible adventures, books about trendy subjects of interest to adolescents, and engrossing renditions of classics by world…

Discusses the surprising book choices made by one group of middle school students. Observes that some young adult literature addresses difficult issues about growing up and about society. Argues that an important aspect of growing into and through reading is the development of independence by the reader in finding books that are personally…

Presents brief annotations of 111 children's books published in 1997 in this annual list of trade books chosen by teams of children around the country as their favorites. Groups books in four different reading levels. Offers tips for parents, primary caregivers, and educators about reading with children. (SR)

Finds a generalizable pattern that is learned and followed by most children when they select books. Suggests that refinements and elaborations are best demonstrated by "outlier" behaviors atypical to the basic book-selection routine. Shows children typically select books based upon the physical characteristics of the book and a holistic,…

Offers brief descriptions of 14 recently published books for young adult readers that deal with difficult topics but that also shed light and offer hope. Organizes them into: collections of stories and poems; stories that deal with memoirs, memories and dreams; and stories of friends and family. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions of 12 recently published books of young adult literature that offer voices from history, real kids with real problems, and whispers from the future. Discusses two simple guidelines for recommending books to students, and notes three suitable adult books as well as three resources for locating adult books that will be of…