Interviews author Jim Murphy, two-time winner of the Orbis Pictus award for children's nonfiction. Discusses his writing processes, finding subjects, his fascination with first-hand accounts of history, his use of visual displays that extend text, and ensuring accuracy. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions of 33 books for children and young readers, including: very short novels worthy of very long conversations; picture books for multicultural collections; books for the youngest students; novels for older readers; and books that encourage readers to appreciate their natural environment. (SR)

Discusses the legacy of the work of Margaret Edwards for young adult librarianship. Highlights include accepting adult books for young adults; promoting reading and emphasizing the role of librarians in encouraging reading; meaningful outreach services; and youth participation. (LRW)

Discusses the life and works of acclaimed writer Walter Dean Myers. Describes his struggles growing up, his time in the army, his decision to become a writer, and the father/son relationships in his books. Discusses how Myers' concern for African-American heritage, identity, and pride led to biographies of Sarah Forbes and of Malcolm X. (SR)

Argues that librarians, teachers, and parents can and should become book critics, since all perform acts of criticism when they select picture books to read aloud or to recommend to children. Discusses limitations of book criticism, skills or sensibilities needed, and the steps involved. Outlines four activities that help develop analytical…

Notes that much of what students read in high school (both young adult literature and the classics) leaves them feeling sad and confused. Argues that teachers can balance that with windows of hope through literature. Offers examples from young adult literature for each of three categories of optimism. Discusses two young adult novels which…

Presents brief descriptions of 30 children's trade books from every genre (published in 1997), selected by the Notable Children's Books Committee for their outstanding potential to enhance language awareness among students in grades K-8. (SR)

Discusses three books that can take readers all over the world in geographies both personal and global, visiting grandfather's and grandmother's spaces, literally and figuratively, helping readers know themselves as they remember their "belonging." (SR)

This article proposes guided reading of biographies as a counseling strategy through which middle and high school educators may assist gifted females in gaining helpful insights to deal with problems they face. Biographies of gifted females are highlighted, as well as ways teachers and counselors might use such an approach. (Contains references.)…

Suggests that it is easier to invigorate class discussion and stimulate critical thinking if students discover the constructed nature of the canon by first seeing that their notions about a "typical" Poe story have been shaped by an often invisible process of selection and exclusion. (SG)

Presents nine answers to frequently asked questions about "Adolescent Literature," sometimes called YA (Young Adult Literature), including: what YA literature is, why it did not exist before 1967, why educators read YA literature, YA's relation to the classics, building a classroom library of YA books, essential resources for teachers, and some…

Offers overviews of 13 recent predictable books for children, noting books that invite drama activities and books that lead to writing activities. Suggests ways to help young children become confidant and joyful readers and writers. (SR)

Presents brief responses from six educators describing the best young adult novel they have ever read, and why they chose that book. (SR)

Discusses 14 books for young readers, chosen for the diversity of their languages, cultures, and uniqueness. (SR)

Finds that both low-ability and average-ability first-grade readers, and to a lesser extent high-ability readers, from different socioeconomic backgrounds, select books that are beyond students' reading level. Discusses influences of gender and genre on these selections. Discusses the relation of frustration-level texts to interest and motivation,…