The text samples presented in this document primarily serve to exemplify the level of complexity and quality that the Standards require all students in a given grade band to engage with. Additionally, they are suggestive of the breadth of texts that students should encounter in the text types required by the Standards. The choices should serve as…

This collection of abstracts is part of a continuing series providing information on recent doctoral dissertations. The 31 titles deal with a variety of topics, including the following: (1) the reader pragmatics of fiction; (2) readers' choices versus critics' choices in children's literature; (3) nonverbal communication in selected works of…

For generations teachers have tried to teach the approved "classics" of our culture. Today, with the mass media claiming so much of students' time and interest, this approach is more than ever doomed to failure. A better plan is to focus on popular culture: comic books, popular fiction (westerns, horror tales, and science fiction), movies, and…

Intended as a an aid to elementary school teachers, this handbook presents a literature unit based on the children's book, "Madeline" (Ludwig Bemelmans). It begins with sample lesson plans, a unit planner, getting to know the book and author, and suggestions for using the unit activities. Next, a section offers unit activities focusing…

This annotated bibliography of contemporary multicultural books for children is divided into sections on: (1) non-fiction, biography (12 citations); (2) non-fiction, information (18 citations); (3) contemporary realistic fiction (14 citations); (4) folklore (11 citations); (5) historical fiction (11 citations); (6) modern fantasy (10 citations);…

Drawing on examples from the best and most popular works in mystery writing--from Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane to Scott Turow and Thomas Harris--this book introduces the fledgling writer to his or her most indispensable "partners in crime": character, plot, and procedure; the secrets to creating heroes and villains; the art of…

This book highlights an approach to develop a program using children's literature to spark student interest in science. Reviews and recommendations of children's literature contained in the book include science-focused fiction and nonfiction selections and reflect a variety of literary styles. Using the literature as a stimulus, teachers are…

This illustrated bilingual children's book (English and Spanish), relates the story of Pepita, a young Hispanic girl who is fluent in both Spanish and English. Pepita always helps when asked to talk for others in Spanish and English. But one day Pepita decides she doesn't want to help anymore. She wants to hurry and get home from school before her…

In a study published in 1987, Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson proposed that an abstract sociolinguistic principle guides and constrains a speaker's choice of language, and that this principle explains the politeness phenomenon in conversation. Moreover, central to this principle is the concept of "face," or personal self-image,…

This annotated bibliography, listing fiction titles for young adults on the subject of religion and the religious experience, will be useful to teachers, librarians, and others working with young adults. There are few existing guides to the literature in this subject area. This study explores fiction published from 1986 through 1990. The only…

This study explored the themes in children's fiction with the subject of an alcoholic parent and evaluated the treatment of the subject in novels from the 1960s and the 1980s. It was hypothesized that, compared to writings from the 1960s, writings from the 1980s would more often contain references to the disease concept of alcoholism, would more…

This annotated bibliography lists contemporary, realistic fiction with gifted school-age protagonists. The 82 novels, published between 1946 and 1992, are arranged alphabetically by author. Each listing includes the publisher, specific talent areas, and a suggested grade-level target audience, from early elementary to senior high. The bibliography…

A study investigated the religious and spiritual values in selected children's books. A second study investigated children's comprehension of the values messages. Thirty realistic fiction books which won, or were honor books for, the John Newbery Medals for 1974-1988 were selected. A modified version of the Values Category Scale was developed and…

This is a bibliography of materials available in large print format for children. Entries are arranged alphabetically by title. Information on each title includes the author, year of publication, age level, subject or subjects, and a brief annotation. All entries are classified as "easy fiction." In addition to general subjects, specialized…

Discusses social development of teenagers in four selected adolescent novels. (RB)