Describes the Americas Award for children's and young adult literature, designed to encourage and commend authors and publishers who produce quality children's and young adult books that portray Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States and to provide teachers with recommendations for classroom use. (Author/JL)

This article discusses currently available young adult literature with characters who have visual impairments and provides two sets of criteria for selecting and incorporating those books into inclusive middle and high school classes. The article closes with an annotated bibliography of 13 books that feature characters with visual impairments.…

Presents thoughts of teachers (many from Lee Expressive Arts Elementary School in Columbia, Missouri) on why they engage in the expressive arts and literature. Offers specific examples of how teachers explore life and literature through drama, music, and art with 22 children's books. (SR)

Describes how the teacher of a Composition II class (a second-semester composition class with the emphasis in research writing and bibliography) had the students, through their research, generate the readings for themselves. Describes how class discussion, writing fluency and clarity, rhetorical strategies, and development of essays all displayed…

Offers brief descriptions of 12 recently and not-so-recently published books for young adults, that speak to a wide range of interests at a variety of reading levels, and that could be "just the ticket" to help a reluctant reader bond with books. (SR)

Examines the Organization of American Historians' (OAH) "Magazine of History," a specialized journal devoted to the teaching of history. Praises the magazine's interesting, colorful, and accessible treatment of historical subjects, methods, and controversies. Summarizes several innovative articles from recent theme issues. (MJP)

Investigated the early childhood teacher's role in selecting, reading, and making accessible high-quality children's books, and providing reading opportunities. Twenty-one teachers' responses showed that they mostly read books recommended for literary quality; a smaller portion of the books accessible to the children were of high quality. Problems…

Discusses sexuality education in the United States; public support for sexuality education; and the role of the library and librarian in providing sexuality information. Includes tips for providing sexuality information, which focus on creation of a supportive environment; material selection; community and national resources; and national…

Discusses text features that tended to engage boys, and describes their desire to use literacy to share and socialize. Finds that boys were more different than alike, and that very particular conditions in the social context were more important than preexisting interests. Offers brief descriptions of 11 books the author has found to be appealing…

Presents an annotated bibliography of children and young adult's books notable for their emphasis on human relations, sensitivity to cultural diversity, originality, scholarship, and high literary quality. The books are arranged by categories and themes and keyed for their usefulness in implementing thematic strands of social-studies curriculum…

This article discusses ways service providers can enhance their working relationships with families of children with special needs. It offers practical guidelines to service providers when selecting materials they plan to use and share with children and their families, such as curriculum packages, information packets, brochures, CD-ROMS,…

Conveys that multicultural children's literature can support and encourage tolerance and understanding among children. Presents information about multiculturalism in Canada and gives criteria to help teachers select multicultural literature. Suggests a number of picture books that may be used to encourage positive attitudes toward difference at…

Suggests that teachers should provide text that supports students' changing interactions with text as they move from learning about print and how it works, to the labors of learning to decode, and on to growing independence and fluency. Highlights effective uses of simple predictable text, transitional text, decodable text, easy readers, and…

The authors examine why calls for use of informational text in classrooms have been increasing and discuss what is meant by informational text. They then examine issues related to book choice and purpose, focusing particularly on informational trade books on topics in natural sciences and in the social world. Recommended practices that…

This article examines the process of identity development in gifted adolescents and provides a theoretical and research-based explanation of its importance for influencing achievement and quality of life in adulthood. Teachers, counselors, and parents can use "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (Rowling, 1997) as a springboard into discussion…