Various techniques for providing reader's advisory services in public libraries are discussed, including managing the reader's advisory interview, writing annotations for booklists, preparing topical and effective displays, genre cataloging, holding book talks and reviews, using library space effectively, and utilizing e-mail discussion groups to…

Talks about how the author came to be a feminist and a writer. Discusses the domestic settings within which she grew up, her writing processes, how her interests and concerns influence her writing, why she chooses to give women priority in her writing world, and the importance of bearing witness to the world with one's own story. (SR)

Believes that by incorporating fiction and folklore into a social studies unit on Japan, students will benefit from their new perspectives on the world. Notes different literary works that can be implemented. Provides a list of questions to assist social studies teachers with selecting children's literature for use in the classroom. (CMK)

Discusses various issues related to translated books. Provides five points for selection criteria and 46 annotated titles of well-translated literature for students at primary, intermediate, and middle-school levels. Discusses how an increased interest in international books reflects the result of reducing political barriers among nations and the…

Describes how the author uses numerous books of biography and autobiography in her primary classroom. Demonstrates how these genres engage students in critical discussions focusing on issues of human experience, historical significance, and social concern. Offers a list of 47 recommended children's biographies and autobiographies. (SR)

Presents six brief articles by six Arizona teachers offering their reflections about practices, strategies, and vision as they make changes toward a multicultural curriculum. (SR)

Provides an excellent annotated bibliography of children's trade books, fiction, poetry, and miscellaneous works about the Oregon Trail. Includes a concise overview of the hardships faced by settlers as they followed the trail during the westward expansion. A bibliography of reference sources at the end of the article also is very useful. (MJP)

Argues that the illuminating, conceptual, and contextual qualities of literature make it an excellent resource for teaching social studies concepts, especially those concerning multiculturalism. Advocates reading the books as complete works rather than piecemeal assignments. Includes suggestions for selected books and related topics. (MJP)

Evaluated in two studies the role of book rotation and number of books available in promoting book use among preschool children in day care classrooms. Found some support for book rotation in promoting voluntary book use, but teacher presence in the reading area was most strongly correlated with children's book use. (JPB)

Offers brief descriptions of 25 books, both fiction and nonfiction, that are accessible to struggling readers, provide a high-quality reading experience, and may allow them to break through their difficulties to see reading as something of value to their lives. (SR)

Presents an annotated bibliography of trade books for children in grades K-8 that emphasize human relations, sensitivity to cultural experiences, originality, high literacy quality, and a pleasing format. Explains that the books are arranged by categories and subthemes. Indicates the thematic strands of social studies curriculum standards that…

Students learning English as a new language are the fastest-growing group in U.S. schools today. These students speak many languages, their reading levels cover a wide range, and they experience great cognitive demands as they learn both language and content in order to participate fully in class. Literature can play a critical role in immersing…

Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) of silent reading fluency using the maze task has been shown to be a useful tool for evaluating students' silent reading skills. No prior research has evaluated whether the source of the maze passages has a relationship with the obtained reading scores. Prior research with CBM of oral reading fluency (ORF) has…

Enthusiasm for and a commitment to literature are the essential tools needed to successfully promote the enriching, challenging, and thought-provoking world of books. This paper focuses on the promotion of literature inside the classroom, inside the library, and in the wider community. Programs at Methodist Ladies' College (Australia), a boarding…

This book aims to show parents how to instill the love of reading in their children and how to nurture that love throughout their lives, even in the face of television, video, and computer entertainment. The book is based on the concept of "reading pathways," developed after more than 20 years of classroom observation and interviews. It…