Maintains that works of historical fiction and fantasy introduce children to concepts of time and history, as well as allowing them to empathize with other people. Historical fantasy often involves a young protagonist traveling through time and experiencing different eras and events. (MJP)

Describes some academic and social behaviors typical of learning disabled students and suggests ideas for developing and modifying lessons appropriate to students' needs. The characteristics of folk and fairy tales that offer valuable literary opportunities for learning disabled students are discussed and methods for helping students deal with the…

Describes 13 practical ideas for classroom teaching at the elementary level, including writing classmates' biographies, keeping a class diary, and improving emergent readers' vocabulary with word cards. (MM)

Reading books aloud to students can motivate them to read themselves, but teachers and librarians need to learn new skills to read aloud effectively. Selecting an appropriate book, reading with expression, creating an atmosphere, and using the right questioning techniques to start a discussion all have an impact on successful reading aloud. (LAE)

Three librarians--Barbara A. Genco from Brooklyn, New York; Eleanor K. MacDonald from Beverly Hills, California; and Betsy Hearne from Chicago, Illinois--share their perspectives on where popular literature should fit into library material selection and children's reading diets. Popular literature is defined as primarily that which has first…

Although often ignored by teachers and librarians, nonfiction books can make children want to read. Teachers can create effective assignments by moving beyond textbooks to use trade nonfiction that interests students. With fiction, nonfiction makes a total literature connection that introduces, reinforces, and reviews reading skills. (SLD)

Generates questions which invite the reader to consider the people, places, and activities in their own classrooms that turn kids on or off to books. Provides some ideas and impressions from observations and conversations with children. Offers a nine-item annotated bibliography for teachers interested in reading further about this topic. (MG)

Asserts that, even with the expansion of new electronic media and educational technology, books still represent the widest range of possibilities for providing multiple perspectives on the human experience. Provides a list of 20 books reviewed and recommended in the article. (CFR)

Asserts that oral history and children's literature are effective strategies for making history relevant to elementary students. Includes a figure illustrating the webbing approach and 37 recommended children's books. (CFR)

Explains the educational value of picture books, what constitutes a picture book, what to look for in picture books, and how to select them for the classroom or school library. Gives advice on how small rural school libraries can get more books. Appendices describe 38 selection aids for children's literature and 10 children's book awards.…

Discusses six books (published in 1997 or 1998) for educators that deal with teaching young adolescents and teaching with literature. (SR)

Offers suggestions for helping students find enjoyable leisure reading books. Highlights include identifying subject matter, characterization, setting, or pace similar to previously enjoyed books; tools of young adult readers' advisory, including annual lists, bibliographies, and catalogs; peer reviews and recommendations; review newsletters; and…

Describes how the author's eighth-grade students went on a yearlong search to find the literature of the twenty-first century. Describes how the students read widely, chose their own books, evaluated them according to topic questions loosely based on the theme of breaking stereotypes, kept and shared journals, and carried out projects of their…

Presents an annotated bibliography of trade books selected by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council primarily for grades K-8 that emphasize human relations, diversity, sensitivity to cultural experiences, originality, high literary quality, and a pleasing format. Indicates the thematic strands of social…

Discusses the results of a survey of young adult librarians that investigated how their needs are being met by publishers. Highlights include budgets; nonfiction expenditures; marketing; factors that influence patrons' book selections; jacket art; adults reading young adult books; underserved populations; the need for more paperbacks; and Internet…