Stories are important teaching tools. To ensure that young children are informed and experience more than a handful of African American women and girls' stories and authors, this article showcases notable and little-known accomplishments of exceptional women, real and imaginary. Brinson offers an annotated list of children's literature, fiction…

The research questions were: What sources of information do teachers use in their book-club discussions; and is there variability among teachers in which sources of information they use in book club discussions? Sources of information were described in four categories: (a) the Book-Club Text that is read and discussed by the book club…

Strong reading comprehension skills are central not only to academic and professional success, but also to a productive social and civic life. These skills build the capacity to learn independently, to absorb information on a variety of topics, to enjoy reading, and to experience literature more deeply. Despite the growing demand for highly…

With an increasingly diverse nation and an ever-smaller world, global awareness is a necessity for today's students. This unique and indispensable handbook shows how teachers can use global literature to help students expand their worldview while developing increased respect for cultural diversity. The authors explain how to infuse global…

This article discusses how Mary Curran-Hackett, an adjunct faculty member at the University of Cincinnati in the English Literature and Composition and Rhetoric Departments, was determined to hook her students on reading. She wanted to find a topic on which every single student would undoubtedly have an opinion, and if not a preconceived notion,…

Teachers often wonder how to add social justice and care for the environment to an already packed curriculum. Books and the ensuing conversations with children are a way to re-imagine the curriculum, rather than adding to it. Fiction and nonfiction books allow children to travel beyond what they know and live into the lives of others. This article…

Dogs are indeed people's best friends. A majority of owners report that their dog is a "member of the family," and that acceptable canine behavior and optimal care are high priorities for them. The human-animal bond, the close connection between people and their pets, is forged by positive interactions, but unacceptable canine behaviors that…

This article offers a savvy guide to the best graphic nonfiction books for teens. Many of these titles work well with teens, offering them quick access to facts and an enjoyable encounter with books and information literacy. In putting together this list of essential titles for high schoolers, the author searched for graphic nonfiction that is…

What kinds of books do children want to read? And how can a teacher find those books? The author provides some ideas for interesting new books in the categories of graphic novels, humorous adventures, poetry, and books about math.

Little is known concerning the incidence or importance of various types of reading materials. (CK)

Read-alouds nurture language and literacy practices required for a successful schooling experience. They motivate children to read more and nurture language expression across the curriculum. Read-alouds not only provide content for learning, they also introduce authors and genres; model ways of reading, types of writing, and other ways of…

A wealth of research documents the reading preferences of young children. However, much less is known about children's actual agendas or reasons for using and experiencing books. This article proposes the simple ENGAGE process to help adults better understand what children believe is best about the books in their lives. Twelve books are reviewed…

The goal of the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Practice Guide, "Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices," is to formulate specific and coherent evidence-based recommendations that educators can use to improve literacy levels among adolescents in upper elementary, middle, and high schools. It includes…

The Clique, a contemporary popular series for girls, has been criticized in the popular and professional media but includes thematic content similar to some of the more lauded mid-nineteenth-century domestic fiction for girls. By making a formal comparison of this popular series with domestic fiction for girls (much of which is now considered…

The children's literature market has experienced enormous growth in recent years, providing teachers with an abundance of resources with which to teach reading. High-quality informational texts abound. Yet, teachers often are uncertain about how to select appropriate informational texts to use with younger readers when including them in…