Children’s LiteratureCompiled by: Dr. Lee-Anne T. SpaldingSources: Literature and the Child (8th Ed.) & Genre Study

Quality children’s literature...

Contributes to oral language development

Helps students become better readers

Helps students become better writers

Leads students to LOVE reading

Unites varied cultures

Literary Narrative Elements

Setting

Characterization

Plot

Theme

Style Author’s writing Point of View

Formats

Picture Books :) • Illustrations support text (ESOL friendly)• Attract talented artists• Can be wordless• Based on format; can cover all genres• Appropriate for children of ALL ages

Graphic Novels

Transitional Chapter books

Chapter Books

Novels

During this semester, we will study eight different genres of children's literature!

FICTION

REALISM: Contemporary Realistic Fiction & Historical Fiction

FANTASY: Traditional Literature: Folklore

Modern Fantasy: Science Fiction

NONFICTION:

Biography, Autobiography & Memoir, Narrative & Expository Nonfiction

Hybrid Text

POETRY

REALISM: Realistic Fiction

Fiction set in modern times with events that actually could occur in the real world

Characters, plot and setting are created to stay within the realm of possibility

Covers a wide range of human emotions as well as traditional themes of making friends and growing up

REALISM: Historical Fiction

Fictitious characters set in past events that did or could have occurred

Authors who write this genre do careful research; now from multiple perspectives

Range in time periods from prehistoric through 20th century (up to 1980)

Usually told through the perspective of a child or young adult living through a particular time period

Fantasy: Traditional Literature/Folklore

Passed down through generations by word of mouth; therefore change over time

No known authors

Nursery rhymes, fairy tales, tall tales Paul Bunyan, fables (moral tales-teach lesson), mythology, legends, epics, hero tales, folk songs, & religious stories

Tend to be very diverse

Think of an example of classic folklore that you read growing up. Be ready to share!

FANTASY

Imaginative literature

Could not happen in the real world

Ranges from talking animal stories for very

young to complex novels that

explore universal truths

Think of an example of a

piece of children’s literature that falls under this genre. Be ready to share.

Fantasy: Science Fiction

Imaginative extrapolation of fact and theory

Use scientific principles and established theories to create stories that could happen in the future

Common science fiction- space travel and the establishment of “future worlds”

Current popular titles/series: Divergent, Hunger Games, Kingdom Keepers

The Giver in movie form August 2014

http://youtu.be/oYZxZups06w

NONFICTION: Biography, Autobiography & Memoir

• Tells of a real person’s life or portion of it

• Subjects usually have led exemplary lives and were/are famous

• Come in picture book form or chapter books and novels

• Autobiographies are written by the person themselves

NONFICTION

• Informational books that explain a subject

• Outnumbers fiction 12 to 1 in most libraries

• Represented in many ways; narratives, picture books, photo-essays, how to’s, procedural expository text

• Covers a wide range of topics

• Have evolved to not only inform but delight children

Poetry

Click icon to add picture

• Appealing to the ear (rhythmic) as well as the mind and emotions

• Helps with beginning reading skills

• Helps teach PA skills

• Expands vocabulary

• NCTE recognizes outstanding poets

• READ. What type of figurative language stands out to you in this poem? Schema anyone?

• http://lspalding.edu.glogster.com/poetry-in-the-classroom/

• John Newbery (1744) *opened bookstore/published sold booksLewis Carroll (1865) *first written purely for children’s pleasureNathaniel Hawthorne (1851) *first American book for kidsBeatrix Potter (1902) *The Tale of Peter RabbitMargery Williams (1922) *beginning of modern picture booksLudwig Bemelmans (1939) *MadelineRobert McCloskey (1941) *Make Way for DucklingsE. B. White (1952) * Charlotte’s Web

Early Notable Contributors to Children’s Literature

YOUR future students need you to set the proper example…

“Children and books aren’t made of velcro; they don’t stick without a little help from significant others…” ~Cullinan & Galda, p. 24, 2002