School of Education

Week 2: Jan 31st

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Agenda

Attendance Reading Quiz History of Children’s Literature Break Selecting Children’s Literature Children’s and YA Book Awards For Next Time

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Reading Quiz: Chapter 1

1. What does the author mean by "Children's literature is a phenomenon of the modern world"?

2. What does the author of the text cite as one of the most satisfying developments in children's literature in the last 50 years?

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Reading Quiz: Chapter 1

1. What does the author mean by "Children's literature is a phenomenon of the modern world"? Childhood is a phenomenon of modern times. Children and adults used to listen to the same stories. There were no special stories for "children".

2. What does the author of the text cite as one of the most satisfying developments in children's literature in the last 50 years? The inclusion of racial, gender, ethnic diversity in children's books and children's book authors.

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History of Children’s Literature

The Ancient World (c. 850BCE-476CE)• Homer, Aesop, Virgil, Ovid

The Medieval World (c. 476-1450)• Saint’s Lives, Beowulf, Robin Hood

The Renaissance (c. 1450-1700)• Book of Martyrs, Orbis Pictus, Pilgrims Progress, Mother Goose

Eighteenth Century • Robinson Crusoe, Divine and Moral Songs, A Pretty Little

Pocket Book, Arabian Nights Nineteenth Century

• Grimm Brothers, Alice in Wonderland, Tom Sawyer Twentieth Century and Beyond

• Wizard of Oz, Peter Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh, Mulberry Street

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Break

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Selecting and Evaluating Children’s Literature Consider the purpose.

• Why will the text be read?• Is reading the text primarily for entertainment?• Is the purpose of reading the text to learn new information?• Is the purpose of reading to improve one’s reading skills?

Consider the audience.• Who will be reading/listening to the text?• What is their reading level?• What are their interests?• What are their previous experiences?

Consider the context.• Where and how will the text be read? • Is the text going to be read independently before bed?• Will the text be read with the guidance of a teacher/parent?• Will it be read in a small group at school?

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Resources for Finding Literature

Children’s Literature Databases The American Library Association

• Service to Young Children, School Librarians, Young Adults

• List of Notable Children’s Books

The Children’s Book Council Public Libraries & Book Stores Internet Searches--Authors, Publishers Award-winning Books

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Children’s Book Awards

Newbery Medal Caldecott Medal Coretta Scott King Award Pura Belpre Medal Geisel Award Siebert Medal Wilder Medal O’Dell Award Massachusetts Children’s Book Award

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Children’s Book Awards

The Newbery Medal is a yearly award that honors an outstanding contribution to American children’s literature. It is named after John Newbery,

who was a bookseller in the 1700s, in

England. The Newbery Medal was created

quite a bit later, however, by Frederic G. Melcher, in 1921. The American Library Association approved of Melcher’s concept for creating the award, and the first award was given in 1922, to author Hendrik Willem Von Loon, for the book The Story of Mankind.

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Children’s Book Awards

Caldecott Medals are named for a 19th century artist and illustrator, Randolph Caldecott. They are awarded each year by the Association for Library Service to Children to an artist of an outstanding American picture book for children. The winners of Caldecott Medals make up a collection of some of the most beautifully illustrated books in the world, and are well worth finding for a child’s bookshelf.

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For Next Time

Bring a book that you feel represents you.