Focus on Children’s and Young Adult Literature:
Recommended Reading

Books

Click on a title to find a detailed description, and to browse contents and sample chapters.

Book Club, by Taffy E. Raphael, Laura S. Pardo, and Kathy Highfield

Breaking Boundaries With Global Literature: Celebrating Diversity in K–12 Classrooms, edited by Nancy L. Hadaway and Marian J. McKenna

Discovering Their Voices: Engaging Adolescent Girls With Young Adult Literature, by Marsha M. Sprague and Kara K. Keeling

Exploring African Life and Literature: Novel Guides to Promote Socially Responsive Learning, edited by Jacqueline N. Glasgow and Linda J. Rice

Happily Ever After, edited by Terrell A. Young

Leveling Books K–6, by Brenda M. Weaver

Scaffolding With Storybooks, by Laura M. Justice and Khara L. Pence

Tiger Lilies, Toadstools, and Thunderbolts, by Iris McClellan Tiedt

Using Children’s Literature in Preschool, by Lesley Mandel Morrow and Linda B. Gambrell

Using Literature to Enhance Content Area Instruction, by Rebecca Olness

Using Literature to Enhance Writing Instruction, by Rebecca Olness

What a Character!, edited by Nancy L. Roser and Miriam G. Martinez

What Should I Read Aloud?: A Guide to 200 Best-Selling Picture Books , by Nancy A. Anderson

Young Adult Literature in the Classroom, edited by Joan B. Elliott and Mary M. Dupuis

Articles

In addition to regular reviews of children’s books, The Reading Teacher routinely includes articles about using literature in the preschool, primary, elementary, and middle level classroom. Some recent highlights:

“Telling stories and talking facts: First graders’ engagements in a nonfiction book club,” by Mary F. Heller (Dec. 2006/Jan. 2007; vol. 60, no. 4)

“The art of author study: Leo Lionni in the primary classroom,” by Cory Cooper Hansen (Nov. 2006; vol. 60, no. 3)

“Guiding principles for teaching multicultural literature,” by Belinda Y. Louie (Feb. 2006; vol. 59, no. 5)

“Victims, bullies, and bystanders in K–3 literature,” by Janis Entenman, Timothy J. Murnen, and Cindy Hendricks (Dec. 2005/Jan. 2006; vol. 59, no. 4)

“Acting out: Literature, drama, and connecting with history,” by John Kornfeld and Georgia Leyden (Nov. 2005; vol. 59, no. 3)

“BOOKMATCH,” by Jessica Ann Wutz and Linda Wedwick (Sept. 2005; vol. 59, no. 1)

The Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy features regular reviews of young adult literature; visit the archive, or find review columns in any online issue. Also available are these recent articles:

“Where the beginning ends: Studying leads in literature in order to write attention-getting introductions,” by Adriana L. Medina (Nov. 2006; vol. 50, no. 3)

“Exploring notions of freedom in and through young adult literature,” by Thomas W. Bean and Helen J. Harper (Oct. 2006; vol. 50, no. 2)

Selections from Reading Research Quarterly:

“The information book genre: Its role in integrated science literacy research and practice,” by Christine C. Pappas (April/May/June 2006; vol. 41, no. 2)

“Choosing and using information trade books,” by E. Wendy Saul and Donna Dieckman (Oct./Nov./Dec. 2005; vol. 40, no. 4)

Sample articles from IRA’s membership newspaper, Reading Today:

“Memorable Mem: Author and peace activist,” (Aug/Sept 2007) FREE!

“Loud and clear: Close your eyes, open your ears, use your imagination,” (Aug/Sept 2007) FREE!

“Elite company: David Wiesner earns record-tying third Caldecott Medal,” (April/May 2007) FREE!

“Learning from the pros,” (Oct/Nov 2006) FREE!

“Some seek to stem summer learning loss,” (Aug/Sept 2006) FREE!

“Laundromat literacy,” (Aug/Sept 2006) FREE!