This reprint of a lecture published in 1976 examines the uses of history and literary stories for instructing children in grammar, creative dramatics, natural history, and prehistory, as well as literary analysis. Provides a starting point for thinking about the power of literature as an integrating medium in the Montessori elementary classroom.…

Presents an interview with Francisco X. Alarcon, a writer of bilingual works for adults as well as children. Discusses his latest work, "Magical Cycle of the Seasons," perhaps the most representative of his cultural and linguistic heritage, a series of children's poetry books rendered in both English and Spanish. (SG)

Observes how poetry used for teaching children during the past 75 years has evolved from works for adults to those more appealing to or written specifically for children. (HTH)

Discusses American, Australian, and British books used in junior and middle secondary levels in Australia. Describes how they are used in the classroom and mentions a few Australian works that American teachers might introduce to their classes. (EL)

Discusses the Philosophy for Childen program, which uses specially written novels to teach philosophical concepts. Advises teachers to create their own lessons for philosophical study. (FL)

Reviews children's books, teacher references, mini-plays, and curriculum resources that relate to the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. Reports that most of these sources ignore growth and changes within King's life and thought, the role models who shaped his philosophy, or his participation in issues such as the Vietnam War and poverty. (KH)

Reviews at length books for younger readers dealing with animals such as hippopottami and opossums. Also reviews books on mosses and plant pathology. (CRH)

Criticizes attitudes and prescriptions of the Council on Interracial Books for Children as expressed in its "Guidelines for Selecting Bias Free Textbooks and Storybooks" and teaching materials developed through Project EMBER (Equity Models for Basal Readers). Holds that the Council holds political biases while purporting to be neutral.…

Focuses on Paul Maar's "Eine Woche voller Samstage," a children's novel revolving around the humorous and disruptive antics of the creature "Sams," and discusses its employment in the classroom as an opportunity to learn German and examine the role of language in the constitution of social, political, and cultural forms. (Author/VWL)

Examines why fiction books have usually been the genre of choice for reading aloud; research challenging the fiction-only approach; benefits of nonfiction books in the literacy experience of children; and how specific nonfiction books may be used to provide knowledge and an aesthetic experience comparable to that obtained with fiction. (MOK)

Attempts to identify and evaluate reading material currently available to introduce young children to the topics of alcohol and alcoholism. (BB)

Reports on the wide-spread use of children's literature in the French primary school. Discusses the benefits and problems resulting from the use of children's literature in the school and considers prospects for the future use of this resource. (GEA)

Explores the relationships between children's literature and moral development. Discusses characteristics of a "female morality" and why such a perspective is important. Describes some children's books that exemplify this perspective and offers suggestions for their use to help children develop morally as well as cognitively and socially. (HTH)

Describes a project that uses childrens' literature to teach social studies and history in elementary classrooms. Reviews research which suggests that students at this level prefer to read narrative literature rather than traditional textbooks. Describes the project's impact on participating students and teachers. (CFR)

Presents ideas for incorporating software into each guided reading phase for two realistic fiction books: Lois Lowry's "Anastasia on Her Own" and Barthe DeClements's "The Fourth Grade Wizards." Discusses how each skeletal plan uses three pieces of software to enliven students' oral and written thoughts about the books'…