Notes the popularity of the science fiction/fantasy genre, and offers a definition of these genres. Discusses teachers' reluctance to read or teach science fiction, but emphasizes its appeal and its usefulness. Discusses how teachers can select and use good science fiction books. Offers a checklist for evaluating such books, and suggests 18…

As teachers gravitate more and more to the use of literature and strive to include a range of cultural experiences in their classrooms, the use of poetry from various cultural groups should be considered. Poetry is a very real means of having children see themselves and others as being both unique and yet the same. In considering poetry across…

In this first issue of a children's literature annual, 10 articles on poetry for young people are presented. The articles and their authors are as follows: "There Is No Net To Catch A Poem" (Jane Yolen); "Poetry and the Self" (Myra Cohn Livingston); "The World Outside My Skin" (Eve Merriam); "American Poetry for…

Intended for the junior high school or secondary school English teacher, the articles and features in this journal focus on young adult literatue and the adolescent audience. The first article, Zibby Oneal's "Writing for Adolescents: Pleasures and Problems," describes the responsibilities of authors of adolescent fiction, while the second article,…

The question of the place of books in a classroom using computers appears to be simple, yet it is one of vital concern to teachers. The availability of programs (few of which focus on literary appreciation), the mesmerizing qualities of the computer, its distortion of time, the increasing power of computers over teacher time, and the computer's…

Reviews the development of bibliotherapy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool and discusses specific techniques for the selection of appropriate reading materials for both children and their parents. (16 references) (CLB)

Argues that children's books are agents of socialization and examines childhood as a socially constructed concept throughout history. (SRT)

Argues that carefully selected, adolescent novels can foster young people's moral development and describes the four essential characteristics such books should display: a moral dilemma, identified alternatives, moral reasoning, and a moral decision. (HOD)

Presents a selection of books, articles, and other materials dealing with censorship chosen for their quality or provocative nature. (RBW)

Important reasons exist for differences among the various genres in children's literature, related to the emotional and intellectual development of the reader. The themes presented in good children's fiction are always the same ones, no matter what the age: the need for love, the importance of close attachments, the fear of abandonment and…

This paper discusses the importance of reading aloud to students. It emphasizes the teacher's need to plan carefully when to read and what books to read. The paper suggests the following ideas should guide a teacher's choice of reading material: whether the story will capture students' attention; whether the story will increase students'…

An important type of reading for elementary age pupils is to read poetry. Pupils need to experience reading and writing different kinds and forms of poetry. There are rich meanings and messages in poetry. The novel use of words adds to the learning repertoire of pupils. There should be poems for pupils to read that deal with diverse topics and…

At Bank Street College of Education, the Children's Book Committee annually reviews approximately 3,000 books to select the 600 or so considered the best books for children published that year. In selecting books, high priority is given to a book's appropriateness to a child's stage of emotional, social, and cognitive development. Since individual…

Many people do not recognize reading development as a continuum, but the literacy needs of the adolescent reader are far different from those of primary-grade children. This position paper discusses some of those literacy needs and outlines seven principles supporting adolescents' literacy growth. Adolescents deserve: (1) access to a wide variety…

The literature curriculum needs to broaden its scope to make for a richer set of experiences for students. First, interdisciplinary learnings need adequate emphasis--this means that students should have ample opportunities to relate content from the social science, academic sciences, mathematics, the fine arts, and physical education. Second, the…