Presents brief annotations of 26 picture books and chapter books especially liked by this column's editors but which have not fit into any of this year's earlier columns. (RS)

Offers brief annotations of 45 illustrated children's books that offer a vision of a linguistically rich world where language difference is a resource, not an obstacle. Groups the books in the following categories: codeswitching as authentic language; dual language texts; language and cultural traditions; alternate forms of communication; and…

Discusses issues that come up in classrooms regarding children's books that have the power to engage students in "critical" conversations about issues of power and social justice, and how systems of meaning in society position educators. Offers descriptions of 12 such books for children, and lists chapter books, books for older readers,…

Examines R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series, and investigates why children (including the author's two daughters) like them. Explores the lures of the horror fiction genre. Suggests that the attractiveness of the genre can be found in books more rewarding in literary terms, such as those by John Bellairs. Offers suggestions about the…

Presents descriptions of (1) the 1997 winner of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children ("An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly"); (2) the 5 Orbis Pictus Honor Books; and (3) 12 other outstanding nonfiction titles selected by the award committee, 6 dealing with history and biography and 6 dealing with the…

Presents brief annotations of 20 children's books and picture books, in 3 categories: books that contain dialect, books in 2 languages, and books with interesting ways of using language. (SR)

Describes 30 children's books published in 1999 selected by the National Council of Teachers of English's Children's Literature Assembly as being notable for their potential to enhance language awareness and usage among children in grades K-8. (SR)

Describes what some fifth-grade students read in the summer and why. Discusses 39 children's books in the following categories: summer experiences, trips and journeys, family experiences, and the lives of children in troubled times. Offers an excerpt from a discussion of middle school readers in response to reading the books on children in…

Questions students on what gets in the way of reading for them and what advice they would give educators to help overcome those obstacles. Concludes that as a result of their words, educators now look at each classroom for common elements that support all readers: diverse resources, respected adults as readers, choice, time for reading, multiple…

Reviews a study which shows that guidance for selecting books in the classroom has increased. Considers children's self-selection strategies as a function of the instructional program. (MG)

Reports on the representation of people of color in recent children's literature. Analyzes tradebooks, recommended reading lists, and classroom texts to show that there is still considerable work to be done to make truly multicultural literature available to children in their schools and homes. (MG)

Presents brief descriptions and estimations of impact on middle school students of 23 illustrated books and chapter books. Notes that the books discuss a wide variety of issues important to middle school students. (RS)

Presents brief descriptions of 30 children's trade books from every genre (published in 1997), selected by the Notable Children's Books Committee for their outstanding potential to enhance language awareness among students in grades K-8. (SR)

Discusses two series of professional books (dealing with an integrated approach to literacy instruction and using poetry to help children feel the music of language) as well as three poetry collections that will be of interest to both teachers and teacher educators. (SR)