Finds that "Three Little Pigs" shows children what the world is like--depicting the conflict of choice, etc. Examines different versions of the tale and questions students about text differences. Gives questions for stimulating student response. (PA)

Presents an appreciation of "Charlotte's Web," a children's literary classic which portrays clearly and simply the themes of love, death, friendship, and salvation. Discusses E.B. White's life and background, his attention to writing style, and the beginnings of "Charlotte's Web." Provides a capsule of classic elements in the…

Explores how, although minority and female authors have found a place on many English departments' reading lists, the debate over the benefits of a diverse curriculum still linger. (EV)

This interview with author and illustrator Rosemary Wells focuses on her picture books for children. Topics include reading aloud, saving and retelling the classics, influences on her work, page-design preferences, emotional content, the development process, working with other illustrators, and material from other cultures. (LRW)

An interdisciplinary activity in which students can see how a famous author, Leo Tolstoy, metaphorically applied the integration steps from calculus to illustrate his ideas about how history should be studied is described. The activity provides a startling and energizing conclusion to a unit on applications of integration and provokes students'…

Reviews the 1990 conference on children's classics that was sponsored by Drexel University and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Highlights include summaries of and excerpts from papers by author and illustrator Wendy Watson and Anita Lobel, and information on the recipient of the 1990 Drexel Citation, author and illustrator Carolyn Croll. (LRW)

Designed for young adults, this book on Jane Austen's novels is one of an anthology series providing accessible resources for students researching great literary lives and works. Contributing writers' essays in the book are taken from a wide variety of sources and are edited to accommodate the reading and comprehension levels of young adults; each…

Argues that critics of children's literature who extol the folktale should think twice before so vehemently scorning popular fiction such as the Nancy Drew series and that historians of children's literature should consider further what some writers of children's classics may have owed to the formulas of popular adult fiction. (HOD)

The teaching of writing and formation of the literary canon are influenced by two myths. First, writers must assume they will be neglected, misunderstood, and unappreciated in their lifetimes, and second, the writer will prevail if the work is good. Both ideas are examples of underlying religious metaphor in writing instruction and publication.…

States that 1998 marks the 70th anniversary of Wanda Gag's picture book, "Millions of Cats" and that Wanda considered herself an artist rather than a writer of children's books. Recounts events in her early life; discusses why her book became a classic. Lists seven classic elements in the book and seven questions for stimulating student response.…

Suggests that Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most important figures in American Literature, yet his writing can be too "lofty" for many modern students to grasp. Offers some examples of ways to bring Emerson down to earth, grounding his spiritualist musings in material illustrations and making him more accessible to students. (NB)

Designed for young adults, this book on William Shakespeare's tragedies is one of an anthology series providing accessible resources for students researching great literary lives and works. Contributing writers' essays in the book are taken from a wide variety of sources and are edited to accommodate the reading and comprehension levels of young…

States that Great Britain's National Curriculum pre-20th century list of prescribed authors is overloaded with unrealistic choices. Reports on a small-scale survey of actual choices made by teachers from this list. Calls for further research. Discusses teaching treatments of actual texts and makes a case for recognizing the work of the poet John…

This book argues against the politicization of literature and presents a guide to the great works and essential writers of the ages, the "Western Canon." The book studies 26 writers and seeks to isolate the qualities that made these authors canonical, that is, authoritative in Western culture. Noting that although originally the…

Discusses six books for teachers and educators that consider what makes reading attractive and even irresistible. Notes the books deal with author studies and elementary school students, broadening student response (to reading) to include art and music, a project approach to the classics, using computers to teach literature, effective school media…