While scholars have recognized the importance of page breaks in both the construction and comprehension of narrative within picture books, there has previously been limited research that focused directly on how children discuss and make sense of these spaces in the text. Yet, because of their nature as dramatic gaps in the narrative, page breaks…

Two-time Caldecott Honor winner (Free Fall, Sector 7) and three-time Caldecott Medal winner (Tuesday, The Three Pigs, Flotsam), David Wiesner is regarded as one of the most remarkable creators of visual storytelling living today. Wiesner is well known for his innovative and unique subject matter and his sophisticated painting-like illustrations…

Presents an overview of books by De Paola and suggestions for using them with students. (DD)

An experienced children's writer and teacher argues for the right balance of the richly strange and comfortably familiar in books for young children. (HOD)

This guide (originally published in 1985) introduces the visual approach to writing children's books, an approach which can help a writer release a flow of images and avoid wordiness. The aim of the guide is to teach the fledgling writer/illustrator to ask important questions about the structure of the intended book (and to find the answers) and…

Analyzes the plot structure of the 61 most popular picture books on the 1982 "Children's Choices" list and discusses interesting trends found in the list. (FL)

This book shows parents and teachers how to play learning games based on classic children's books. The book features 14 picture books, from "Harold and the Purple Crayon" to "Blueberries for Sal" and 14 chapter books, from "Winnie the Pooh" to "Charlotte's Web." It provides a summary for each book and then…

Comparison of data and findings from a current study on successful translated children's books published between 1990-2000 with an older study on successful translated children's books prior to 1990 allows conclusions to be drawn as to trends in publishing related to language, genre, subjects, and reviews of outstanding translated books and…

States that "The Cat in the Hat" (1957), written from a basic 225 word list, explores the level of activity that a child needs to keep secret from the adult world, and is a picture book which is also nominally a "reader" and not a storybook. Includes questions for stimulating student response; encapsulates classic elements in…

Examines children's books by M. B. Goffstein and concludes that they illuminate the author's point of view--that there is beauty and dignity in a life of hard work to make something good, something that people can believe in. (HOD)

The new realism in literature, revealing virtual extinction of literary taboos, is probably a positive development in offering to middle and high school students some topics and attitudes which more accurately reflect the realities they face. However, the younger reader should be protected more, especially from the violence illustrated in some…

Notes shortcomings in research efforts intended to discover children's picture book preferences. Describes a research approach adapted from the field of anthropology, in which the researcher conducted observations and interviews as children respond to picture books in natural classroom settings. (EL)

This volume of a 1991 conference proceedings contains the conference's addresses and awards, a listing of the panels and workshops, and abstracts of those papers which were withdrawn from the proceedings to be published elsewhere. Among the papers in this document are: "Reading and Literacy: a Lifetime Work" (N. Bagnall); "The Image…

Reviews a variety of books, both fiction and nonfiction, for young, intermediate, and older readers. Contains a special section of books with Christmas themes. (FL)

To update the California State Department of Education's recommended list of books for children ages two through seven (most books on the present list were published before 1990), this annotated bibliography reviewed current books recommended by the National Council of Teachers of English, the International Reading Association, and literature…