Teaching Children's Literature (it's Critical!)

This indispensable text offers a critical perspective on how to integrate children’s literature into the curriculum in effective, purposeful ways. The book is rich with real examples of teachers implementing critical pedagogy and tools to support students’ development as enthusiastic readers and thinkers.

Now in its third edition, this indispensable text offers a critical perspective on how to integrate children’s literature into the curriculum in effective, purposeful ways. Structured around three "mantras" that build on each other—Enjoy; Dig deeply; Take action—the book is rich with real examples of teachers implementing critical pedagogy and tools to support students’ development as enthusiastic readers and thinkers. The materials and practical strategies focus on issues that impact children’s lives, building from students’ personal experiences and cultural knowledge by using language to question the everyday world, analyze popular culture and media, understand how power relationships are socially constructed, and consider actions that can be taken to promote social justice.

Each chapter features classroom vignettes showcasing the use of literature and inviting conversation; three key principles elaborating the main theme of the chapter and connecting theory with practice; and related research on the topics and their importance for curriculum. Thoroughly revised, the third edition includes new recommendations for teaching with a critical edge and exploring alternative approaches to standardized assessment.

With more attention to culturally and linguistically diverse learners and addressing new topics such as censorship and controversial texts, the new edition is essential for courses on teaching children’s literature and English Language Arts methods, and for every preservice elementary and middle school English teacher.

A companion website to enrich and extend the text includes an annotated bibliography of literature selections, suggested text sets, resources by chapter, ideas for professional development, and recommendations for further reading.

Preface

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction: Our Mantra-- Enjoy! Dig Deeply! Take Action!

Chapter 2: Why Reading Aloud Is Crucial

Chapter 3: Teaching Reading with Literature

Chapter 4: Choosing Books: Diversity Counts

Chapter 5: Language Study: Lingering in Text

Chapter 6: Supporting Literature Discussions

Chapter 7: Books Across the Curriculum: Focused, Author, Illustrator, and Genre Studies

Chapter 8: Responding to Literature through the Arts

Chapter 9: Challenging the Challengers

Chapter 10: Literature Response Strategies

About the Authors

"If you are searching for a children’s literature text that speaks to issues beyond what is effective literature, this is the text that you should include in your teaching. Leland, Lewison, and Harste have created a text that is practical and relies on sound research to provide a pathway to building connections with literature."

--Kevin Cordi, Ohio Northern University, USA

"This text celebrates the potential of children’s literature to encourage readers to engage in the reading process, to think critically, to sort through ideas, and to act on them. Theory and practice are grounded in pedagogy that puts the reader at the center of the process, enjoying the adventure with high-quality literature across the curriculum."

--Denise H. Stuart, The University of Akron, USA

"Teaching Children’s Literature: It’s Critical! is a must read. The authors cleverly combine research, theory, and strategies that support classrooms filled with students who lov