Books in the Digital Age: Children’s Literature Past, Present, and Future (2)

Eliza T. Dresang

Eliza Atkins Gleason Professor

College of Information

Florida State University

Description of Workshop

Match ages and stages with topics and trends in best books for children. Part One: Explore a wide array of literature for babies through emergent readers
Part Two: Investigate classics to contemporary literature for the middle-to-older school-age child.

Along the way, experience pop-up pauses to delve into enticing issues and uncover fascinating facts.

Discuss and decide what makes a good book good.

Programming: Very Young

Lapsit Programs (Recommended Resources):

Ernst, Linda L. Lapsit Services for the Very Young: A How-to-Do-It Manual I (1995). ISBN: 155570185
Ernst, Linda L. Lapsit Services for the Very Young: A How-to-Do-It Manual II (2001). ISBN: 1555703917
Straub, Susan and KJ Dell'Antonia. Reading with Babies, Toddlers, and Twos (2006). ISBN: 1402206127 (Family oriented)

Programming: Literacy Activities

Born-to-Read (HO #5)
Every Child Ready to Read at Your Library (HO #5)
Materials can be ordered to share with parents and to share with parents and to conduct parent workshops
Ideas for incorporation of early literacy activities into story time.
Excellent infant-toddler bibliography on the Born-to-Read website (HO #5)

Programming: Older Elementary

Book discussion groups for kids (Perrot Memorial Library - Old Greenwich, CT)
Young Critics Club (Grades 5 - 8)
Young, Young Critics Club (Grades 3 - 5)
Book Links Article: Clark, Mary & McClelland, Kate. “Young Critics with a Passion or Books.” Book Links 6, no 6 (July 1997).

Programming: Read Alouds

Jim Trelease. Read Aloud Handbook (HO #4)
Kiefer. Charlotte Huck’s Children’s Literature.
“Teen Read Alouds” (SLJ April 2005)

Programming with Award Winning or Recommended books

Kuharets. Venture into Cultures: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials & Programs (HO #4)
Seale & Slapin. A Broken Flute
Oyate (HO #5)
Treviño. Celebrating Latino Authors & Illustrators.
Polette. Celebrating the Coretta Scott King Awards: 101 Ideas & Activities (HO #4)
Licciardo Musso. Teaching with Favorite Newbery Books
Novelli. Using Caldecotts Across the Curriculum (HO#4 -- both of the above)

Shared Knowledge: Engaging Reluctant Readers

Series books & sequels (comfort reading & lures)
Hot topics: What about the princess phenomenon?
“Radical Change” books (affinity for digital age readers)
All forms of media (Children & Libraries article - Spring 2006)
Displays (attractive, enticing)
Popular Reading for School-Aged Children Task Force (list to come in next year or so)
Additional resources for boys http://www.guysread.com & Odean. Great Books for Boys (HO #4)

Shared Knowledge: Engaging Reluctant Readers

Sturm, B. W. (2003b). The information and reading preferences of north carolina children. School Library Media Research, 6a, 1
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslpubsandjournals/slmrb/slmrcontents/volume62003/readingpreferences.htm#fig1

Study of two thousand responses to an open-ended survey conducted by the State Library of North Carolina. Children ranged from two to eighteen years old, 53 percent female and 47 percent male. 2000 response cards were randomly selected from approximately 150,000 cards submitted. Categories were developed based on responses, and then categories were ranked according to percentage of total response

Children’s Classics

“A classic is infinitely discussable and enduring.” “of recognized value” “lasting appeal for at least 50 years”
Other opinions??
Children’s Classics
Pre- 20th Century Classics
Pre-1930s Classics
Children's Classics—For Children
Kids’ Comments & Ratings (HO #5)
Traditional Classics in Children's Literature (Vandergrift) (HO #5)
Contemporary Classics (Book Links, July 2006)

Another Type of Classic: Special Focus Book Awards

Coretta Scott King (HO #5)
Pura Belpré (HO #5) & Américas Awards (CCBC Links)
Jane Addams (CCBC Links HO#5)
Carter G. Woodson (CCBC Links HO#5)
Newly established award for Native Americas (Michael Lapaca)
Newly established award for Asian Americans
Schneider Family Award: recently established award featuring children with disabilities (HO #5)

Contemporary Fantasy & Science Fiction

The Tale of Despereaux (DiCamillo)
Discuss at your table.
What appreciate? Areas less appreciated?
Note: CCBC Book Discussion Guide http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/discguide.asp
What about the book is classic?
What about the book is ‘radical’?

Newbery Awards

Criteria (HO #9)
Process in selecting the award.
Are Newbery books classics?
What other fantasies or sci fi have won the Newbery award? (HO #9)?
Publication of fantasies in US on rise since HP

Fantasy & Science Fiction

How do they differ? (Fantasy trees; Sci fi hardware. Sci Fi might some day be).
List of 10 favorites (HO #10)
Fantasy for 9 to 12 Year Olds: Borrowers, Boggarts, Broomsticks, and Beyond (see HO #14)
Fantasy for Ages 11- 17 (Also CCBC list)

Types of Fantasy

Quests and Quandries
Example: Cooper, Susan. Over Sea, Under Stone
Magical Mayhem
Example: Jones, Diana Wynne. Howl's Moving Castle
Twists on Reality
Example: Billingsley, Franny. Well Wished.
Ghostly Shivers and Spine-Tinling Tales
Example: Gaiman, Neil. Coraline.
FutureScapes
Example: DuPrau, Jeanne. The City of Ember
Extraordinary Animals
Example: LeGuin, Ursula K. Catwings. (Source CCBC list)

Howling Humor

What is funny?
How is humor evaluated? Is ‘funny’ ok no matter what?
Short list of favorites (HO #11).

Graphic Novels

Babymouse Books (Holms)
What is a graphic novel? Is it a novel?
What is there to think about? (HO #12)
Is this a passing fad?
Resources & guidelines on graphic novels from KDLA website: www.kdla.ky.gov/onlinepubs/selectionotes/AprJune2004/gn_wheretostart.htm

Literature Related Media

Recorded books (Odyssey Award) (VOYA article)
Video games & movies based on books
Books based on video games & movies
Ebooks (International Children’s Digital Library -- HO #5)
MOOS and other online adventures

Information Books

Krull. Wilma Rudolph: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman
Sibert Award (information books) (HO #5)
Information books important for pleasure reading
How ‘radical’ are information books?
Who likes to read them?
What are some hot topics? (HO #4 & 5)
Information Books
Quality writing and illustration.
Clarity and accuracy of words & pictures
Appropriate documentation
Stimulating & engaging presentation of facts, concepts and ideas
Appropriateness of style of presentation of information for topic or subject for age levels for whom the book may be appropriate (adapted from Sibert Award criteria)

Real Life Fiction

Why did Bud, Not Buddy win both the Newbery & the Coretta Scott King Award?
Fact or myth: Children will not read historical fiction
Fact or myth: Children will not read books about cultures outside their own

Types of Realistic Fiction

Mysteries
Adventure & survival
Suspense
Friendship & romance
Humor
Challenging situations
Historical

The Naked Reader (HO #4)

Books for Tweens
Competence
Confidence
Caring
Character
Connection

From Tweens to Teens

Books for Teens (Dresang)
Independence
Identity
Integrity
Intimacy
Intellect

Keeping Connected

Online communities -- join the interactivity and connectivity (HO #15)
Professional Journals:
- Reviews (SLJ has the most; Book list only positive reviews; VOYA for teens;
- The Horn Book for depth)

--Articles to keep up with latest thinking. (Book Links for themes).

What Makes a Good Book Good?

Some of the following apply to all “good” books:
A reader reads it. A reader enjoys it. A reader is enriched by it. The author or illustrator has succeeded in what he/she set out to do. (See Radical Change chapter on what is a good book in the digital age?) The content & the format of the book are appropriate for the book’s purpose.

It fulfills some purpose or meets some criteria that have been agreed upon by concerned and connected readers.

It is unique and ground-breaking (uniquely distinct).

Appalachia Websites (Enticing Topic)

Resources for Readers and Teachers of Appalachian Literature for Children and Young Adults (Ferrum College) http://www.ferrum.edu/applit/
Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site http://www.carolhurst.com/subjects/appalachia.html
Children’s Literature that Reflects Appalachian Culture http://www.pampetty.com/appalachia.htm

Contact Information

Eliza T. Dresang edresang@mailer.fsu.edu
FSU College of Information completely on line program (master’s & specialist degrees; youth services certificate for 12 credits)
Visit our website at http://www.ci.fsu.edu
FSU College of Information Project Lead leadership programs for media specialists
http://www.ci.fsu.edu/projectlead

A Special Thanks

To Carol Baughman and her staff at KDLA -- for answering all the questions, having smoothly operating technology, preparing the notebooks for participants, and all the other logistics that make a conference successful.