Share
Almost everyone has a book or series of books that they treasured as a child. Maybe it was the Anne of Green Gables books or the Hardy Boys series or Little Women. In our imaginations, we saw Anne Shirley jump off the roof on a dare, helped Joe and Frank Hardy solve mysteries, and agonized over Jo March not being in love with Laurie. What books will become part of the collective imaginations of today's young people?
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about children's literature.
People
To See Things To Do Teacher
Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find out about children's literature.
Inside
the Wardrobe
Journey to Narnia and have tea with the beavers; go on adventures with Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan; and ride on Aslan's strong back.
Journey to Narnia and have tea with the beavers; go on adventures with Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan; and ride on Aslan's strong back.
Magic
School Bus
Go everywhere that the Magic Bus goes--inside the human body, inside the earth, inside a hurricane, inside a beehive!
Go everywhere that the Magic Bus goes--inside the human body, inside the earth, inside a hurricane, inside a beehive!
Mem Fox
Take a trip to Australia and visit with Mem Fox. Her delightful picture books such as Possum Magic, Wombat Divine, and Koala Lou often feature the unique animals of the "land down under".
Take a trip to Australia and visit with Mem Fox. Her delightful picture books such as Possum Magic, Wombat Divine, and Koala Lou often feature the unique animals of the "land down under".
Paul Bunyan
Trail
Take a walk down the Paul Bunyan Trail. Along the way, you'll find an illustrated re-telling of Paul's story.
Take a walk down the Paul Bunyan Trail. Along the way, you'll find an illustrated re-telling of Paul's story.
People To SeeArthur
Hang out with Arthur and Francine and D.W. and the Brain. In the FAQ about author, Marc Brown, see if you can find out how Arthur's appearance changed from the original Arthur books (it has to do with his nose).
Hang out with Arthur and Francine and D.W. and the Brain. In the FAQ about author, Marc Brown, see if you can find out how Arthur's appearance changed from the original Arthur books (it has to do with his nose).
Charlotte's
Web
Re-acquaint yourself with Fern, Wilbur, Charlotte, Templeton, and the rest of the crew at the farm. Discover this charming website created by 2nd grade students who read Charlotte's web. The site has chapter summaries and teacher resources.
Re-acquaint yourself with Fern, Wilbur, Charlotte, Templeton, and the rest of the crew at the farm. Discover this charming website created by 2nd grade students who read Charlotte's web. The site has chapter summaries and teacher resources.
Caldecott
Medal
Become acquainted with Randolph Caldecott. He was an English illustrator. He is famous for his illustrations of a series of 16 children's books in the mid 1800s at a time when books written specifically for children were just coming into vogue. The Caldecott Medal for excellence in children's-book illustration is named for him. From this site, you can see a listing of all Caldecott winners and honor books beginning in 1938.
Become acquainted with Randolph Caldecott. He was an English illustrator. He is famous for his illustrations of a series of 16 children's books in the mid 1800s at a time when books written specifically for children were just coming into vogue. The Caldecott Medal for excellence in children's-book illustration is named for him. From this site, you can see a listing of all Caldecott winners and honor books beginning in 1938.
Newbery
Medal
Spend time with John Newbery. He was an English publisher and bookseller in the 1700s. He was one of the first to include juvenile literature as an important branch of the publishing business. The Newbery Medal for excellence in children's-book writing is named for him. From this site, you can see a listing of all Newbery winners and honor books beginning in 1922. How many of them have you read?
Spend time with John Newbery. He was an English publisher and bookseller in the 1700s. He was one of the first to include juvenile literature as an important branch of the publishing business. The Newbery Medal for excellence in children's-book writing is named for him. From this site, you can see a listing of all Newbery winners and honor books beginning in 1922. How many of them have you read?
Paddington
Bear
Chat with Paddington Bear. Find out if he knows Winnie the Pooh. Learn about the famous Paddington books.
Chat with Paddington Bear. Find out if he knows Winnie the Pooh. Learn about the famous Paddington books.
Scholastic
- Harry Potter
If you're one of the few people who has not yet met Harry Potter, spend some time with him and see what all the fuss is about.
If you're one of the few people who has not yet met Harry Potter, spend some time with him and see what all the fuss is about.
Things To Do100
Picture Books Everyone Should Know
Read through this list of recommended children's picture books which includes Strega Nona, Horton Hatches the Egg, Goodnight Moon, Corduroy, and 96 more.
Read through this list of recommended children's picture books which includes Strega Nona, Horton Hatches the Egg, Goodnight Moon, Corduroy, and 96 more.
BookHive
Find books to read. The site is divided into subject areas such as adventure, biographies, classics, mystery, fantasy, and folklore. You can enter in the kinds of books you like to read and receive a listing of pertinent titles.
Find books to read. The site is divided into subject areas such as adventure, biographies, classics, mystery, fantasy, and folklore. You can enter in the kinds of books you like to read and receive a listing of pertinent titles.
Carol Hurst's Children's
Literature Site
Experience this collection of reviews of great books for kids, ideas of ways to use them in the classroom, and collections of books and activities about particular subjects, curriculum areas, themes and professional topics.
Experience this collection of reviews of great books for kids, ideas of ways to use them in the classroom, and collections of books and activities about particular subjects, curriculum areas, themes and professional topics.
Children's
Literature Association of Utah
Become a member of the Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU). CLAU is composed of parents, teachers, and school and public librarians. CLAU sponsors the Utah Children's Book Awards.
Become a member of the Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU). CLAU is composed of parents, teachers, and school and public librarians. CLAU sponsors the Utah Children's Book Awards.
Children's
Literature Web Guide
Become familiar with this useful guide to children's literature. One of the fun sections of this site begins about September or October with an online forum about the upcoming Newbery and Caldecott Awards. Readers submit the books that they think will be the winners, and a lively and discussion ensues.
Become familiar with this useful guide to children's literature. One of the fun sections of this site begins about September or October with an online forum about the upcoming Newbery and Caldecott Awards. Readers submit the books that they think will be the winners, and a lively and discussion ensues.
Coretta Scott
King Award
This award is given annually to authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream." Find out the winners for this year.
This award is given annually to authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream." Find out the winners for this year.
KidLit
Students are often interested in what other young people their age are reading and enjoying. This site offers reviews of popular books written by kids.
Students are often interested in what other young people their age are reading and enjoying. This site offers reviews of popular books written by kids.
KidLit
Reviews of Kids' Books
Read reviews of kids' books written by other kids. Read a good book? Send in your review!
Read reviews of kids' books written by other kids. Read a good book? Send in your review!
Vandergrift's
Children's Literature Page
Browse through many topics relating to children's literature.
Browse through many topics relating to children's literature.
Teacher Resources Online Activities/Hotlists are a listing of internet
sites with fun, interesting, and educational tasks attached to each one.
(You can learn how to use this WWW
Activities tool created by UEN for Utah educators).
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators A-B
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators C-E
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators F-I
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators J-L
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators M-O
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators P-R
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators S-T
- Children's Literature - Authors/Illustrators U-Z
- Children's Literature - Book Sites
- Harry Potter Hotlist
- Jack London
Bibliography- Blishen, Edward. Children's Classics to Read Aloud. New York, N.Y. : Kingfisher, 1995
- Brown, Muriel. Newbery and Caldecott Medalists and Honor Book Winners : Bibliographies and Resource Material Through 1991. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 1992.
- Horn, Pamela. Read-aloud Classics. New York, NY: Black Dog & Leventhal: Distributed by Workman Pub. Co., c1995.