Reviews (13)

Enormously Informative
Recently I have read approximately five books on writing for children. I found Barbara Seulings book to be the best of the lot. She realistically portrays the difficulty in breaking into the children's market in the '90s, yet she encourages the reader and provides a wealth of helpful information to do just that. Barabara Seulings book is easily readable for a reference book and one that anyone interested in writing for children today should have in their personal library. Good job Ms. Seuling -

Barbara Seuling Is Very Knowledgeable and Practical: I Know
Barbara Seuling was my instructor when I took a two-year writing course in writing children's literature from The Institute of Children's Literature. Ms. Seuling is exceedingly knowledgeable, skillful, talented, and very practical about writing children's literature and getting it published. Also, she writes instructions that are very easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

A Great Place to Start
Are you thinking that you MIGHT want to be a children's writer? Maybe you have a story that the family loves but are wondering what to do next. This book is a great place to start. Ms. Seuling gives step-by-step instructions for categorizing your work, editing, formatting the manuscript and deciding where to send it. Great references for related information in the back, too. This is not a perfect book for someone already on the way to being published, but it's a great little book for beginners.

A good resource
This book is divided into five parts. Each part is designed to help you in progressing towards the publishing of a book/play/poem/story for children. This is not a quick process. The key ingredient to this book being successful is that the book shows you what is involved.

In the first section of the book, Seuling discusses the world of children's books. This will give you an idea of the history of children's books and help you become familiar with the lingo.

In the second and third sections (Developing Your Ideas and Writing Your Book, respectively), she talks about some of the pitfalls (she calls sabotage) and talks about what is required for different kinds of books (for instance, what is needed for an Easy Reader versus a Chapter Book). To help you, the author includes the titles of books that best exemplify the kind of book she is discussing. Now, you can check out the book and see the example for yourself.

In the fourth and fifth sections (Selling Your Book and A Publisher in Your Future), she explains how the publishing field works. With this information in hand, you can make your submission more professional and increase your chances of getting a contract.

For each chapter in the book, she summarizes the key points and gives you "assignments" which will help you internalize the material and become an expert. The only problem with the assignments is that there is no right or wrong answer. You will need to assume that you are doing it correctly. If you follow the assignments, however, you will learn a lot.

Most importantly, Seuling has appendices that list a wealth of information on helping you become a successful writer for children. If nothing else, the book is worth it for those lists (things like marketing information, editorial services, references, and reviews of children's books). I would recommend this book for anyone thinking of writing for children.

what is a childrens book
If you are thinking about writing a childrens book, this is a good resource. Looking at what a childrens book is, how to develop ideas, and how to sell the completed work. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a brand new edition of the classic anthology of nursery rhymes--over 500 rhymes, songs, nonsense jingles, and lullabies traditionally handed down to young children. Included are all of your favorites, ranging from "Yankee Doodle Came to Town" and "A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go" to "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep," Jack and Jill" and "Old Mother Hubbard." And complementing the rhymes are nearly a hundred illustrations, including reproductions of early art found in ballad sheets and music books, which highlight the development of children's illustrations over the last two centuries.

With each piece, Iona and Peter Opie introduced a wealth of information, noting the earliest known publications of the rhyme, describing how it originated, illustrating changes in wording over time, and indicating variations and parallels in other languages. Moreover, in the general introduction, the Opies discuss the different types of rhyme and the earliest published collections, and they address such questions as who was Mother Goose and whether or not individual rhymes originally portrayed real people. For this second edition, the notes have been updated and extended in light of recent scholarship, providing an unrivaled wealth of literary and bibliographic information.

The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes is now more than ever an indispensable reference source for scholars and book collectors as well as a volume to be treasured by parents and children alike. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Getting dated.
This is the second edition, published in 1997, of the original Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes, also by Iona and Peter Opie, which appeared in 1951. The Preface to the Second Edition explains that the authors gathered many new references over the intervening four decades, and thanks several correspondents for still further additions and corrections. There is, consequently, much more information in the apparatus of the newer edition. However, the revisions are not thorough enough; I still get the sense that I am reading a book put together in the years after World War II.

For one thing, the Introduction appears to have been completely untouched; there are no references to any publication after 1951 (with the exception of references to two recent compilations by the Opies), and most date from the 1940's (for example, the reference on p. 3 to "two admirable Presidential Addresses by Lord Raglan to the Folk-Lore Society, 20 Mar. 1946, and 5 Mar. 1947"). Moreover, the discussion evinces a strange English elitism that may have seemed conventional six decades ago, but has not worn well with time. For example, the Opies seem to consider it a great fillip to the status of nursery rhymes that some of them can be shown to have been written by respected members of the English upper class; but we would consider these figures second or third-rate authors today (for example, Sir Charles Sedley). Also, there is too much blue-blooded in-group banter; for example, under "Bo Peep," one finds this assertion: "it is on record that in his early days Irving played the part of the wolf in Little Bo-Peep at Edinburgh." OK, who is Irving? If you want your book to be read by the generations that succeed you, you must not make allusions that are comprehensible only to your peers and coevals.

Finally, the book is unnecessarily difficult to use. I STILL cannot find "Pop Goes the Weasel" in here; either I am an idiot or the indices are inadequate. I think the latter.

Simply wonderfull!
It's simply wonderfull! More than 500 nursery rhymes, lullabies, riddles with intresting notices about origin. A real treasure for me and for my site: www.filastrocche.it.

A must for anyone interested in NRs and their origin
This is the seminal publication on nursery rhymes, IMO. The Opies have been collecting information about nursery rhymes for more than 50 years. The second edition of their OD of NR was published last year (1997) and is greatly updated on the first. It includes indepth analysis of over 550 nursery rhymes. I've been unable to find a NS of my knowledge that isn't included in there.

It makes a great present for a new-born, or his/her parents more like! ... Read more

Book Description

Children's book publishing is one of the most difficult fields of publishing for new authors to get into."The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books" gives potential authors tips, inside information, and detailed instructions for everything from how to prepare a proposal to how to get an agent.Detailing the differences between picture books, juvenile fiction, and the young adult novel, the book also covers branding, series, and licensing, discusses writing styles and character development, and explains forming illustrator partnerships. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The best basic guide to the biz now has a 2nd edition!
If you're just getting into writing for children and you'd like some inside information on how it all works, this book is for you. Yes, it answers basic questions about what types of children's books are out there and who draws the pictures for picture books, etc. But it also goes into detail about submissions (with examples of cover and query letters), working with editors (what's it like to be one?), what to expect in a contract (what are the basic clauses?), how to approach marketing (getting the word out on you and your book), who does what at a publishing house (why do changes happen and who makes them?), etc. It's like having one of the top people in the biz talk you through everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-children's-publishing but not might have even thought to ask!

I admit to lurking in the Writing Reference section of my local bookstores just for fun--I love a good "how to" guide. I own many "How to Write for Children" books, but Harold Underdown's Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books is NOT a writing technique book! It tackles all the other aspects of a kid lit career. I have recommended the first edition of this book over and over to people who are interested in learning the basics of the biz, and I was glad to see this second edition was out. It has all the great info that was packed into the first book, plus more. New chapters just for illustrators have been added (one basic "so you want to illustrate" chapter, and one on how to submit). A new chapter on agents has been added (the first edition had only a page on this). There are a bunch of other changes throughout (you can check Harold Underdown's website under "Second Edition FAQ" if you really want details about the differences in the editions).

Overall, the 2nd edition seems slightly longer, more compact, and a bit more adult, to tell you the truth (the cartoonish "Idiot's Guide" icons are smaller and more subdued, for example). If you already own the first edition and you consult it frequently, like I do, you might check this one out--I think it's nicer to look at, and definitely fills in some gaps left by the first book (particularly for illustrators). If you didn't buy the first edition and are considering getting this guide to boost your career, do it--it's the best book of its kind out there!

You'd Be An Idiot Not to Read This Book
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books is the most comprehensive book on writing for children available. If you teach writing it is an invaluable resource. It breaks all the basics down to bite-sized chunks so any beginner can find the information he/she needs. If you have a question about writing, selling, or publishing for children-- this book is the place to start to find your answer. The index is great and the glossary is very useful. The sidebars and illustrations make the information easy to find. You'd have to complete the Institute for Children's Literature courses to find better information, and that is very costly in terms of time and money.

A Must-Buy for Children's Writers
The first edition of this book was fantastic. The second edition has given readers wonderful new additions. There is now more information included for budding illustrators. More in-depth insights into the pros and cons of using an agent have also been added. Overall, this is a fabulous resource for anyone in the field--from the inexperienced writers just starting out to the more experienced authors out there.

Everything You Need to Know: Publishing Children's Books
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books,
Second edition, by Harold D. Underdown

To write a succinct review of a book which so thoroughly covers all the aspects of Children's publishing from idea to book store events after it is published, is a monumental task.

Underdown begins with an over view of writing children's books in general and quickly moves into introducing you to the nitty-gritty of the publishing world. The book is divided into Five parts that each contains a complete plan. (...).

Each section moves you seamlessly along the path to publication and beyond with a plethora of examples, links and helpful guidance. In part three Underdown takes you on a guided tour of specific publishers explaining just how they chose their books and what their editors do. It gives you a new perspective into the very busy lives of the editors of these houses. It helps you to understand the reason it takes so long to get your acceptance or rejection and why many times a rejection can't be personalized.

The way ...Publishing Children's Books is written, be you writer or illustrator, you can pick and choose which chapters or sections interest you, each chapter is complete in itself, but I recommend reading from cover to cover. As an author of several published novels and other works, I still garnered important hints, tips and information from Underdown's well presented material.

Throughout Underdown has placed invaluable information as extras in side bars/boxes such as: Vocabulary, which explains the terms used. Class Rules which gives the reader warnings or cautions. Can you Keep A Secret, tips and resources as well as suggestions are found in these. Play Ground Stories give real life anecdotes from other children's authors. Besides all the extras in the sidebars, Underdown provides Appendixes that offer a Glossary, Resource Lists and samples of guidelines, cover letters, query letters and manuscript format.

This unique book is truly a one of a kind complete guide to the world of children's publishing. It's a book you will read through, but never loan out because you will refer back to it time and again. Harold Underdown, has posted sample chapters and many more links and guides as well on his personal web site, The Purple Crayon. I can't begin to recommend Publishing Children's Books highly enough. Beginner or pro you are bound to find it an extremely important book.

A Great Addition to Your Bookshelf
As a writer, I found Underdown's guide informative and a great read for all writers. He provides readers with the inside track - something I would have loved 10 years ago when I started in the book biz. Great sidebars with web sites and other resources. This book is a must have for all people interested in writing books for children. Underdown is upfront in his approach and does not sugarcoat the business side of the industry. Readers will benefit from his years in publishing. ... Read more

Book Description

By selecting only 100 "best books" Anita Silvey distinguishes her guide from all the others and makes it possible to give young readers their literary heritage in the childhood years.
The books we hear or read when we are children stay with us all our lives. If we miss them when we are young, we"ll miss them forever: no Hungry Caterpillar, no Winn-Dixie, no Roll of Thunder. As adults we remember a few familiar favorites, but no one but an expert like Anita Silvey, with her thirty-five years at the heart of children"s book publishing, could put together an authoritative list like this one. Parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and bookstore clerks will feel completely comfortable recommending these books for any child, from infancy to almost-teens. Silvey includes, in addition to the 100 best, extensive lists of books to meet special needs and interests as well as classics, selected by age, to round out this extraordinarily useful work.
In addition to giving an age range and the plot of each book, Silvey relates the fascinating, often hilarious story behind the story, something only an insider in the field of children"s publishing could tell. 100 Best Books for Children is as much fun to read as it is helpful. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Absolutely essential for every family
As a former bookseller and librarian, I was often asked by confused parents and grandparents for book suggestions for children of a particular age. This wonderful book belongs on every family's bookshelf, not only because it will suggest the next good book to read, but because it gives a tantalizing look at the stories behind each book--and that always makes reading more fun. You're sure to find your own favorites here, as well as books you haven't come across. Even if you've read every one of these books, you'll enjoy the chatty tone of the book descriptions. I couldn't put the book down!

Looking for a book to give a new parent? A new grandparent? Think of this gift first--because you're expressing the importance of reading for another family. More importantly, buy it for yourself ... and enjoy!

Stunning resource for anyone who loves kids!
When I first saw this book, I was expecting a list and not much more. But the depth and research that went in to this book is extraordinary! Anita Silvey even knew most of the authors and illustrators for these books personally - you can't get much closer to the sources than that! A delight to read, and full of insightful, delightful historical information and personalized anecdotes, this book would be a perfect addition to anyone's bookshelf, no matter what age!

Every home should have a copy of this book
I sat down and read this book from cover to cover. It was fascinating. Not only was it fun to see if I agreed with Ms. Silvey's choices for best books, but there is so much behind-the-scenes information here, I felt enticed to read or re-read each of the books on her list. Every parent, grandparent, teacher, and librarian will find this book not only useful but inspirational.

Something Great For Your Family!
I can't stop looking at this book! There are three kids in our family and this book offers wonderful reading suggestions for every age and then books to think about for the future. I don't want them to miss the exciting reading experience of any of the treasures in this list. More than just a reference, though, this book is fun to read and makes me feel like an insider! Now I can share not only the best books with my children, but the stories behind the books! Get this book and do something great for your family!

if you love children's books........
This book operates on many levels, in ways that I had not initially expected. Althought not a parent, I dearly love to buy books as presents for the various children in my life. Thus I bought this book to help me find suitable books to give for Christmas, birthdays, etc. The minute I started to read this book(which is full of charming anecdotes and history about the writing and illustrating of many childhood favorites, as well as about a number of more contemporary books with which I was not familiar), I realized what a wonderful resource it would be for new parents. I have now given it to 3 friends/family members with children, as well as to another friend who is halfway through writing and illustrating her first children's book. Finally, as an aging "baby boomer" myself, I can enjoy reading it to wax nostalgic over my own favorite childhood books. All in all, a very satisfying book, for a variety of reasons. Enjoy it! ... Read more

Book Description

In this newly revised edition of her successful guide, the children's books editor of THE NEW YORK TIMES recommends more than 1,700 new and classic books for every age group. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Delightful resource for involved parents!
This book is very straight-forward and easy to use, chock full of useful information. The organization is simple, and listings are complete (containing year published and prizes received, as well as author, illustrator and edition info) and informative. Not only do they give information about the content and it's value to a child, but also its source and its context and an opinion about the best edition in which to invest and the availability of different editions (where useful)!

Wide margins are included, for note-taking.

There are multiple indexes at the end which are invaluable in themselves - about 80 pages worth! The titles are indexed by title, author, illustrator, age-appropriate, and special subject. A bibliography is also included.

This resource is a valuable and delightful resource for any family

very helpful, but not perfect
This is a wonderful tool for parents trying to guide their children's early reading intelligently. The organization of the book and the descriptions of each book are generally helpful, though information about age level and number of pages should have been included. Organizing categories in the main listing are vaguely defined (wordless books, picture books, story books, early reading books, middle reading books and young adult books), making the indexes the better access point. These indexes are sufficient to help you find a relevant book. There is: a title list; an author list; an illustrator list; an age appropriate list (which might have based a better organization for the main listing); a read-aloud list; and a subject list of 53 headings, including Adoption, Adventure, Alphabet, Bedtime, Divorce, Horses and Nature.

The author renders a valuable service in examining multiple editions of popular books, for example you might find that one particular treatment of the Mother Goose tales is rather musical and illustrated with pen and ink drawings, while another is more colorfully animated and textually simplified for very young readers.

Unless you really know children's literature, a book like this is an invaluable tool. Similar but more directed resources are Great Books for Boys and Great Books for Girls by Kathleen Odean, which is organized into reading levels and then genre, and includes age level but not page count. Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook is a very good, somewhat evangelical, resource organized by genre with age level and page count included in the description.

Great Books for Children
This is a great book with tons of books listed. But, it could be better... The book descriptions are very terse (usually only one or two sentences). .... A couple other things missing that I would have liked to see is the number of pages in each book and approximate reading level (ex. low-4th grade). That would make this guide more useful when picking a book for a book report. Overall the quantity and quality of the books listed and the index in the back that cross-references the books based on subject interests makes this book an invaluable resource.

updated, sure, but revised?
This book may have been updated, but I don't know about the "revised" part. I was disappointed to find that this edition contained the same and similar inaccuracies as the prior editions. For example, _Weetzie Bat_ is a wonderful book. But its sequels are, in order, _Witch Baby_, _Cherokee Bat and the Goat *Guys*_ (not Boys!), _Missing Angel Juan_, and _Baby Be-bop_. I expect better things from the New York Times children's book editor--not sloppy errors.

I'm glad this book exists, and it does contain much valuable information, and it is well-organized. But perfect it is not.

New entries, expanded descriptions
Parents' Guide to the Best Books for Children appears in its third revised, updated edition to provide the hundreds of new entries, expanded descriptions, and notes on related recommended children's books. Parents will find the organization by reading level lends to quick and easy consultation, while the indexes make it easy to match child to book subject. ... Read more

Book Description

Using more than 100 illustrations from 20 Caldecott Medal or Honor books, this delightful resource provides teachers with all the tools necessary for teaching art. Classroom teachers will find that the explanations of artistic elements and principles of design, as well as examples and project directions, provide everything a busy teacher needs. Complete with bibliographies and lists of related fine art, this curriculum also relates the projects to the Core Knowledge Sequence Content Guidelines for Grades K-5. Teaching Art with Books Kids Love is an invaluable resource for teachers required to teach art and art instructors looking for fresh ideas. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great resourse for Primary Grades
A great resource for learning how art is put together and different types of is Teaching Art With Books Kids Love. It is an easy read for the educator. Each chapter has projects for helping children understand the concept as well as recommendations for children books to see the idea in action.

The book begins with the elements of art such as line, shapes, texture and so on, followed by the principles of art like harmony, balance, movement ... and finally to artistic styles such as realism, impressionism, etc.

Art and Literacy at its best!!
Great connections of art and literacy. I highly recommend this book for art educators!!

teaching kids art with style
Teaching Art with Books Kids Love presents the elements of art in a way that engages students and is clear enough for the 'artistically challenged' classroom teacher to follow! The project directions and examples are excellent. This is a great find for teachers who want to present a quality art program.

Teaching Art with Style
Teaching Art with Books Kids Love presents the elements of art in a way that engages students and is clear enough for the 'artistically challenged' classroom teacher to follow! The project directions and examples are excellent. This is a great find for teachers who want to present a quality art program.

This author walks her talk
Not only is this an excellent way to bring art and literature together in the classroom, but the author proves each day how well her strategies work. I am a colleague of Darcie Frohardt and see the amazing results she gets from children every day. This book is for "all" teachers (not just art teachers), and the books she teaches from are readily available in your school library. In fact, you'll probably own most of them yourself. In a time when the arts are being threatened by the standardization of education, Darcie's book is a shining light. Go ahead, give it a try. You will be glad you did. ... Read more

Book Description

Renowned authors Alleen Nilsen and Ken Donelson offer a comprehensive, reader-friendly introduction to young adult literature framed within a rich literary, historical, and social context. It also provides teachers with criteria for evaluating books of all genres, from poetry and nonfiction to mysteries, science fiction, and horror. Coverage of timely issues, such as pop culture and mass media, helps teachers connect with students' lives outside the classroom.Young adult literature framed within a rich literary, historical, and social context. It also provides teachers with criteria for evaluating books of all genres, from poetry and nonfiction to mysteries, science fiction, and horror. Coverage of timely issues, such as pop culture and mass media, helps teachers connect with students' lives outside the classroom.Young Adult Literature. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A very good resource.
Literature for Today's Young Adults, by Aleen Pace Nilsen and Kenneth L. Donelson, Sixth Edition. I purchased this book for a class in adolescent literature, and have found to be the book very good and very thorough. The book includes many chapters about modern adolescent literature and their various controversies. Besides being an interesting book, I found it very thorough because it includes varied points of view, and includes many articles written by the authors themselves who write novels for young adults.

Literature for Today's Young Adults
Having graduated from high school in 1979, I found my insights into teen literature to be prehistoric at best. As a "utility classroom teacher," I have to keep up with a variety of subjects. This book is a great help to anyone who needs to get a grasp of Young Adult literature, an important topic.
In an age when teens face, more than ever, the difficult issues the world places at their door, (drug and alcohol usage, sexuality, health and family conflict)any teacher entering the reading classroom should be familiar with literature that is current, educational and helpful. This volume provides insight into current authors and trends in Young Adult literature, as well as reviewing "old standards" and interviewing authors. It is an extremely helpful book for anyone who must not only educate but also provide guidance.

A Comprehensive Guide to Literature for Young Adults
Nilsen and Donelson's comprehensive text provides much needed insight and clarification for those who are involved with young adults and books. Focusing on such YA topics as fantasy, New Realism, and adventure, this text leads the reader through the various genres, as well as critiquing various authors and their books. This feature is especially helpful because, as a teacher, I can not read all the authors and books available. By providing these condensed lists and descriptions of current and classic books, as well as lists of Hollywood tie-ins, the authors enable classroom teachers and librarians to survey a larger range of books than they would ordinarily be able to. The authors also cover the issue of censorship, making the distinction between concerned parents and the avid censor. In discussing censors, however, the authors deal rather unfairly with the religious right, ascribing fanatical views to groups devoted to restoring traditional values to the classroom. Conversely, the left is treated in a much more favorable light, while their political biases are downplayed.

Overall, I found this text to be very useful and intend to further my reading with some of the selections highlighted by these authors.

A guide to literature
A review of "Literature for Today's Young Adults" Nilson/Donelson 6/6/01

Because I am not an avid reader, I needed a good guide to the different genres and adolescent novels that are available to and for young adults. I found the Nilson/Donelson text to be a great source of knowledge for me. It was very informative as to what each different novel offered to young adults and the controversy surrounding it. The authors were very descriptive with the information of each novel and author. The text was also helpful in providing me with ideas to use in my classroom of young adults as far as discussion of the issues that each novel dealt with. For a novice like myself is was very helpful! I would recommend this text for any teacher of Young Adult Literature. Especially for the first year teacher!

Literature for Today's Young Adults
In using the text listed above, I found it to be very helpful in finding out how to interpret different readings for the young adolescent reader. It enabled me to discover the proper way to determine if the book is adequate for a certain age group or if it should be kept for an older audience. The information contained in the book was very helpful. It uses different authors as a way to explain their views on their books. I thoroughly enjoyed the text and would recommend it to any educator that is looking to broaden their horizons and learn more about the adolescent literature arena. ... Read more

Book Description

It includes:

• a short explanation of the process of making a children's book from manuscript to final bound book
• a description of the importance of the many different parts of a book (jacket flaps, title page, copyright, Cataloging-in-Publication information, etc.)
• six thought-provoking chapters that explain how ot think about and critically evaluate several different genres of children's books:
  books of information
  • traditional literature (myths, legends, tall tales, folktales)
  • poetry, verse, rhymes, and songs
  • picture books
  • easy readers and transitional books
  • fiction
• a concluding chapter on how to write reviews that are both descriptive and analytical

From Cover To Cover is an invaluable resource for all professionals who wish to write book evaluations that go beyond a simple personal response.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good tool for writers, too
This book is should be an essential for anyone writing for children. Horning covers all the genres, offering insight into pacing, character and plot. She better defines what makes a picture book, an early reader, a chapter book, a mid-grade and a young adult -- definitions that are often murky in writing books. Although this book may have been intended for librarians and others in the book industry, I recommend it highly for anyone contemplating writing for children. ... Read more

Book Description

This unique book is written for teachers, parents, librarians and anyone who is seeking quality literature for children (preschoolers through grade 6). The book is filled with wide-ranging lists of titles organized by grade level, theme, and content areas. This comprehensive resource simplifies your search by selecting the most useful information from websites, teacher resources, award listings, and publications that are available on children’s literature. For quick access and easy use, the lists are printed in full-page format and organized into five sections.

  ... Read more

Book Description

Designed for undergraduate juvenile delinquency courses, this book actively involves students in the literature of the discipline, presents the field in a format that is accessible, understandable, and enjoyable, and is edited by well-known scholars who are experienced researchers and teachers.· The readings in this anthology have been very carefully edited and pruned by the Editors so that undergraduate students can easily read them without getting bogged down or confused and lost in the technical, methodological details.· At no additional cost, we have included 5 substantial data analysis exercises spread throughout the book.These exercises not only teach students the basic of SPSS, the "standard" data analysis software in social science, but also show them how they can test the delinquency theories and propositions covered in the reader, using current delinquency data packaged with the book.This absolutely unique feature is structured into fill-in-the-blank exercise sets that are easy to grade for large numbers of students by a single instructor.· Over 150 very good questions have been put together for the readings so that instructors can easily test, even in large courses, whether or not their students are keeping up with the reading.· A separate instructor's manual (with more tests) is also available. ... Read more

Book Description

Harry Potter has put a spell on millions of readers, and they all want to find out more about the deeper meaning of his adventures. In Harry Potter and Philosophy, 17 experts in the field of philosophy unlock some of Hogwarts' secret panels, uncovering surprising insights that are enlightening both for wizards and for the most discerning muggles. Individual chapters look at such topics as life revealed in the Mirror of Erised; the ethics of magic; Moaning Myrtle, Nearly Headless Nick, and the relation of the mind to the brain; and the character of Hermione as a case of "sublimated feminism." Also examined in this witty collection are how Aristotle would have run a school for wizards; whether the Potter stories undermine religion and morality; how to tell good people from evil ones through the characters in these novels; and what dementors and boggarts can teach readers about happiness, fear, and the soul. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Another Excellent Selection Guide for Librarians, and Others
As an elementary school librarian, there are a handful of review sources I turn to first when a teacher asks me to recommend a book, or when I'm looking to add quality titles to our collection. I just picked up a copy of "Books to Build On," to assist me in selecting some classic titles for our library, as well as to suggest for our school district core literature list.

I can tell you that I'm impressed with the selections recommended in "Books to Build On," based on the titles I'm already familiar with. And based on Hirsch's reputation in the field of cultural literacy, I can place a great deal of confidence in the titles that I'm currently unfamiliar with.

This will sit on my personal shelf for quick reference, right beside my other favorites: "The Read-Aloud Handbook," by Jim Trelease, "The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children," "Eyeopeners II," by Beverly Kobrin (a great guide for nonfiction books) and "Books That Build Character," by William Kilpatrick and Gregory and Suzanne M. Wolfe.

Inspiring
This book presents a bibliography of classical children's books, catalogued by subject and grade. It gives information about the content of each book, where to obtain the book, and how the book might be used.

I love this collection. It is so inspiring I want to go out and by the books described. I do know of other books that I think are wonderful and that would fit the categories that are not listed, so I'm not sure I would say this is comprehensive, but it is helpful and inspiring in leading a parent or teacher to some wonderful books for our children.

books to buid on
As a Reading Teacher, Books to Build On is an excellent resource to assist in finding and assessing quality books. It is broken into curriculum areas including Visual Arts and Mathematics whichare oftentime overlooked in bok reviews. It includes a wealth of information about books for children from grades Kindergarten to the sixth grade. It is also crosses the genres and genders by providing a variety of fiction, nonfiction, collections,series, multi-cultural and multidisciplined books. I have shared the information in this books with colleagues and parents. It was also instrumental in selecting materials for my own students and children. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by one of the most highly regarded names in the field of children's literature, this compact guide to selecting high-quality examples of multicultural literature offers future teachers the broad-based introduction they need to the literature of the many cultures that comprise America today. Coverage focuses on three main ideas: incorporating the best multicultural books into the classroom, honoring and respecting both the literature and the cultures inhabiting the classroom, and using quality children's literature to motivate readers while simultaneously nurturing a culturally-responsive classroom. Educators and pre-service teachers of children's literature and reading. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good intensions boring book.
I had to purchase this book for a class. The first chapter is very informative however the rest of the chapters repeat everything from the first chapter but with examples. Yawn. ... Read more

Book Description

In How Picturebooks Work, Maria Nikolajeva and Carole Scott explore the dynamic relationship between word and image in children's literature. They treat picturebooks as a specific medium or genre in literature and culture, one that prepares children for other media of communication. As such, the authors develop specific theories, terminology, and working tools for discussing the picturebook form. ... Read more

Book Description

This innovative text addresses the most current issues in children's literature, particularly cultural diversity and multiculturalism. It seeks to define, compare, contrast and apply various genre as it can be integrated within a regular elementary curriculum setting. The emergence of children's literature that is multicultural is clearly explained while connections to theories of child development are made. Also included are various curricular applications of multicultural literature in lesson plan format, which are activity based and student-centered. ... Read more

Book Description

Need a good reading list for bright students?

Books give important emotional and intellectual support for gifted children, many of whom face unique issues in their lives due to their special talents and abilities. The author describes how to use books as bibliotherapy to provide support, guidance, and insight.

Now in it's second edition, this is an in valuable resource for parents looking for books to recommend to gifted readers not only to enjoy, but also to gain perspective on themselves and others.

-Intellectual and emotional growth through reading

-Reading needs of gifted children

-Summaries of just under 300 books

-Books indexed by author, title, and theme

-Books organized by grade level

-Discussion topics provided for every title

-Annotated bibliography ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Great book!
It is wonderful to find a book that helps you guide your child - ANY child, gifted or not - to exceptional reading material. I loved the books it recommended for my 4 yr old - we picked up several of them at the library and some here on Amazon. The book also pointed out what the exceptional qualities for each book were, so that you could have a better discussion about the book with your child. It was worth the money, since it gives recommendations for ALL ages of child and I will reference it as he grows older.

A primer & a guide
Books are wonderful bridges for communication about feelings, values, & decisions. Books can save lives by allowing Readers a way to use their minds in a safe, broadening & nurturing way. Literacy doesn't simply mean being able to scribble signatures, read shopping lists & understand highway signs, it means being able to read fluently, engaging the mind in an adventure of self-discovery. Packed into our brains, from conception on, is a universe of experiences, learning to read gives that universe language.

SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE BOOKS is a super guide on how to set your children on their road to a lifelong passion. Take the bibliography to your library & recruit the librarians in your hunt for good books.

Everything you want to know about what the ability to read can do for your children's minds, when it can do it & how you can help train & encourage a lifelong love of reading.

Just remember to add Reading Time to your schedule & the mix.

Useful
I bought this book mainly for the annotations of the books and, for me, the theory and application to classroom situations is a bonus. The part I will use the most is the annotation section, where the book is discussed and pointers are given on what types of issues are addressed. Discussion points, always useful for teachers, are carefully addressed for each book. I wish more books could have been included, but, of course, there are trade-offs in that - longer ==> more expensive.

must have
This book is very different from others like The Read-Aloud Handbook by Trelease. It focused on the needs of gifted children, not only for the voracious readers but also for gifted kids that don't read. This is the only bood I read that addressed the issue of gifted non-readers.

Don't be discouraged by the very disappointed review. It was for the early version. Now, books recommended, at least the onces I tried, are available through Amazon.

The value of reading guidance such as reading aloud
Now in a revised and updated second edition, Some Of My Best Friends Are Books: Guiding Gifted Readers From Preschool To High School by educator, librarian, counselor and parent Judith Wynn Halsted is a down-to-earth, imminently practical, thoroughly helpful guide for parents, teachers, librarians, counselors, tutors, and anyone else who works with young people excelling in literary skills and talents. Individual chapters address finding the right books that challenge and enrich a child's joy of reading the most; how books can stimulate emotional and intellectual development; the value of reading guidance such as reading aloud to young children; and much more. Enhanced with an annotated bibliography of almost three hundred books on promoting intellectual and emotional development in children preschool through twelfth grade, Some Of My Best Friends Are Books is highly recommended especially for those teachers, homeschooling parents, and other care givers who are dealing with boys and girls of above average intellect and scholastic promise. ... Read more