Celebrating the wealth of quality multicultural literature recently published for children and young adults, this valuable resource examines the fiction, oral tradition, and poetry from four major ethnic groups in the United States. Each of these genres is considered in turn for the literature dealing with African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native-American Indians. Taking up where their earlier volume This Land is Our Land left off, Helbig and Perkins have teamed up once again to identify and expertly evaluate more than 500 multicultural books published from 1994 through 1999. Both considered authorities in the field of children's literature, the two of them personally selected, read, and evaluated all the books included here. Their insightful annotations help readers carefully consider both literary standards such as plot development, characterization, and style, as well as cultural values as they are represented in these cited works. Each entry also indicates the suggested age and grade level appropriateness of the work. With the proliferation and ever increasing popularity of multicultural literature for children and young adults, this sensitively written volume will serve as an invaluable collection development tool. Teachers, as well as librarians, will find the comprehensiveness and organization of this bibliography helpful as a guide in selecting appropriate materials for classroom use. Even students will find this book easy to use, with its five indexes identifying works by title, writer, illustrator, grade level, and subject. Public libraries and school media centers will find much use for Many Peoples, One Land.

"A very thorough guide to the fantasies and fantasists selected, this is unlike any other guide to the genre. . . . Only English and Amerian authors of full-length fantasies are included, just 36, with entries for titles, characters, places, and magical objects, and of course the authors. Authors' entries describe major themes of all their full-length works, following biographical notes. Book-title entries give plot synopses and information about the first editions of the books. . . . People who remember something of a fantasy sequence and want to find it again will find this the most helpful guide to fantasies yet to appear." Choice

This book provides a wealth of fascinating information about many significant and lesser-known nineteenth-century Christian authors, mostly women, who were motivated to write material specifically for children's spiritual edification because of their personal faith. It explores three prevalent theological and controversial doctrines of the period, namely Soteriology, Biblical Authority and Eschatology, in relation to children's specifically engendered Christian literature. It traces the ecclesiastical networks and affiliations across the theological spectrum of Evangelical authors, publishers, theologians, clergy and scholars of the period. An unprecedented deluge of Evangelical literature was produced for millions of Sunday School children in the nineteenth century, resulting in one of its most prolific and profitable forms of publishing. It expanded into a vast industry whose magnitude, scope and scale is discussed throughout this book. Rather than dismissing Evangelical children's literature as simplistic, formulaic, moral didacticism, this book argues that, in attempting to convert the mass reading public, nineteenth-century authors and publishers developed a complex, highly competitive genre of children's literature to promote their particular theologies, faith and churchmanships, and to ultimately save the nation.

A comprehensive guide to children's and adolescent fiction, traditional literature, and biography/autobiography dealing with the nationalities of the Soviet Union, this book is intended as a resource for teachers, librarians, and parents seeking to imbue young people with a sympathetic understanding of another culture. It indicates the breadth of publications in the field and offers guidance in selecting the most appropriate books. The annotated bibliography thoroughly describes 536 books written in or translated into English and published from 1900 to 1990, portraying the lives of Russian and Soviet immigrants in Europe and North America. The literature itself reflects more than a thousand years of history, from the establishment of Kievan Rus', the largest state of early-medieval Europe, through the Mongol invasion and the rise and fall of imperial Russia, to the establishment of the Soviet Union and the period of political and cultural ferment in the early 1990s. The sources are grouped according to major geographical and political regions (The Russian Federation; The Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Moldavia; Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan; Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) and further divided by genres. Annotations generally provide plot summary, literary analysis and criticism, evaluation of illustrations, and information about literary and artistic awards. Reading and use levels are included with the citations. Indexes of author, translator, and illustrator, of titles, and of subjects are provided, with the latter referring to topical areas as well as historical periods and personages and geographical and political areas and terms. The volume introduction offers a survey of the Soviet lands and peoples and their literary activities, with special emphasis on literature for youth.

"Not only does this book fill a gap in ethnic literature, but the extensive annotations, the three separate indexes, and the inclusion of folk and fairy tales add to its reference value. . . . Recommended for public libraries and university libraries that have children's literature programs." Choice

A grandmother tells her young granddaughter about her emigration from Lebanon to the United States.

Written for librarians, teachers, and researchers, this is the second five-year supplement to the authors' Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1960-1984 (Greenwood, 1986). Its 567 entries cover 189 award-winning children's books by 136 authors published from 1990 to 1994. Included are concise critical reviews of novels, biographical profiles of authors, and descriptions of memorable characters. An appendix lists books by the awards they have won, and an extensive index allows complete access to the wealth of material contained within this reference work. Included are alphabetically arranged entries for those works that critics have singled out to receive awards or have placed on citation lists during the five years covered by the volume. The reference also contains biographical entries for leading authors of children's fiction, with entries focusing on how the author's life relates to children's literature and to particular works in this dictionary. The volume provides a list of awards, along with an appendix classifying individual works by the awards they have won. An extensive index provides full access to the wealth of information in this book.

While the gender and age of the girl may seem to remove her from any significant contribution to empire, this book provides both a new perspective on familiar girls' literature, and the first detailed examination of lesser-known fiction relating the emergence of fictional girl adventurers, castaways and 'ripping' schoolgirls to the British Empire.

Melvin Burgess has made a powerful name for himself in the world of children's and young adult literature, emerging in the 1990s as the author of over twenty critically acclaimed novels. This collection of original essays by a team of established and new scholars introduces readers to the key debates surrounding Burgess's most challenging work, including controversial young adult novels Junk and Doing It. Covering a variety of critical and theoretical perspectives, the volume also presents exciting new readings of some of his less familiar fiction for children, and features an interview with the author.

Find good books for young readers the easy way by using this guide. Designed for educators and students, it arranges titles by genre and theme so users can find books similar to the ones they love. Chapters include contemporary life, fantasy, animals, historical fiction, and mystery. Within these categories books are arranged under such topics as family relations, friends and friendship, schools, ethnic groups, and problem novels. Focusing on books published after 1990, popular paperback series, and the not-to-be-forgotten classics, the authors have selected titles noted for quality. A brief historical background of each genre is given, and useful Web sites on children's fiction are listed. Great for collection development, this book is a helpful tool for answering the question, What else can I read? A must-buy for any children's book collection.

Russian literature for children and young people has a history that goes back over 400 years, starting in the late sixteenth century with the earliest alphabet primers and passing through many different phases over the centuries that followed. It has its own success stories and tragedies, talented writers and mediocrities, bestsellers and long-forgotten prize winners. After their seizure of power in 1917, the Bolsheviks set about creating a new culture for a new man and a starting point was children's literature. 70 years of Soviet control and censorship were succeeded in the 1990s by a re-birth of Russian children's literature. This book charts the whole of this story, setting Russian authors and their books in the context of translated literature, critical debates and official cultural policy.

The first book-length study of Harper Lee's two novels, this is the ultimate reference for those interested in Harper Lee's writing, most notably as it considers race, class, and gender. To Kill a Mockingbird is timeless, continuing to be a favorite among both students and adults. One million copies are sold every year, and it remains one of the books most often taught in school. This companion guide helps students to better understand the complex themes of race, class, and gender that were first introduced in To Kill a Mockingbird and remain relevant in Go Set a Watchman, which both challenges and mirrors the topics discussed in Lee's first novel. A literary scholar and a friend of Harper Lee herself, author Claudia Durst Johnson brings a unique perspective to Lee's texts. The book provides a historical background of the Great Depression and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement as well as an analysis of the widespread censorship of Lee's works. Chapters provide important context for topics such as racial issues, women's issues, and class divisions in the Deep South and serve as discussion points that give students a starting point for their research; similarly, teachers who struggle with how to introduce students to these challenging but timely topics will appreciate the wealth of knowledge this companion guide will deliver. Assists students as they strive to better understand complex issues of race, class, and gender that remain relevant topics of discussion Provides a needed and updated student guide on Harper Lee's writing Assesses Lee's iconic characters and helps readers to comprehend the controversy surrounding the character flaws of Atticus Finch Offers a personal perspective written by a friend of Harper Lee

This study of the long and varied afterlife of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, primarily in the overlapping arenas of children's and popular culture, offers new insights into not only the continued popularity and relevance of Crusoe's story, but into how modern conceptions of childhood have been shaped by nostalgia and by ideas of 'the popular.' Because it enjoyed such tremendous success as a pedagogical work for children and as a source for children's and popular entertainments, Robinson Crusoe provides a unique case study in the development of our ideas of childhood and the points of intersection between children's and popular cultures. Drawing on a wide range of adaptations and remediations, including children's abridgements, print 'robinsonades, ' chapbooks, popular songs, pantomimes, toys, games, and various consumer items, this book offers a fresh consideration of the place Crusoe has occupied in our culture for almost three centuries.

"Teaching Children's Literature" provides an account of the various intellectual and educational traditions within which children's literature has been taught, and some historical context for the current position of the discipline. The volume also clarifies the relationships between these traditions and suggests theoretical and practical ways in which they may be brought to bear on each other. Drawing on the international expertise of some of the most eminent practioners in the field, the text shares and disseminates the best teaching practice in both undergraduate and postgraduate study.

The astounding commercial success of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, not just with adolescent girls (as originally intended), but with a large and diverse audience, makes interpreting their underlying themes vital for understanding the ways that we perceive and interact with each other in contemporary society. Literary critics have interpreted vampires from Stoker's Dracula to Rice's Lestat in numerous ways-as symbols of deviant sexuality; as transgressive figures of sexual empowerment; as xenophobic representations of foreigners; as pop culture figures that reveal the attitudes of the masses better than any scholarly writing-and the Twilight saga is no exception. The essays in this collection use these interpretative lens and others to interrogate the meanings of Meyer's books, making a compelling case for the cultural relevance of Twilight and providing insights on how we can "read" popular culture to our best advantage. The volume will be of interest to academic and lay readers alike: undergraduates, graduate students, and instructors of children's and young adult literature, contemporary U.S. literature, gothic literature, and popular culture, as well as the myriad Twilight fans who seek to explore and re-explore the novels from a variety of angles.

Do you want to be friends like Jessica and Madison? All you need is the will to learn. This is a book for all little girls who want to be nice and kind, and to know that you are beautiful all the time.

English Literature for Young People is an introduction to the great works of English literature. H. E. Marshall's story of England 's literary heritage is rich and compelling---a masterly account of 1500 years of the literary arts in Great Britain, extending from early Irish legends through the Golden Age of English letters to the modern age.The Living Books Press hardcover edition is a republication of the 1909 edition, English Literature for Boys and Girls. Our edition has been significantly revised and expanded to improve its use as a study text. Added are a biography of the author, an expanded Chronology of Writers, a bibliography of books recommended by the author, maps of the British Isles, an expanded index, and enhanced illustrations and images. Intended for students age 10 through high school.

In a constantly changing world, individuals are forever growing to meet the challenges and developments that emerge around them. In contemporary society, technology is at the heart of change. Literature, too, reflects the evolution of culture and increasingly represents and considers technology. And as children become young adults, their reading helps shape their understanding of the world. This book examines representative works of science fiction, children's literature, and popular culture to show how these works reflect the process of growing up in a technological world. The volume looks at the simple picture books and comic books that appeal to small children; the formulaic adventures that fascinate older children; the films and television programs that are watched by children and young adolescents; the music videos and programming that appeal to young adults; and the popular novels that interest older readers. Included are discussions of Superman, the Hardy Boys, Star Trek, science fiction films, and music videos. The book points to similarities among popular culture, science fiction, and children's literature and demonstrates the relevance of these works to contemporary society.

Edited by Morag Styles and written by an interational team of acknowledged experts, this series provides jargon-free, critical discussion and a comprehensive guide to literary and popular texts for children. Each book introduces the reader to a major genre of children's literature, covering key authors, major works and contexts in which those texts are published. Margaret Meek and Victor Watson provide a profound and revealing examiniation of the treatment of personal development, maturation and rites of passage in literature written for children and adolescents. Including a broad survey of the theme across a number of genres and an in-depth analysis of the work of key writers, the authors work towards an answer to the question What is a classic? Margaret Meek is Reader Emeritus at the Institute of Education in London. Victor Watson is Assistant Director of Research at Homerton College, Cambridge.

Students can learn more about their favorite authors and find plenty of reading materials they'll enjoy with this affordable biographical work and ready-reference. Featuring 100 beloved and celebrated children's book authors, McElmeel offers engaging biographical sketches, photos, and selected bibliographies and lists of related information sources. Included are such long-time luminaries as Beverly Cleary and Marguerite Henry as well as many new emerging writers. McElmeel's focus is on contemporary authors and those whose works are still in print. A more current and affordable alternative to multivolume publications, this book is a great collection development tool and resource for author studies. Students will enjoy using it for their reports and research papers.

This compelling New Casebook is the first essay collection devoted to the work of groundbreaking American author Robert Cormier. Written by a team of international children's literature experts, the volume offers a variety of critical and theoretical approaches to the range of Cormier's controversial young adult novels. The newly-commissioned essays explore the author's earlier best-known writings for teenagers as well as his later less critically examined texts, focussing on key issues such as adolescence, identity, bullying and child corruption. Recognizing Cormier's achievement, this long-overdue critical resource is essential reading for anyone with an interest in his influential work and lasting impact on young adult fiction.

The Shelf2Life Children's Literature and Fiction Collection is a charming set of pre-1923 nursery rhymes, fairy tales, classic novels and short stories for children and young adults. From a tardy white rabbit, spirited orphan and loyal watchdog to a dreamer named Dorothy, this collection presents an assortment of memorable characters whose stories light up the pages. The young and young at heart will delight in magical tales of fairies and angels and be captivated by explorations of mysterious islands. The Shelf2Life Children's Literature and Fiction Collection allows you to open a door into a world of fantasy and make-believe where imaginations can run wild.