Children's Books in Children's Hands: A Brief Introduction to Their Literature familiarizes current and future teachers with the best and most recent books for children. The renowned author team presents richly illustrated, practical ideas for sharing literature with children as a source of enjoyment and inspiration that will last them all their lives. This authoritative, captivating, and popular guide establishes a roadmap for understanding the world of children's literature, including its writers, illustrators, editors, and critics, while also providing a strong emphasis on books from many cultural groups. The 6th Edition now includes full color illustrations and art, newer title annotations, new teaching ideas, coverage of shifting changes in genres, and thorough coverage of multicultural and international books.

Much of teachers' attention these days is focused on having students read closely to ferret out the author's intended meaning and the devices used to convey that meaning. But we cannot forget to guide students to have moving engagements with literature, because they need to make strong personal connections to books of merit if they are to become the next generation of readers: literate people with awareness of and concern for the diversity of human beings around them and in different times and places. Fortunately, guiding both students' personal engagement with literature and their close reading to appreciate the author's message and craft are not incompatible goals. This book enthusiastically and intelligently addresses both imperatives, first surveying what is gained when students are immersed in literature; then celebrating and explicating the main features of literature students need to understand to broaden their tastes and deepen their engagement, at the same time they meet external standards; then presenting a host of active methods for exploring all major genres of children's books; and finally presenting suggestions for interdisciplinary teaching units grounded in literature. Created by noted leaders in the fields of children's literature and literacy, the book is enlivened by recurring features such as suggested reading lists, issues for discussion, links to technology, and annotations of exemplary books.