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This volume examines a variety of utopian writing for children from the 18th century to the present day, defining and exploring this new genre in the field of children's literature. The original essays discuss thematic conventions and present detailed case studies of individual works. All address the pedagogical implications of work that challenges children to grapple with questions of perfect or wildly imperfect social organizations and their own autonomy. The book includes interviews with creative writers and the first bibliography of utopian fiction for children. ... Read more

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Empire's Children looks at works at by Rudyard Kipling, Frances Hodgson Burnett, E. Nesbit, Hugh Lofting, A.A. Milne, and Arthur Ransome for the ways these writers consciously and unconsciously used the metaphors of empire in their writing for children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Outstanding!
Dr. Kutzer does an incredible job unearthing the motivations present in British children's literature during the late 1800s. The book is very well researched, and rivals any other author's work on the subject. I highly recommend this book as wonderful reading that exposes the most human side of all literature. ... Read more

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Research across a number of disciplines has in recent years contributed to a rapidly developing knowledge and understanding of the cross-cultural transformation and reception of children’s literature. It is the purpose of this Reader to gather together, for the first time, essays published during the last thirty years on the history, challenges and difference of translating for the young reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This is 'a must' for translators!
This is a wonderful collection of articles on the subject of the translation of children's literature, and I found it extremely helpful in doing my own research on the subject. ... Read more

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In 1912, a revolutionary chick cries, “Strike down the wall!” and liberates itself from the “egg state.” In 1940, ostriches pull their heads out of the sand and unite to fight fascism. In 1972, Baby X grows up without a gender and is happy about it.

Rather than teaching children to obey authority, to conform, or to seek redemption through prayer, twentieth-century leftists encouraged children to question the authority of those in power. Tales for Little Rebels collects forty-three mostly out-of-print stories, poems, comic strips, primers, and other texts for children that embody this radical tradition. These pieces reflect the concerns of twentieth-century leftist movements, like peace, civil rights, gender equality, environmental responsibility, and the dignity of labor. They also address the means of achieving these ideals, including taking collective action, developing critical thinking skills, and harnessing the liberating power of the imagination.

Some of the authors and illustrators are familiar, including Lucille Clifton, Syd Hoff, Langston Hughes, Walt Kelly, Norma Klein, Munro Leaf, Julius Lester, Eve Merriam, Charlotte Pomerantz, Carl Sandburg, and Dr. Seuss. Others are relatively unknown today, but their work deserves to be remembered. (Each of the pieces includes an introduction and a biographical sketch of the author.) From the anti-advertising message of Johnny Get Your Money’s Worth (and Jane Too)! (1938) to the entertaining lessons in ecology provided by The Day They Parachuted Cats on Borneo (1971), and Sandburg’s mockery of war in Rootabaga Pigeons (1923), these pieces will thrill readers intrigued by politics and history—and anyone with a love of children's literature, no matter what age.

Customer Reviews (35)

A great look into the past
The stories were interesting and the editor's notes showed how relevant these mostly out of print stories are to today's issues. A great resource and entertaining book for children of all ages.

Brilliant!
This book is amazing.Everyone should own a copy.It is filled with thought-provoking questions that are absolutely relevant in today's society.There are some stories you may not want to share with your child, but most are just fine--especially "Red Ribbons for Emma", the story of an elderly Navajo woman fighting for her land.It's beautiful and very relevant.As long as you present the story correctly and have a meaningful exchange with your kids, this can be a valuable resource.I wouldn't pull this out for younger children, but I'd say 7 and up would be just fine.Even if you don't have kids, though, it is an astounding literary accomplishment.Beautiful and poignant, this one is a winner.

With A Rebel Yell, She Cries, "Dull, dull, dull"
"Tales for Little Rebels:A Collection of Radical Children's Literature" is a decent collection of children's literature from the not-so-distant past.It is littered with excerpts from children's tales that range from socialism to religion to race relations.The reader is given reasonably solid doses of printed propaganda in sections with headings such as "Organize" and "History and Heroes."

It features quite a few well known authors including Langston Hughes and Dr. Seuss.Seuss' "Sneetches" tale is one of the best of the bunch.

What drags this collection down is the rather dry introductions to each tale and section from editors Julia L. Mickenberg and Philip Nel.With so much radical (and, quite honestly, fun to read) literature awaiting the reader in each section, the Mickenberg and Nel do a rather poor job of setting up the reader.

I cannot deny the importance of this collection, especially at this particular time in U.S. history where socialism is making bold advances.However, I cannot recommend this book as a purchase due to the bland work of the editors.If you do purchase this volume, do so for the excerpts it contains.

"Because of its amorality, the imagination is basically subversive."
True story.My husband's best friend was dating a red diaper baby and one weekend we decided to stay in her parents' cabin.Not entirely grasping her upbringing to its fullest extent we were amazed and delighted when we stepped into the home to find it cover from tip to toe in amazing radical Socialist publications and decorations.As a children's librarian, however, my interest lay entirely in her old bedroom, still home to a fine selection of left-wing children's literature.It wasn't a large selection, however, and I was a bit disappointed not to find much beyond a cursory introduction to Russia.Into this void slips Mickenberg and Nel's dual scholarship.A ribald, witty, sometimes fun, sometimes thoughtful examination of a wide swath of too little known literature, "Tales for Little Rebels" gives a thorough child-centric going over to everything from gender politics and African-American poetry to Leninism, Stalinism, Marxism, and all the other "isms" you could name.You will find nothing else like this on the marketplace today.Nothing quite as engaging, certainly.

In his Introduction professor Jack Zipes states, "A radical literature, especially a radical children's literature, wants to explore the essence of phenomena, experiences, actions, and social relations and seeks to enable young people to grasp the basic conditions in which they live."So it is that professors Julia Mickenberg (Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of Texas) and Philip Nel (Professor of English and Director of the Program in Children's Literature at Kansas State University) have sought out and brought together a collection of too little known texts on a variety of different topics.The profs separate the book into eight different parts: R is for Rebel, Subversive Science and the Dramas of Ecology, Work Workers and Money, Organize, Imagine, History and Heroes, A Person's a Person, and finally Peace.Each section contains text from a variety of different titles as they relate to the subject.For example, within the "A Person's a Person" section you might read a story by Langston Hughes about a boy in a big city, an original text of Dr. Seuss's infamous "The Sneetches", a powerful critique of McCarthyism via Pogo, a look at that most peculiar and amusing of picture books "X, a Fabulous Child's Story," a wonderful retelling of "The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Feet", and an excerpt from the tale "Elizabeth: A Puerto Rican-American Child Tells Her Story."And that's just within a single section!When reprinting picture books, the editors make an effort to include many of the illustrations.When reprinting selections from longer texts, an equal effort is made to reprint whatever visual images accompany it.The end of the book consists of "A Working List of Recommended Radical Books for Young Readers," just in case you need some extra reading when all is said and done.

Split into eight different parts, you can see how some topics might be easier to fill than others.The "Imagination" section, for example, could conceivably have spun entirely out of control, but Mickenberg and Nel rein it in at a slim five stories.Each tale is also preceded by a little background.These sections discuss the text, the author, the illustrator, and any other pertinent information.Sometimes they prove to be even more interesting than the stories themselves.I'm sure Herminia Zur Muhlen's "Why?" is good, but reading her life story as a runaway Countess almost overshadows the text itself.

Interestingly, the book diverges from your average scholarly texts with its assumption that parents are naturally going to want to share these stories with their kids.For example, at one point the book states that "cries of `Down with capitalism! Long live the Soviet!' demand a fair amount of explanation - so much so that parents may want to avoid sharing Donn's rhymes with very young children."The editors are both encouraging these stories to be used for the purpose for which they were intended, and warning parents off of the more dated aspects.This is a rather singular thing to do, but it isn't too surprising when you stop to think about it.Nel has always had a penchant for combining scholarship with use.His republication of Crockett Johnson's "Magic Beach" was both a historical document and a legitimate picture book in its own right.Likewise the very notion of an "The Annotated Cat in the Hat" sounds ridiculous on paper, but Nel found a way to make even an easy reader both a great story and a singular piece of research."Tales for Little Rebels" just follows suit.

In terms of books that sought to highlight or honor a variety of ethnic groups, Mickenberg and Nel point out that a vast chunk of those writers were white as the newly driven snow.To make up for this, they've been careful to include backmatter for further reading of those race's authors.Those that are featured, however, don't mess around.I've always had an ingrained respect for Julius Lester's work, but that may have had as much to do with the fact that the man's a legend than anything else.Having read his story "High John the Conqueror" from the 1969 book "Black Folktales" I find my uninformed respect replaced by jaw-dropped bug-eyed shocked respect.Oh man.If you read no other story in this book, read this one.You have never NEVER read a folktale like this.It's raw.It's like the Richard Pryor of folktales.I almost have a hard time believing that it even got published.But these were different times, and now that I've found it I can't wait to read the rest (and this in spite of Zena Sutherland's scathing critique labeling it "a vehicle for hostility").

Of course, there was at least one type of children's literature that did not make the cut.The interesting omission of post-apocalyptic texts may be due more to the fact that the book is concentrating primarily on picture books than anything else, but it's still a definite gap.A cursory glance at children's fiction shows that dystopian novels are a very strong and distinctive genre in and of themselves and one that is sadly lacking from this book.After all, even "The Lorax" could be considered an end-of-the-world tale, if examined in the right light.Yet Mickenberg and Nel eschew the "toldja so" school of thought, leaving me to wonder why that is.

The term "dreary dogma" is invoked by "Little Rebels" to typify the kinds of didactic literature kids too often are forced to read quote unquote for their own good."Little Rebels" is a conscious effort on the part of its editors to escape such ingrown dreariness.The stories told here for the most part crackle with energy and hope.Some are distinctly more imaginative and clever than others too.For example, while I found myself growing very fond of "The Practical Princess" by Jay Williams and even the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America's "Mary Stays After School or - What This Union's All About", other texts just don't stand close scrutiny.A play called "The Beavers" by Oscar Saul and Lou Lantz, for one, is written in an odd herky-jerky style that resists all attempts to read it smoothly from the page.

When you finish the book, what remains notable about it is the fact that Mickenberg and Nel aren't poking fun at their subject matter.Finding abecedarian texts that contains lines like "K stands for Kremlin where our Stalin lives; L is for Lead he so ably gives," leaves the writer wide open for criticism.Instead, the editors choose to place each text within the context of its time.They acknowledge that some ideas in this book have veered too far in one direction without question, and that this is never a good idea, particularly when it comes to children's literature.But as the book so ably states, right from the start the 1667 book "A Guide for the Childe and Youth" was ideological.The urge to instill our values in our children is ever with us.And what "Tales for Little Rebels" does so succinctly is to gather a representative sample of different kinds of ideals and show how many of them successfully brought about the world we live in today.

There is a great deal of thought to be had when you finish this book as to what "subversive" texts are being published for kids today.The initial instinct is to say that there's nothing quite as gutsy or forthright today as something like Syd Hoff's "Mr. His".Once that instinct dies down a little, though, you might remember books like Jane Yolen's "Encounter", John Marsden's "The Rabbits", Marcus Ewert's "10,000 Dresses", or Thomas King's "A Coyote Columbus Story."Subversive children's literature is far from dead.It has merely taken on new battles with new tactics and tricks.Here then is a hope that in ten or twenty or thirty years someone revisits this topic and updates this text.It will always be with us.It will never grow old.

Entertaining, but not as edgy as it wants to be
I have a small problem with material that falls into this genre. Usually, the creators (or in this case, the ones who researched and assembled) like to think they are putting out there material that is so shocking and controversial - so edgy and subversive, you can practically hear them patting themselves on the back in a smug and self-satisfied manner.

The problem with "Tales For Little Rebels" is that while it is entertaining, and provides some interesting reading, anyone thumbing through this book is nowhere near the rebel they probably would imagine themselves to be. There are some interesting outlooks on heritage, capitalism, and labor union - among many other subjects - but this book is not as deep or thought-provoking as I suspect it started out to be. In fact, the sheer smugness of a good deal of the material really turns me off to it.

It's okay, but I'd just as soon spend the money on something else. ... Read more

Product Description
While there is much discussion about multicultural children's literature, there are conflicting views on what it is and how it should be taught. This book examines many of the issues presently surrounding the place of multicultural children's literature in the curriculum. The first part of the book addresses the conceptualization of multicultural literature for children; the second, the creation and critique of multicultural writings; and the third, the use of this literature in education. Included are discussions of such topics as who can write multicultural literature, how multicultural literature should be selected for use with children, and what function it should serve in a student's overall education. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Hmm, not so great.
This book was assigned to me in a graduate level library and information science class called Multi-Cultural Literature for Children and Young Adults. I was rather disappointed with this book.The author seems to have done very little original research and instead quotes extensively (too much) from many other researchers in the field.I also did not like the author's take on what multi-cultural literature is and how it should be handled in a class room setting.There were many more negative things I could say, but it would take too long here.

Provides many important insights to parents & teachers alike
The steep price tag of this college-level reference will limit its acquisition to only the most specialized of collections; but there's much discussion of multicultural literature in education today, and any school or curriculum serious about its importance will find Multicultural Literature For Children & Young Adults to be an essential reference. This examines the foundations of issues related to such literature, critiquing multicultural literature both individually and as a whole, and analyzing the role of authors and readers in contributing to the experience. The result is not the expected bibliography of works; but a critical assessment of the field as a whole which provides many important insights to parents and teachers alike. ... Read more

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''Provides a vision for teaching literature and literacy as one, reconciling aesthetic and didactic approaches. Even better, it offers the beginnings of a road map for those who want to pursue all the richness of reading for their students.'' -- From the Foreword by Janet Hickman, Ohio State University

''Barbara Lehman knows good literature for students and she knows how to teach teachers to bring it alive. Her methods for teaching across the curriculum and setting up a classroom for literary learning are impeccable.'' -- Bernice E. Cullinan, Professor Emerita, New York University

''Clearly written and accessibleLehman's framework for literary study reflects a strong theoretical base, and provides flexibility to teachers in adapting it to their specific needs. The book includes many examples, a helpful glossary, and annotations of children's books.'' -- Evelyn B. Freeman, Dean and Director, Ohio State University at Mansfield

Literary study should benefit both children s pleasure and skill in reading. In this engaging book, Barbara Lehman shows how to create meaningful, intellectually stimulating programs of literary study that are developmentally appropriate for students needs, interests, and experiences (ages 5-12). Drawing on her extensive scholarship in the fields of children s literature and literacy instruction, she offers practical ideas for creating programs that accomplish curricular goals in literary ways. Featuring a usable overview of important literary theories as well as many practical teaching ideas, this book will help classroom teachers become more knowledgeable and self-assured about creating their own literature programs for children. ... Read more

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A guide for librarians who want to give their child patrons the best experience possible to promote literacy
If a child doesn't enjoy the book they are reading, then they'll see little point to continue to do so. "Children's Literature and Learning: Literary Study Across the Curriculum" is a guide for librarians who want to give their child patrons the best experience possible to promote literacy and books to them. With an ideal model for matching children with the right book and annotations and references for well over one hundred children's books, "Children's Literature and Learning" is a must for any child-oriented librarian.
... Read more

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WINNER OF THE 2007 CHLA BOOK AWARD!

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A love for reading is one of the most precious gifts that we cangive children. It nurtures their imagination and creativity, letsthem explore other worlds, and opens their minds to new truths andknowledge in appealing, inspiring ways. But how can we sort throughthousands of children's books to discover the really worthwhileones?

Elizabeth Wilson offers us a newly revised, comprehensive guideto the very best in children's literature. Just as in the originalvolume, she comments on the tone and content of excellentlywritten, captivating books in over two dozen subject areas.Hundreds of new titles have been added while retaining timelessclassics and modern favorites-all of which respect traditionalvalues. So that no matter what the children's ages are or whetherthey love fact or fiction, you can trust these books to sharethings that you can believe in and kids will delight in.

Customer Reviews (9)

Not as Comprehensive as I'd Expected
This is a decent resource for children's literature, and I appreciated some of the older titles. Despite being out of print, a few of them were worth the search. However, I was surprised at some of the recommendations (Lorna Doone for children, really?) and there were some gaping ommissions that really should have been included. Overall, it was worthwhile to peruse, but I'm glad I got it out of the library and can spend my money on accumulating some of the literature recommended here and elsewhere.

excellent source for choosing books for your child to read
Every parent should BEGIN their children's library experience with this book! There are hundreds of thousands of titles for children's books, and our children will only be able to read a limited number of these throughout their childhood years. So, don't waste time on the losers in the bunch!

It is BEST to start with a PLAN for raising children, and add a tool, such as this book, which can assist us in guiding our children's book choices!

Every home library should have this book from which to START the process of enriching children through literature. There is certainly plenty of twaddle to read out there which is of little or no value to our children... so why waste their time allowing them to wade through this twaddle and read it? This is often what kills a child's desire to read.

Many books today are poorly written with confusing characters and lacking a protagonist. Many times there are no character building moral values imparted!

This little handbook is great for helping us (parents and teachers) ensure that the best of children's literature is not left behind when our children are beginning their reading experiences.

This book will inform you about children's books which you never knew existed. Most books assigned for our children to read are actually chosen by people who know next to nothing about the options in children's literature.

I am reminded of the little book store owner in "You've Got Mail." Kathleen "Shopgirl" Kelly (played by Meg Ryan) knows all of the wonderful, imaginative, classic children's books for children to read; while Joe "NY152" Fox (played by Tom Hanks just wants to build a conglomerate book store down the street and sell whatever his buyers stock in it. His staff knows no more about the books on the shelves than the shoppers!

Shopgirl knew all the best children's literature and was able to guide her customers through the process of choosing rich reading... those titles that every child should read at least once (because of the quality of writing and storytelling), but will usually read another twenty times because of the richness of the story and the overall experience with which the child is left!

Choose books which have characters to aspire to, stories to imitate, life lessons to be learned, all while fertilizing the seeds of each child's natural imagination!

One of the Best Book List Books Available for Christian Worldview
There are a number of annotated book list books available for Christian parents and teachers, and this is one of the best.In her introduction, Wilson explains that her philosophy grows out of Charlotte Mason's concept of "living books," and states that to be included in her list titles must be: (1) interesting to children, (2) of excellent literary quality, and (3) reflective of a view of human life that does not conflict with Judeo-Christian moral and ethical values.The preface is written by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay (daughter of Francis Schaeffer, a leading thinker in formulating the concept of the Christian worldview).

While I haven't read every title recommended, in general Wilson's selections seem to be well within the bounds of her criteria.Her eye for literary quality, reader interest and moral value is good.She does make some recommendations that I disagree with (for example, Hatchet by Gary Paulson, The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings, and A String in the Harp by Nancy Bond), primarily because they express a cultural view of childhood and the role of parents that I believe is unbiblical.

Unlike many other book lists, this one includes not only fiction and biography sections, but also a number of nonfiction topics such as music, geography, science, mathematics, performing arts, and the natural world.This makes the book an excellent supplement to a young reader's formal education.The chapters are organized by topic, and the reading level is given for individual citations.Obviously, adults need to read the titles rather than merely selecting them on someone else's say-so, but Wilson's recommendation is an excellent place to begin.And in that five minutes before the library closes, four out of five times you can count on her to provide you with a good take-home read.

great resource for children's books
I'm a homeschool mom of 4 with a degree in English, but sometimes I need help and guidance when selecting books for my children, particularly nonfiction.I love Charlotte Mason's idea of living books, books that are not textbooks and that are well-written and appealing to children without being "twaddle."This is an excellent resource for any parent, teacher, or children's librarian.My children have loved the books we've chosen from the library that were suggested by Wilson.I'd highly recommend it!

Might be good
I have found this book very hard to use. My local library system, which is fairly large, has very few of these books. The ages have been a bit off too, many of the Kindergarten age books I have found to be better for Preschool. It does list both fiction and non-fiction, unlike *many* books about books out there. I am hard-pressed to suggest a book in place of "Books Children Love".

Susan Schaeffer MacAulay's foreword is wonderful and worth reading! ... Read more

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This collection of original essays concentrates on the meaning of cultural aesthetics in children's and adolescent literature and uniquely tackles the particular issues teachers face today. Discusses beginning literary patterns of a particular group, stereotypic representations of American cultures, imagery in American adolescent and children's literature, and issues of literary inclusion. Theory and practice come together throughout the three sections of the text.

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This broad introduction to early childhood literature focuses on literacy analysis and on specific techniques and methods of effective literature-based education. Updates references of children's books that readers can use as examples of quality literature. Strengthens coverage of several areas including nonfiction, multicultural/international literature, and the use of literature in integrated teaching for the primary grades. For educators and school administrators. ... Read more

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Compiled by two experienced librarians, Across Cultures introduces you to more than 400 recent fiction and nonfiction multicultural resources for preschool through grade 6 and encourages you to make literature about diversity an integral part of your program of instruction.

Arranged in thematic groupings (Identity and Self-Image, Family and Friends, Traditions, Exploring the Past in Diverse Communities, for example), this lively volume links diverse peoples, themes, and issues. It presents both annotations and practical advice on programming strategies. Connections are made to projects, graphic organizers, and activities.

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The Pleasures of Children's Literature, Third Edition, offers an overview of children's literature in the context of current professional discussion of children's literature and reading. Focusing on controversial issues and designed to provoke thought and debate, this ground-breaking text examines literary response to and analysis of the entire field of literary texts written by adults for children.The Pleasures of Children's Literature, Third Edition introduces and describes relevant current views in a number of disciplines, including literary theory; ideological, cultural and media studies; theories of visual culture and folklore; developmental and cognitive psychology; and pedagogical practice.Noteworthy new author team Nodelman and Reimer offer introductions to a range of relevant questions and approaches, and give readers an overview of theoretical approaches current in literary studies and related disciplines. They offer readers insight into the ways these studies and approaches might illuminate both children's responses and their own responses to understanding children's literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

no issues...
book was received in expected condition as agreed upon.All is good.:-) ... Read more

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Do censors have a chilling impact on children's literature?Mark West traveled across the country to talk with authors of censoredbooks, publishers of children's books, and anti-censorship activists.In this expanded edition, the author continues his exploration ofchildren's literature censorship in new interviews with, among others,Newbery award-winners Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Katherine Paterson,both of whom have been involved in censorship cases centering on theirbooks.Complete with a new introduction, an updated and expandedbibliography, and current biographical information, these revealingand candid interviews are required reading for anyone interested infreedom of information. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Wake-up Call to Fundamentalists
I read this book because I am studying to be an English teacher (in the public school setting) and I knew that censorship would be an issue in my classroom. I am a Fundamentalist Baptist and have several concerns when it comes to the censorship debate, especially for the reputation of Fundamentalism. This book serves as a red flag to all who claim to be Fundamentalists by showing us the poor job we've done of handling the issue biblically. Granted, the book is written from an anti-censorship position, but there is much to learn from it nonetheless. Other than a few (understandable) exaggerations contained in it's pages, I highly recommend this book, especially to Bible-believing Christians. ... Read more

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Looking for a book on conservation for your storytime read-aloud? A title on recycling projects for your 5th graders? What about information sources on pollution to add to your collection? This guide can help you with challenges like these—and many others. It organizes and describes some 450 current fiction and nonfiction titles about the environment, with some alternative media (DVDs and musical CDs) included, as well.

Green Reads: Best Environmental Resources for Youth, K-12is divided into five chapters, each dedicated to a broad environmental subject. Annotations are arranged first by whether they are nonfiction or fiction and then by age ranges and authors. For each title, you'll find complete bibliographic information, a list of subjects, and codes that denote whether the book is "heart-filled, fun, and lively in tone"; contains substantive factual information; or features hands-on, "what-you-can-do-about-it" information. This is a thorough and versatile source—a must-purchase for school and public libraries.

Customer Reviews (1)

Wesson is AMAZING!
This is an amazing resource.It is very clearly written, and unbelievably entertaining. Wesson's sense of humor shines throughout. I highly recommend it! ... Read more

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Have you ever dreamed of writing a best-selling children's book? Ever fantasize about what it's like to live the life of a published children's author? Although writing and illustrating books for children is not as easy as it looks, new authors and illustrators are being discovered--and published--all the time.Even if you're not planning a career in this field, learning how authors and illustrators work can lend new insights and appreciation to their art. The same ideas and inspirations that help authors and illustrators of children's books may encourage students, teachers, librarians and other creative artists in their literary efforts.In The ABCs of Writing for Children you'll learn many ‘do's and don'ts' for creating children's books. You'll see that what works for one author may not work for the next. No matter what your aspirations are, whether you want to enrich your reading, teach others to read and write more deeply, or nurture your own creative process, learning what works for others may work for you.Including:• Chris Crutcher• Karen Cushman• Sid Fleischman• Richard Peck• R.L. Stine• Rosemary Wells•Jane Yolen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A wonderful inside look at the life and work of children's authors
If you've ever wanted to learn from the experiences of successful children's authors, here's your chance. Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff has interviewed 114 authors about everything from coping with writer's block and rejection to author-editor relationships to funny and touching experiences in interaction with children and teachers. The interviews are grouped by subject, so that you can read everything this diverse group said about ways to start a story (for example) in one place. There are several great resource lists. There's also lots of encouragement for finding ways to write that are right for each individual. As I read The ABCs of Writing for Children, I felt as if I were right there with these friendly, genuine, enthusiastic people. This book is a wonderful inside look at the life and work of children's authors, packed full of information, support, and inspiration.

Inspires and Educates
Anyone who is thinking about writing for children can glean enough encouragement, inspiration and advice from Koehler-Pentacoff's compilation of author insights and anecdotes to get that writing engine started. As a wannabe children's author, I found direction within the pages that helped me to be both more realistic and hopeful about taking on the challenge. Helpful hints intermingle with humorous vignettes in an easily palatable format that can be digested nugget by nugget at numerous sittings or all at once. Reading about the experiences of published authors gives the novice writer a view into the process and offers other published authors pieces of wisdom and support.

As for the editing (slammed by another reviewer), I found it neither as neglected as suggested, nor as well done as one might desire; however, I feel only an editing elitist would allow this to interfere with the positives that can be gained from absorbing the content. Read this and reap...motivation and enlightenment.

Content vs. Style
All the things the previous reviewer said are true.The resources in this book are wonderful and the advice from children's authors is absolutely engaging--and useful.However, the copy-editing for this book is non-existent.It is replete with grammatical errors as well as spelling errors and inconsistencies (different spellings of the same word and name throughout).I'm not one of the "grammar police."I can put up with a few errant typos.However, the number of errors present in this book is disturbing.I would have rated it higher for content, but, whether intentional or not, such glaring lack of editing can signal a disregard for the readership and so three stars is as high as I'll go. I hope these problems have been fixed in the paperback edition.

Like a Attending a Writing Seminar with the Best of the Best
Any author, children's or adult, would want to have this book on their shelves. It's got the best writing advice I've ever seen.After all, who knows better than children's authors how to write clear, concise, and vibrantly?In addition, it's delightfully funny.Don't miss the chapters on school visits and letters from kids.Lee Wardlaw's list of things children's authors hate to hear is worth the price of the book by itself.

A comprehensive reference focusing on diverse aspects writing books and stories for children of various ages
Expertly compiled and painstakingly organized by Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff , The ABCs Of Writing For Children: 114 Children's Authors And Illustrators Talk About The Art, The Business, The Craft And The Life Of Writing Children's Literature is a comprehensive reference focusing on diverse aspects writing books and stories for children of various ages, including the business aspects of being published in various forums and formats. Providing especially informative interviews and commentaries from such expert and seasoned published authors of children's literature as Ted Arnold, R.L. Stine, David Greenberg, Alexis O'Neill, Richard Peck, and so many others, The ABCs Of Writing For Children offers a complete grasp and all-inclusive analysis of the literary art and practical business of writing for a juvenile readership ranging from preschool to young adult. Included are lists of recommended books and periodicals, a glossary, resources, and an extensive index. A core addition to personal, professional, and scholastic "Writing & Publishing" reference collections and supple-mental reading lists, The ABCs Of Writing For Children is very strongly recommended for all aspiring children's authors whether they are writing poetry, short stories, novels, or other forms of creative literature for young readers.
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Great teacher resource
This book is a great resource for any teacher who is interested in literacy education.It offer great tools and recommends great books for K-8 teachers and high school reading teachers.In addition, it is a wonderful book to use when teaching Children's Literature at the college level.Dr. Wolf connects multiple aspects of the literacy classroom and helps the reader deconstruct various texts. ... Read more

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Here's a fresh opportunity to learn more about these fine titles and integrate them into the curriculum. The first half of the book presents annotated bibliographies of all author and illustrator winners and honor books. The entire second half of the book is devoted to activities, including some reproducibles, based on select titles. ... Read more

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Terrific Resource for Great YA Literature
I discovered this book when I was coordinating a middle school book group with at-risk kids, primarily African American kids.I was looking for great books that would appeal to the kids, characters and stories they could relate to, outside of the norm.The Coretta Scott King Award List is a wonderful source of young adult literature.This book is the only one of its kind that I could find that offered lesson plans and reading guides, all kinds of enrichment materials, based on CSK Award Winners.My only complaint is that it was published in 2000 and has not been updated! ;-( ... Read more