Words And Pictures: Lessons In Children's Literature and Literacies

Rating:
Summary: Enlightening, Unique Textbook for Children's Literature a
Review: Having used WORDS AND PICTURES with undergraduates, I strongly recommend the instructional use of this textbook. After reading this book, students will develop an appreciation for what distinguishes quality reading materials and they will become aware of specific criteria fir evaluating books for their own classroom collections. The book provides readers with opportunities for exploring different genres and for seeing how these books can be used in the classroom. The textbook is applicable to both primary and intermediate teachers. The lists of children's books at the ends of chapters are an excellent sources for readers. The chapter on reading and writing (Chapter Nine) is particularly well thought out. My students have been expecially intrigued by the sections on organic reading and writing and excited about trying it themselves, as an approach. The section on Reading Recovery, as it relates to children's books, is also very important for prospective teachers. Chapter Eight on reader response has new and exciting ideas, as do many of the other chapters. Chapter Five has an interesting "take" on ethnic literature, censorship, and ideology. Chapter Four has important points to make about gender issues and children's books and an important listing of children's books in which child characters are readers and writers. Chapters Ten and Eleven has many practical suggestions for teaching with children's books. The organizational flow of the book is strong. The multicultural focus is timely, thorough, and thought provoking. The investigative activities that weave through all the chapters are the best I've seen in any textbook. They are creative and challenging, yet interesting and appropriate for students. I strongly recommend the book; it presents an enlightening, unique, and cutting edge approach to children's literature and literacy teaching today. The Instructor's Manual for the textbook also has cutting edge ideas for student-based, interactive teaching and innovative ideas for using pictures as advance organizers for teaching the different chapters.