Children’s Literature for Teaching and Learning English Arts
Your Librarian: Cathy Outten | Cathy.Outten@csulb.edu
Our Collection
Room 200
- Picture Books (PZ8.)
- Beginning readers (PZ6.)
- Juvenile Fiction (PZ7.)
- Young Adult Fiction (PZ7.5.)
- Children’s Graphic Novels (all call numbers)
Room 204
- Nonfiction (by subject LC call numbers)
- K-12 Curriculum (by subject LC call numbers)
- Videos, audiobooks (all call numbers)
- Braille (all call numbers)
- Poetry (PZ5.)
- Oversized (all call numbers)
Online Guide http://csulb.libguides.com/childrens
- Link through Home Page/ Research Guides/ Children’s Literature
- We Need Diverse Books / Banned Books
- Includes info about OneSearch, Award Winners
- EDEL 442 page for this handout
Using our Collection
- Don’t put books back on shelf, use bin or leave on tables
- Check out books on the first floor of the library
- Or via a locker system out front, request the book in OneSearch, you will get an email when they are ready, limit 5 book requests at one time
- Check out books for 16 weeks, up to 50 at a time
Using OneSearch
- Use Advanced Search and enter “CSULB Children’s Collection” in first box
- Use keywords (e.g. bunnies) or library “subject terms”: (e.g. rabbits)
- Limit Location on the left to: Picture Books, Nonfiction, etc.
- Find the LOCATION and CALL NUMBER for your book and find it on the shelf, OR use locker system
Evaluating a Picture Book
- Find a book, using OneSearch and booklists/awards lists.
- Age/ability appropriate?
- Content Standards, can this book promote learning?
- Multiethnic/cultural? Are different cultures reflected in a positive way?
- Anti-bias? Are biases and stereotypes avoided?
- Accurate information?
- Appealing illustrations, does the cover and other art attract the reader?
- Illustration style, what techniques and colors are used?
- Illustrations and content, do they connect?
Banned and Challenged Books
- Challenges are increasing exponentially
- Top reasons for challenges are for LGBTQ+ and/or racial/ethnic content
- Book removal harms children who need to see themselves represented
When you look at a challenged book:
What might make someone challenge this book?
What person might this book be valuable for? (If this book were removed, who would miss out?)
Check yourself:
- Do you see this book as “appropriate”?
- For what age? (Does age matter?)
- Would you spend resources on purchasing it (for your classroom, school, library?)
- Where should it be accessible (everywhere, classroom, school library, public library, etc.)?
Extra*
- Can you think of a book you wish you hadn’t read at a young age?
- A book you wish you HAD read at a younger age?
