Children’s Literature

Stevan Morris

Shelley Gill, author of Adventure at the Top of the World, Adventure at the Bottom of the World, Kiana's Iditarod, North Country Christmas, Danger, the Dog Yard Cat, and numerous other books about nature, animals and adventure, loves to inspire students to be excited about reading and writing.  Her talks cover a whole range of topics from the Iditarod Sled Dog Race to chasing whales.  Shelley's website is www.shelleygill.com. 

John Archambault's work has motivated kids to turn off the TV and get turned on to the magical words that reading can deliver.  Joh is most well known for his best-selling classic, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.  Other titles of John's include Barn Dance, The Ghost-Eye Tree, Knots on a Counting Rope, and Boom Chicka Rock. John has also authored the new Rockin' Reading series for beginning readers with David Plummer.  Check out John's website - www.johnarchambault.com. 

       

Brad Tassell will entertain his audience as he shares about his book, Billy Fustertag Does Comedy. Brad will also talk more seriously about bullying.  Educators will want to hear about another of Brad's book, Don't Feed the Bully and tips on bully control in your classroom and school.  www.dontfeedthebully.com is Brad's website. 

You won't want to miss the many other presenters, many of Iowa's own pride and joy, who will educate, entertain, and enlighten you as you attend the 2009 conference. 

             

       Carol Gorman                                                            Sharron McElmeel

         

        Jeni Reeves                         Carol Bodensteiner

One of the Friday luncheons will include a panel made up of Iowa author Carol Gorman (www.carolgorman.com) whose books include Stumptown Kid, Dork in Disguise, Dork on the Run, Chelsey and the Green-Haired Kid, illustrator Jeni Reeves (illustrator of Colors of Kenya, Voice of Freedom, The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth – www.jenireeves.com)  and Sharron McElmeel (author of two dozen books for educators and parents and director of the literary organization McBookwords).

You will also hear both days from Brad Tassell, Don’t Feed the Bully, Jimmy Fustertag Does Comedy and Iowa author, Carol Bodensteiner, Growing Up Country and many of our own crop of Iowa educators. 

The bumper crop of speakers, authors and presenters will fill your wagons to overflowing with new books, new ideas, and tried and true techniques to use with your students.  

 

What is children’s literature

Shelley Gill, author of Adventure at the Top of the World, Adventure at the Bottom of the World, Kiana's Iditarod, North Country Christmas, Danger, the Dog Yard Cat, and numerous other books about nature, animals and adventure, loves to inspire students to be excited about reading and writing.  Her talks cover a whole range of topics from the Iditarod Sled Dog Race to chasing whales.  Shelley's website is www.shelleygill.com. 

Did You know?

Shelley Gill appeared at Hershey Elementary School to share her stories and inspire the children to be excited about reading and writing.  She talked with the children about the importance of research and accuracy in writing.  Ms. Gill's presentation was designed to show the children that writers can do whatever they set their minds and dreams to do. 

History of children’s Literature

lives her books!

Shelley was previously an editor at Alaska Woman magazine, and also worked as a reporter, editor, and publisher for the Frontiersman and Valley Sun newspapers in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Shelley lives with her family on a ridge above Kachemak Bay in Homer, Alaska.

www.wikipedia.com

The Genres of Children’s Literature

The most commonly identified genres of Kids Lit are

picture bookspicture story bookstraditional literaturehistorical fictionmodern fantasycontemporary realistic fictionnon-fiction or informational booksbiographypoetry

www.bsu.edu

Traditional Lit

Traditional literature is defined as literature which came from an oral story telling tradition

Could be for entertainment or instruction Examples for traditional Lit are-

– Folk tales

– Fables

– Myths

– Legends

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Modern Fantasy

“Modern Fantasy is a broad genre with many types of books included in its spectrum.”

The genre is often characterized by its use of time travel, or imaginary beings from other planets, or animals that

talk.

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M. Fantasy Continued

Examples of Modern Fantasy are

• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

• The Giver by Lois Lowry

• Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

• A. A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh

• Alice in Wonderland

www.bsu.edu

The Caldecott Award

This is given to the artist who had created the most distinguished picture book of the year.

called the Caldecott Medal in honor of Randolph J Caldecott, the nineteenth-century English illustrator.

Awarded Annually Can only be awarded to an artist who is a citizen or

resident of the U.S.

ils.unc.edu