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Books for Children
The literary genre children's books or children's literature generally refers to the broad range of texts published for young audiences from birth to 12 years. From board books to fictionalized novels, the contents of these books are influenced by myriad factors, including the current knowledge of child developmental learning, personal ideologies of the authors and illustrators, social and political cultures surrounding the books' publications, and economic realities within the children's publishing industry. Likewise, children's books reflect society's views regarding moral standards and lifestyle choices. Trends in children's publishing are dictated by these views as well as the corporate philosophy regarding book sales. As a result, issues concerning children's book publication, such as censorship and cultural authenticity, are often raised by literary critics and concerned members of society. In an effort to increase the quality of children's books and to encourage multiculturalism in children's publishing, children's book awards are given by numerous educational organizations such as the American Library Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. These awards encourage publishers to meet quality standards set forth by the award committees, resulting in books of higher literary value that avoid cultural stereotypes and promote acceptance of all cultures.
Characteristics and Genres of Children's Books
Various researchers and educators have generated lists of criteria for “good children's literature.” Essentially, they all agree that children need books that are accurate and insightful, aesthetically pleasing, and free of stereotypes or negative cultural representations. In addition, children's books should broaden the reader's understanding and awareness of a topic and should be developmentally appropriate for the intended age level. Books possessing these qualities help children understand themselves, others, and the changing world around them.
Choosing the right books for the right readers enriches children's lives and imaginations as they encounter new worlds, new characters, and new situations through the various genres of children's books. Barbara Peterson (2001) describes the textual characteristics of “good” children's books, emphasizing the literary genres most suitable for each stage in a child's development. Genres of children's books include traditional literature (folktales, myths, legends, and fables from around the world), picture books (board books, concept books, beginning reader's books, picture story-books, and wordless books), poetry (nursery rhymes, songs, and various forms of poems), realistic fiction (books dealing with mystery, humor, sports, school, families, etc.), historical fiction (books set in past times and places), modern fantasy and science fiction (books with talking animals, imaginary creatures, and invented settings), biographies and personal memoirs (books about the lives of famous people and ordinary people), and informational and nonfiction books (factual books on a multitude of topics, from nature and animals to sports and history). Children's Books in Children's Hands, by Charles Temple, Miriam Martinez, and Junko Yokota, provides a comprehensive description of the various children's book genres.
Children and Books: Interacting and Responding
Interactions with Books
Children need daily opportunities to interact and respond to texts if they are to realize the full potential of books. Jim Trelease enumerates the many prosocial and developmental (physical, intellectual, and emotional) benefits of reading aloud to children from books, noting that the most successful, well-adjusted, and intelligent adults grew up in families where reading is valued and read-alouds are common. Esmé Raji Codell offers comparable statistics and provides an extensive list of recommended books, arranged by subject and age level, to assist parents in selecting age-appropriate books to read to their children. She describes additional activities that encourage children to interact with books, such as reader's theatre dramatizations, puppetry, storytelling, literature-based cooking, book-themed parties, story writing, and poetry readings.
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