Based on extensive research on the features that make children's books appealing and appropriate, this valuable teacher resource offers guidance on selecting books, strategies for specific grade levels, suggestions for extension, and tips for assessment. This teacher-friendly book is organized around the major genres — traditional literature, picture books, nonfiction, poetry, and multicultural texts — that will inspire young readers. Throughout the book, teachers will find suggestions for using literature to implement shared reading, reading aloud, and response strategies with emergent, developing, and independent readers. This comprehensive book is rooted in the belief that educators must consider and offer a wide range of choice to ensure that students read "good" books. It argues that the choices children make about what they read should be governed by their interests and desire to learn; not by a grade or reading level.

LARRY SWARTZ is an instructor in literacy as well as dramatic arts at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. He has been an educator for over thirty-six years and is well known for his use of childrenâ??s literature to help young people grow as readers, writers, and citizens of the world. As a classroom teacher, consultant, author, and speaker, Larry has shared his enthusiasm and expertise with teachers, administrators, teacher-librarians, and parents throughout Canada, the United States, and Asia. He is the author of several teacher resource publications.

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Good Books Matter

Among the plethora of reading guides, Good Books Matter skims to the top, surpassing many available resources. The book’s brilliance results from extensive research in genre applications, information and relevant curriculum tie-ins. There are suggestions for in-class discussions, one-on-one discussions and chart examples that reflect and relate to the understanding and discovery of meaning through story contexts.

The seven chapters delineate awareness of progression in how we read, how we teach, how we share and how we learn from books in a multitude of ways. An informative and engaging introduction leads to units on teaching and discussing children’s fiction, poetry, non-fiction, graphic novels, fairy tales and picture books. A variety of tales – realistic, cumulative, pourquoi, beast and modern – are explored, along with legends and epics. The celebration of multicultural diversity and the complexity of injustices, coupled with information about censorship, add to the depth of the book. Margin notes are carefully constructed to add further insightful and delightful information.

The Children’s Literature Awards and Professional Resources appendices are invaluable. Extensive book lists organized by genre, age or purpose; activities designed to promote all facets of reading; and brief profiles of authors to select when choosing texts all contribute to the excellence of this resource guide.

This is an unsurpassed compilation of material that is relevant to all who want to learn more about why good books matter. Share the joy!