ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

INTERNET RESOURCES: Children’s literature

Pam Werre is public services librarian at Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota, e-mail: werrepa@mnstate.edu; Ru Story-Huffman is public services librarian at Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Kentucky, e-mail: rshuff@cc.cumber.edu

Useful sites for teachers, librarians, and students

In recent years, children’s literature has come to be considered a serious field of study. Information on the Internet has greatly increased access to materials in the field. General information on authors and supplementary teaching materials are readily available on the Web; a welcome addition for classroom teachers and their students.

Still lacking, however, are the more scholarly critical and interpretative materials in children’s literature. The primary scholarly journals offer only limited content online or are available through subscription only. The serious student of children’s literature must not limit his or her research to Internet resources only, but must continue to rely on the more traditional methods and resources for research.

This selective list of children’s literature sites should be of interest to the practicing teacher and librarian as well as to the student and scholar of children’s literature. Intentionally excluded from this bibliography are Internet resources in the area of young adult and adolescent literature.

Discussion groups

• CHILD_LIT. Child_Lit is a very active, unmoderated discussion group devoted to children’s literature. Created at Rutgers University in November 1993, Child_Lit is designed for anyone with an interest in the combination of children and literature. The list members are well versed in the field of children’s literature, which makes for an excellent source of information, contacts, and ideas. Access: http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/ -mjoseph/childlit/about.html. Access: Send the message SUBSCRIBE CHILD_LIT <firstname> <lastname> to listserv@email. rutgers.edu.

• CHILDLIT-L. A relatively inactive electronic discussion list discussing all topics pertaining to children’s literature. Access: Send the message SUBSCRIBE CHILDLIT-L <firstname> <lastname> to listproc@lists. missouri.edu.

• rec.arts.books.childrens. An unmoderated newsgroup covering all aspects of children’s literature. According to the charter, topics for discussion will include, but not be limited to, book reviews, authors, and discussion of issues raised by books. A FAQ for the newsgroup is available at http:// www. cherryvalleybooks. com/RABC. htm.

Comprehensive sites

• Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site. Designed with the teacher in mind, this site is useful to all interested in the use of children’s literature as an educational and entertaining tool. Features include book reviews, the use of children’s literature in the curriculum, authors and illustrators, and professional topics. Nice features include the search function and e-mail update option. Though the advertising on the pages may distract some, the content is useful and merits attention. Access: http://www.carolhurst. com/.

• Children’s Literature Web Guide. This is the premiere site for children’s literature resources on the Web. David K. Brown, University of Calgary, has constructed a comprehensive, well-organized, and searchable site dedicated to children’s literature. Brown includes resources for teachers, parents, storytellers, writers, and illustrators. A nice feature is the “Douchette Index of Teaching Ideas for Children’s Books,” an index to books and Web sites that contain useful teaching suggestions. Also included is a list of children’s literature electronic journals and book review sources. Access: http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/ ~dkbrown/.

• ISLMC Children’s Literature and Language Arts Resources. With a focus on children’s literature in education, this site is part of the Internet School Library Media Center Web site and was developed by Inez Ramsey at James Madison University. It is divided into ten broad categories that feature a selective list of links. A good site for useful teaching ideas and lesson plans. Access: http:// falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/childlit.htm.

• Once Upon a Time … A Children’s Literature Web Site. Mary Ellen Van Camp, Ball State University, is the author and developer of this site. Intended for use in Van Camp’s Children’s Literature and English Literature classes, those interested in children’s literature will also find this site useful. Numerous links to children’s literature sites are represented, plus some links for libraries and museums. Van Camp maintains a useful section that contains information about authors of children’s literature, which can benefit scholars of the genre. This site still provides useful information, although it was last updated in 1998. Access: http:// nova.bsuvc.bsu.edu/~OOmevancamp/ouat. html.

Research-oriented sites

• American Library Association Book Awards. Collectively these pages give information about some of the most important book awards in children’s literature. The Randolph Caldecott Medal¹ is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book, the Newbery Medal to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, and the Coretta Scott King Award to authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the “American Dream.” The pages give background information on the awards and a comprehensive list of award-winning titles.

• Caldecott Medal Home Page. Access: http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html.

• Coretta Scott King Award. Access: http://www.ala.org/srrt/csking/.

• Newbery Medal Home Page. Access: http :// www. ala. org/ alsc/newbery. html.

• de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection. Located at the University of Southern Mississippi, the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection is a repository and research center for the study of children’s literature. The collection is composed of original illustrations, manuscripts, and published books that focus on American and British children’s literature. The de Grummond Collection is the main repository for the works of Ezra Jack Keats and contains numerous galleys, illustrations, and information. The collection is expanding with each passing year, as evidenced by the recent addition of H. A. Rey materials. This site is an excellent example for other special collection depositories to follow. Not only will Web page developers find this site useful, researchers and scholars in the field of children’s literature will, too. Access: http:// www.lib.usm.edu/~degrum/.

• History of Children’s Literature.

These pages, developed by Kay Vandergrift, a professor of children’s literature at Rutgers School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, offer a useful overview of the history of children’s literature and link to extensive bibliographies and other resources that she has compiled. A useful resource for the student of children’s literature, as is the larger umbrella site (.Access: http://www. scils.rutgers.edu/special/kay/childlit.html). Access, http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/special/ kay/history.html.

• Reading About Children’s Literature: A Bibliography of Criticism. Developed to accompany Pleasures of Children’s Literature, 2nd edition by Perry Nodelman, this site includes a bibliography of books and journal articles from the 1st edition of the same title. During publication of the 2nd edition, Nodelman revised and updated the bibliography, and made it available via the Web. While not a “critical” evaluation of children’s literature per se, this site may lead to print resources of interest to scholars and students. Nodelman’s intention is to publish a 3rd edition of Pleasures of Children ’s Literature, and we anticipate additional work and information on the Web. Access, http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/~nodelman/ criticism.htm.

Author and illustrator sites

• Authors and Illustrators on the Web. This section of David Brown’s Children’s Literature Web Guide is dedicated to children’s authors and illustrators. Arranged alphabetically, Brown includes brief descriptions of the author sites and indicates those that are particularly comprehensive and useful. Access: http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/ -dkbrown/ authors. html.

• Fairrosa Cyber Library: Authors and Illustrators. Part of the Fairrosa Cyber Library (Access: http://www.dalton.org/libraries/fairrosa), this site features a nice selection of authors and illustrators for both children’s picture books and young adult novels and nonfiction. Recommended for anyone wishing information on a favorite author/illustrator, students doing research, or those interested in the creators of children’s literature. Access: http://www.dalton.org/libraries/fairrosa/cl. authors. html.

• Index to Internet Sites: Children’s and Young Adults’ Authors and Illustrators. A very simple, yet comprehensive list of authors and illustrators that is part of the Internet School Library Media Center Web site, developed by Inez Ramsey at James Madison University. Ramsey has included teacher resource files, where available, to be used when teaching specific authors or texts. Access: http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/ biochildhome.htm.

• Meet Authors and Illustrators. Children’s Literature'll an electronic and print book review source that also includes additional information on children’s literature. One feature on the Web version is a browsable author/illustrator list highlighting well-known -authors and illustrators of children’s books. Access: http://www. childrenslit.com/f_mai.htm.

Organization and association sites

• American Association of School Librarians (AASL). This is the Web site for AASL, a division of the ALA for school librarians and school library media specialists. Included are conference and event information, the new national guidelines and standards, professional materials for handling book and material challenges, resources on Internet filtering, and AASL mission and position statements. Access, http://www.ala.org/ aasl/index.html.

• Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). Supporting children’s librarianship is the stated goal of the ALSC, a division of the ALA. Through the ALSC Web site, members and nonmembers can discover association news, conference information, and links to various related Web sites. School and public librarians who work with children will find this site useful and members will find a direct route to involvement in the association. Access: http://www.ala.org/alsc/.

• Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College. The Children’s Book Committee at Bank Street College was formed 75 years ago with the purpose of selecting the best children’s books published each year. The site provides information on the committee, its book awards and publications, and its annual list of the 600 best children’s books. Access: http://www.bnkst.edu/bookcom/.

• The Children’s Book Council (CBC) Online. The CBC has been in existence since 1945 and provides various opportunities for encouraging reading in children. The CBC Online has links of interest to publishers, authors, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and parents. In addition, special events are highlighted and presented. The Teachers and Librarians Page features information about new books, noteworthy authors and illustrators, bibliographies, reading activities, featured topic forums, and authors. Members of the CBC will find this site useful for council news, while librarians and teachers will discover useful ideas for use in the classroom. Access-. http://www.cbcbooks.org/.

• Children’s Literature Assembly (CLA). Affiliated with the National Council of Teachers of English, the CLA promotes children’s literature and its teaching. The site includes the CLA’s annual list of notable children’s trade books in the language arts, its annual report, and a list of the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. Access. http://www.uta.edu/soe/CLA/.

• Children’s Literature Association.

Promoting scholarship and research in children’s literature, the Children’s Literature Association Web page presents membership information, an overview of the association, conference information, and links to its publications, including a topical index to CbLA Quarterly. While designed to promote and support the association, this Web site will provide the general learner with information. Access. http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/chla/ChLAHome. html.

• Society of Children’s Book Writers

and Illustrators (SCBW1).Representing the writer’s side of children’s literature, SCBWI is the only professional organization dedicated to the writers and illustrators of children’s books. The site provides information about the children’s publishing industry as well as the Golden Kite Award lists and selected SCBWI publications. Access: http://www.scbwi.org/.

Electronic journals

• Book Links. Published by Booklist Publications, Book Links is a journal for teachers, librarians, and those interested in the use and enjoyment of children’s literature. The Web version of Book Links provides selected articles, indexes, subscription information, and submission information. This Web site should prove useful for anyone looking to subscribe to the journal, while others may find the index and back articles of some value. Access: http://www.ala.org/BookLinks/.

• Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. Founded in 1945, the Bulletin is one of the major reviewing journals devoted to current books for children. The electronic version provides selected reviews and bibliographies with an archive of selected articles and topical bibliographies dating to 1997. Subscribers to the print version have access to an online searchable database of the journal, including the full-text of all book reviews. Access: http:// www.lis.uiuc.edu/puboff/bccb/.

• Children’s Literature. Children’s Literature is a review publication that highlights recently published books. The Web site for Children’s Literature provides themed reviews and related sites of interest, including teaching materials and conference information. Visitors to the Web site also have the opportunity to request a sample issue of the Children’s Literature Newsletter. Access, http:// www.childrenslit.com/home.htm.

• The Horn Book.

Published since 1924, The Horn Book, is a bimonthly publication of children’s literature reviews and critical articles and essays. The online version provides selected articles, editorials, and articles from the most recent issue and an index to reviews in the print version. Also included are selected Horn Book, resources for parents, authors, and illustrators. Access-, http://www.hbook.com/.

• School Library Journal. The primary audience for School Library fournal is school librarians, media specialists, and children’s librarians. This trade publication offers articles, book, media, and Web site reviews. The electronic version provides selected articles, best book lists, editorials, and an index to the print version of SLJ to 1997, with an index to reviews to 1995. Access: http:// www.slj.com/.

Note

1. The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of 19-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the ALA, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. Permission to reproduce granted by the ALA. ■