Developing Learning Skills through Children's Literature

LETTY WATT teaches gifted and talented children at Jefferson Elementary School, Norman, Oklahoma. She is especially involved with grades K-5. As owner of Learning Connections, she is a consultant on literature-based learning.TERRI PARKER STREET holds a B.S. in music education and a Master's of Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma, Norman. She taught music in elementary and secondary schools for 13 years and has presented workshops in the areas of music and the visual arts. She has been an elementary school library media specialist for the past five years.

• Foreword viiiIntroduction: The Need for a Literature Program xiChapter 1 Kindergarten/First Grade 1Everyday Places and Events with Anne Rockwell 1Exploring Concepts with Bruce McMillan 5 The Joy of Nature with Nancy Tafuri 9The Graphic Art of Ann Jonas and Donald Crews 13Learning Facts with Aliki 18Me, Myself, and I 22Rhyme Time 26It's as Easy as ABC 31The Antics of David McPhail's Characters 34Chapter 2 First Grade/Second Grade 39A Pet Project 39Talent A to Z: Amy SchwartZ 43The Art and Language of Audrey and Don Wood 48Grandparents: A Family Album 53Presenting Information with Gail Gibbons 57Developing Character through the Works of Lillian Hoban 62Family Fun with Marc and Laurie Brown 66Rhythms and Rhymes 71The Many Faces of Tony Johnston 75Chapter 3 Second Grade/Third Grade 81Feelings Shared by Cynthia Rylant 81Mirrored Feelings in the Books of Elizabeth Winthrop 85Eve Bunting: A Bit o' the Irish 90Janet Stevens's Characters in Costumes 95Winter Times and Tales 100Adventures in Science with Joanna Cole 104Under the Pet Tree 109Mem Fox and Margaret Mahy: Readings from Down Under 113Viewing Nature with Joanne Ryder 118Chapter 4 Third Grade/Fourth Grade 123Bridges to the Past: Biographies by David Adler 123Caldecott Connections 129Story Mapping with Johanna Hurwitz 137A Variety of Verses 142Inventive Thoughts 146Examining Theme in Jane Yolen's Books 151Jerry Pinkney's Illustrations: Reflections of Life and Character 157Wild Voices: Mysteries of Animal Communication 163Story Elements in the Books of Eth Clifford 168Chapter 5 Fourth Grade/Fifth Grade 173Funnybones 173Patricia MacLachlan's Memories and Models 178Legends and Lore of Earth and Sky 184The Surreal World of Chris Van Allsburg 190Investigating Genres with Sid and Paul Fleischman 197Mapping Outer Space with Seymour Simon 204Character Development with Bill Wallace 209Word Play 215 Exploring Relationships with Alfred Slote 220Chapter 6 Fifth Grade/Sixth Grade 226Sights and Scenes with Leonard Everett Fisher 226It's a Mystery to Me! 231Kathryn Lasky's Devices of Style 237Thirteen Strong Women 243Story Time within a Rhyme: Pems that Tell Stories 250Avi's Stories and Structures 255Capturing Mood in the Writings of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 261Overcoming the Odds 266Lloyd Alexander's Realms of Fantasy 273Appendix I Biographical Sources for Authors and Illustrators 279Appendix II Directory of Publishers, Producers, and Distributors 280Index 285