This course provides an introduction to children's literature, focusing on the principles of effective book selection, evaluation, and application in educational and other contexts. Students will explore selection guidelines, develop effective storytelling techniques, and practice critical interpretation to choose developmentally appropriate books and stories for children.
Prerequisites
Reading proficiency as established by District policy.
1. Articulate the importance of reading and its impact on child development.
2. Apply established guidelines for selecting high-quality and developmentally appropriate children's literature.
3. Analyze the historical context and major trends in children's literature, and implement traditional storytelling techniques.
4. Categorize literary genres and identify representative children's books for each genre.
5. Describe the historical evolution and development of picture books.
6. Evaluate the function and importance of illustrations in children's literature.
7. Design and implement a plan to introduce children to poetry.
8. Compare and contrast the characteristics of various literary types, including folklore, fantasy, fiction, biographies, and informational books.
9. Critique multicultural and international children's books using specific evaluative criteria.
10. Compare controversial books and evaluate the appropriateness of character portrayals and thematic content.