Through the Eyes of a Child

No text better prepares you for evaluating, choosing, and sharing quality childrens literature than Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Childrens Literature. This streamlined eighth edition continues to provide a visually stunning, theoretically sound, comprehensive overview of childrens literature. Sharpened focus on contemporary issues in the field, deepened coverage of biography and informational books, and newly integrated technology give this new edition added relevance in the changing marketplace. In addition, some of the brightest stars of childrens literature lend their talents to the new edition, providing insight into the craft and addressing the changing needs of middle grades readers.

Evaluating and Sharing

This text will prepare you to appreciate, evaluate, and share childrens literature by examining the most important elements of the literature and by addressing the needs and interests of its readers.

• A full chapter, Chapter 3, is devoted to evaluating and choosing literature for children.
• Evaluation Criteria boxes in every genre chapter outline exactly what you need to look for in quality literature.
• Teaching With pages ending every genre chapter share classroom-tested suggestions for using literature in your teaching.

Voices from the Field

The hottest topic in childrens literature, adolescent literature can be a complex issue. The eighth edition tackles it head on, turning to the pros to find out how to evaluate literature written for readers in grades 4 through 8, and learning how to compel this group of readers at risk of losing interest in reading.

• New! Jack Gantos discusses the teachers role in keeping 4th through 8th graders interested in reading.
• New! Nancy Farmer tells us how she works to engage readers in the middle grades.
• New! Naomi Shihab Nye talks about the truth in poetry that engages young adolescent readers.
• New! Joseph Bruchac tells us how we can mentor middle graders into becoming lifelong readers.

Through the Eyes of an Author, Through the Eyes of a Child

This two part feature begins with exclusive interviews with some of the creative geniuses that makes childrens literature fascinating, then goes on to share a childs response to their work.

• New! Mo Willems tells us how he generates ideas, then 5-year-old Ruby shares her feelings about Willemss Leonardo the Terrible Monster.
• New! Susan Guevarra tells us what inspires her art and 9-year-old Hayden responds to her artwork in Chato and the Party Animals.
• New! Robert Burleigh talks about the poetry of writing childrens books, and 4-year-old Eva tells us her favorite things about his new picture book Clang! Clang! Beep! Beep! Listen to the City.