Sylvia M. Vardell is professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at Texas Woman's University, where she teaches graduate courses in children's literature. Her research has focused on sharing poetry with young people.

• AcknowledgmentsIntroductionTheme poem: This Book by Joyce Sidman1—An Introduction to Children and Their LiteratureBecoming LiterateLiteracy DevelopmentEmergent LiteracySchools and ReadingReading AloudSustained Silent Reading (SSR)Readers' AdvisorySelecting and Reviewing Children's BooksAwards in Children's LiteratureOther Major AwardsBest ListsWhat Books?Learning about Authors, Illustrators, and PoetsLiterature in Action: Launching Literature and Literacy CelebrationsOngoing Professional DevelopmentConclusionProfessional Resources for Children's LiteratureStandards in Action: ALSC CompetenciesAssignments in Action: Getting Started2—Picture BooksIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of Picture BooksMajor Authors and Illustrators of Picture BooksChildren's Picture Book IllustrationEvaluation CriteriaAwards for Picture Books and IllustrationLiterature in Action: Sharing Picture Books AloudSharing Picture BooksConclusionProfessional Resources on the Art of Picture BooksStandards in Action: Common Core State StandardsAssignments in Action: Looking into Picture Books3—Traditional TalesIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of Traditional TalesMajor Retellers of Traditional TalesEvaluation CriteriaAwards for Traditional TalesLiterature in Action: Featuring Folktale VariantsSharing Traditional TalesConclusionProfessional Resources for Traditional LiteratureStandards in Action: National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School LibrariesAssignments in Action: Celebrating Traditional Tales4—Poetry for ChildrenIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of Poetry Books for ChildrenMajor PoetsEvaluation CriteriaAwards for PoetryLiterature in Action: Leading Choral Reading and Poetry PerformanceSharing PoetryConclusionProfessional Resources in Children's PoetryStandards in Action: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for English Language Arts and ReadingAssignments in Action: Exploring Poetry Possibilities5—Contemporary Realistic FictionIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of Contemporary Realistic FictionControversy and Contemporary RealismMajor Authors of Contemporary Realistic FictionEvaluation CriteriaAwards for Contemporary Realistic FictionLiterature in Action: Guiding ResponsesSharing Contemporary Realistic FictionConclusionProfessional Resources in Contemporary Realistic FictionStandards in Action: NCTE/ILA Standards for the English Language ArtsAssignments in Action: Checking Out Contemporary Realistic Fiction6—Historical FictionIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of Historical FictionMajor Authors of Historical FictionEvaluation CriteriaAwards for Historical FictionLiterature in Action: Using Community ResourcesSharing Historical FictionConclusionProfessional Resources for Historical FictionStandards in Action: National Curriculum Standards for Social StudiesAssignments in Action: Digging Deeper into Historical Fiction7—FantasyIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of FantasyControversyMajor Authors of FantasyEvaluation CriteriaAwards for FantasyLiterature in Action: Expanding Reading with AudiobooksSharing FantasyConclusionProfessional Resources in Fantasy LiteratureStandards in Action: YALSA CompetenciesAssignments in Action: Delving into Fantasy8—Nonfiction and Informational BooksIntroductionDefinitionsTypes of Informational BooksMajor Authors of Informational BooksEvaluation CriteriaAwards for Nonfiction and Informational BooksLiterature in Action: Introducing Text FeaturesSharing Informational BooksConclusionProfessional Resources in NonfictionStandards in Action: Common Core and NonfictionAssignments in Action: Investigating Informational BooksReferencesBibliography of Children's Books CitedCopyright Acknowledgments and PermissionsIndex