EDU 235 - Children’s Literature

1. Select and evaluate children’s literature for educational and leisure purposes.
2. Name common literary genres of children’s literature. 
3. Label characteristics of fiction and nonfiction.  
4. Name selected authors and illustrators of children’s books. 
5. Describe recent trends in children’s literature. 

Course Objectives:

Course Objective #1:

1. Children’s Literature basics and characteristics 
2. Define children’s literature. ‘
3. Distinguish between various genres of children’s literature. 
4. Recognize artistic styles and artistic media used to illustrate children’s literature. 
5. Identify the significant literary awards for outstanding children’s literature and explain their selection criteria. 
6. Identify important events in the history of literacy and children’s literature. 
7. Demonstrate the use of at least one readability tool. 
8. Be familiar with content in children’s sections of school and public libraries. 
9. Recognize similarities and differences between young adult literature and children’s literature. 

Course Objective #2: The educational and literary value of children’s literature. 

1. Explain why it is important to encourage children and young adults to read. 

2. Identify ways to encourage young children and young adults to read.  

3. Define the term “bibliotherapy” and identify potential uses of bibliotherapy.  

Course Objective #3: Sharing knowledge and preparing for the profession of teaching  

1. Select children’s books to share with the class through book talk presentations. 

2. Create annotated bibliography entries for selected children’s books.  

3. Design and create a bulletin board that promotes literacy and reading. 

4. Visit a school classroom or similar organized setting such as a day care to read aloud to a group of children (alternative assignments available if such a visit is not possible) 

5. Share a literature-based lesson. 

6. Recognize content in and the value of professional education and literary peer-reviewed journals. 

Course Objective #4: Trends and issues 

1. Recognize recent trends in children’s literature.  

2. Identify reasons why some books for children and young adults are challenged or banned. 

3. Explain and defend views on censorship. 

4. Be aware of recent technology used with children’s literature, such as audio books, interactive stories in apps, Kindle, etc. 

5. Recognize how children’s literature reflects American culture, a multicultural society, and other cultures.  

Course Objective 5:  From book to film: literature and film as literary forms 

1. Understand how movies use visual, audio, and other cinematic strategies to tell a story. 
2. Analyze how a movie effectively adapts a story for children or young adults from a book to film.