Web Resources

Asociation for Library Service to Children and
Young Adult Library Services Association
Get the latest information, announcements, and resources from these American Library
Association divisions. Both ALA sites provide lists of notable and award winning books by year.

Carol Hurst Children’s Literature Site
This site lists curriculum areas with information such as: related children's books, activities, related professional books and links to related sites on the internet.

CCBC : Cooperative Children's Book Center
Contains an archive of book reviews organized by year and searchable by genre. Numerous links to author and illustrator pages and other major children's literature sites. University of Wisconsin-Madison

Center for Children's Books
Link to the storytelling page to hear stories and get reviews of storytelling recordings. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Children's Book and Play Reviews
Search for reviews of books and plays, journal articles, and annotated lists of notable books.

Children's Literature & Language Arts Resources
"One of the best library related sites on the 'net," according to Library Hi Tech.

Cynthia Leitich Smith Children's and YA Literature - Official author site and literature resources.

Database of Award Winning Children's Literature
"The purpose of this database is to create a tailored reading list of quality children's literature or to find out if a book has won one of the indexed awards."

Index to Internet Sites: Children's and Young Adults' Authors & Illustrators
A HUGE list of links to every author and illustrator you can think of. From James Madison U.

International Children's Digital Library
The world's largest international digital library designed for and by children.  Focuses on introducing children to new cultures through literature.

LookyBook.com - Lookybook allows you to look at picture books in their entirety—from cover to cover, at your own pace.  You may search this site by subject, title, author or illustrator.

The Literacy Web
Includes a section for teachers with tips and lessons for using children's literature in the classroom.

Nancy Keane's Children's Literature Web Page
Look for ready-to-use booktalks, lists of recommended reading and more.

NoveList (provided by NC LIVE)
Online guide allows you to explore fiction for children, young adults, and easy readers by subject and link to related Web articles and book reviews.

Oyate (Native American organization)
This organization works to see that Native American lives and histories are portrayed honestly.  Includes lists of recommended books by grade level and lists of books to avoid.

ReadWriteThink  (International Reading Association)
Includes standards-based lesson plans, peer reviewed Web resources, and classroom activities that incorporation children's literature in reading and writing instruction.

South Asian Children's Books
Book lists and reviews by age level and genre.

StoryPlace: The Children's Digital Library
In English and Español. A service of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County.

Yahoo! Literature Genres : Children's | Young Adult

Book Awards

Library Resources

The following resources represent a small selection of juvenile material available in Ramsey Library. Search the library catalog for additional and recently added materials.

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Reference Books and Resources

Below are some key reference books for children's literature. Browse the reference shelves in sections REF PN 1009 and REF Z 1037 for additional titles.

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

The Children's Literature Dictionary. (REF PN 1008.5 .L38 2002)

Continuum Encyclopedia to Young Adult Literature (REF PN1008.5 .C67 2005)

Encyclopedia of Fable (REF PN 980 .S66 1998)

Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature (REF PN1008.5 .O94 2006)

Biographical Information

Biography and Genealogy Master Index (Online database; UNCA only)
An electronic index to information about people, including authors and illustrators, in reference books and in Biography Index.

Children's Authors and Illustrators: An Index to Biographical Dictionaries. Detroit: Gale 1987. (REF Z 1037 .A1 L2 1987)

Selected Biographical Sources

Adamson, Lynda. Literature Connections to World History, 7-12. Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, 1998.  (REF Z1037 .A1 A27)

American Writers for Children before 1900. Detroit: Gale, 1985. (REF PN451 .D5 v.42)

American Writers for Children, 1900-1960. Detroit: Gale, 1985. (REF PN451 .D5 v.22)

Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books: Writings on Their Lives and Works. NY: Bowker, 1972. (REF PN 1009 .A1 H58)

Black Authors and Illustrators of Children's Books. NY: Garland, 1999.
(REF PN 1009 .A1 B1)

Calvert, Stephen.  Best Books for Young Adult Readers.  NJ: Bowker, 1997 ( REF Z 1037 .C176)

Something About the Author: Facts and Pictures about Contemporary Authors and Illustrators of Books for Young People. Detroit: Gale. (REF PN 451 .S6)
Use the latest cumulative index to identify the volume that includes a specific author.

St. James Guide to Children's Writers. Detroit: St. James Press, 1999. (REF PN 1009 .A1 T9 1999)

Writers for Young Adults. New York: Scribners, 1997. (REF PN 1009 .A1 W75 1997)

Thematic Guides/Bibliographies

Books on the list below provide access to juvenile books by theme or by broad subject. Each book has a subject index to titles, or arranges titles by themes. Often plot summaries, reviews or brief annotations are included.

Generally, books of this type are shelved in reference sections PN 1009 and Z 1037. Look on these shelves for additional guides or titles acquired very recently.

Adamson, Lynda G.  World Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults.  Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1999. (Ref PN 3377.5 .H57 B13 1999)

Adventuring With Books: A Booklist for Pre-K -6.  Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1999. (REF Z 1037 .N346 1999)

American Library Association.  60 Years of Notable Children's Books. Chicago: Booklist Publications, 2003.  (Ref Z 1037 .S59 2003x)

Beacham’s Guide to Literature for Young Adults. Washington, DC: Beacham, 1989.
(REF PN 1009 .A1 B43 1989 Vols. 1-5)

Best Books for Middle School and Junior High Readers (REF Z1037 .G482 2004)

Best Books for High School Readers (REF Z1039 .G55 2004)

Beyond Picture Books: Subject Access to Best Books for Beginning Readers. (REF PN 1009 .A1 B78 2008)

Blake, Barbara.  A Guide to Children's Books About Asian Americans.  Brookfield, VT: Ashgate Publishing, 1995.  (REF E 184 .O6 B57 1995)

Broken Flute: Native Experience in Books for Children. (Ref E 77.4 .B76 2005)

Carruth, Gorton. The Young Reader’s Companion. New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1993. (REF PN 1008.5 .C373)

Children’s Catalog. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1996. (REF  Z1037 .C5443 18th ed.2001) Updated with annual supplements.

Dale, Doris C.  Bilingual Children's Books in English and Spanish.  Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2003.  (REF Z1037.7 .D36 2003)

Fisher, Janet.  An Index to Historical Fiction for Children and Young People. England: SCOLAR press, 1994.  (Ref PR 830 .H5 B15)

The Horn Book Guide to Children’s and Young Adult Books, 1989 -   .(REF Z1037 .H67) Biannual.

Kies, Cosette. Supernatural Fiction for Teens. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1992. (REF Z1037 .K485 1992)

Kobrin, Beverly. Eyeopeners II: Children’s Books to Answer Questions About the World Around Them. New York: Scholastic, 1995. (REF Z1037 .K598 1995)

Lima, Carolyn. A to Zoo Subject Access to Children’s Picture Books. New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1993. (REF Z 1037 .L715)

Lind, Beth. Multicultural Children's Literature: An Annotated Bibliography, Grades K-8. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1996. (REF E 184 .A1 B155)

Lowe, Joy.  Colonial America in Literature for Youth. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2003. (REF E188.B1 L69 2003)

Lowe, Joy.  Discoveries and Inventions in Literature for Youth: A Guide and Resource Book. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2003. (REF Z 1037  .L93 2004)

Miller-Lachmann, Lyn. Our Family, Our Friends, Our World. New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1992. (REF Z1037 .M654)

Odean, Kathleen. Great Books for Boys: More than 600 Books for Boys 2 to 14. New York: Balletine, 1998. (REF 1037 .O24 1998)

Rand, Donna. Black Books Galore! New York: Wiley, 1998. (REF E 185 .R3 1998)

Roachman, Hazel. Against Borders: Promoting Books for a Multicultural World. Chicago: ALA, 1993. (REF PN 1009 .A1 R63 1993)

Seale, Doris.  A Broken Flute: Native Experience in Books for Children.  AltaMira, 2005 (Ref E 77.4 .B76)

Silverblank, Fran.  An Annotated Bibliography of Historical Fiction for the Social Studies. Dubuque , Iowa: Kendal/Hunt, 1992.  (Ref D 16.2 .S55)

Sinclair, Patti. E for Environment: An Annotated Bibliography of Children’s Books with Environmental Themes. New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1992  (REF PN 1009 .A1 Z973)

Tomlinson, Carl M., ed. Children's Books from Other Countries. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 1998. (REF PN 1009 .A1 C5428 1997)

Totten, Herman. Culturally Diverse Library Collections for Youth. New York: Neal Schuman, 1996. (REF E 184 .A1 B18 1996)

Schon, Isabel.  Recommended Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults. Lanham, MD:  Scarecrow Press, Inc.  2004 (Ref PN 1009 .A1 B173)

Subject Index to Poetry for Children and Young People. Chicago: ALA, 1977.
(REF PN 1023 .S6)

World Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults. (Ref PN 3377.5 .H57 B13 1999)

The Young Adult Reader’s Advisor. New Providence, NJ: Bowker, 1992.
(PN 1009 .A1 Z996 1992)

Handbooks / Research / Publishing

Carpenter, Humphrey. Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature. New York: Oxford Press, 1984. (REF PN1008.5 .C37 1984)

Fisher, Margery. Who’s Who in Children’s Books: A Treasury of the Familiar Characters of Childhood. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1975. (REF PN1009 .A1 F575)

Research and Professional Resources in Children’s Literature: Piecing a Patchwork Quilt. Newark: International Reading Assoc., 1995. (REF PN1009 .A1 R46 1995)

Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market. (Ref PN147.5 C48). Received annually.
A guide to children’s literature publishers.

Censorship / Intellectual Freedom

American Library Association (ALA)
ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom monitors challenges made against children's books in the United States.

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
The NCTE Anti-Censorship site provides useful information on how to respond to book challenges.

Foerstel, Herbert.  Banned in the USA: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries. Westport, CT: Greenwood. (REF Z 658 .U5 F64 2002)

Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 2002  (REF Z 658 .U5 K37)

Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 2006 (REF BL65 .C45 B35)

Literature Suppressed on Sexual Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 2006  (REF PN56 .E7 S68)

Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds. New York: Facts on File, 2006.  (REF Z 658 .U5 S68)

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Circulating Books

Books written for children and young adults are located on the 1st floor (lower level) in the Juvenile Literature Collection. Search the library catalog for specific titles.

Books that provide historical or critical analysis of juvenile literature are generally shelved in the PN 1009 section of the general collection. A few representative titles are listed below. To locate additional titles search the library catalog or browse the shelves.

Children’s Literature. Annual of the Modern Language Association's Group on Children’s Literature. New Haven: Yale University Press, vol. 1, 1980 -   (PN 1009 .A1 C514)

International Companion Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature. London: Routledge, 1996. (PN 1008.5 .I57)

Masterworks of Children’s Literature, 8 volumes. (PN1009 .A1 M37)
The first seven volumes present authoritative texts of works published for children between 1550 and 1900. Volume 8 brings the series to a conclusion by surveying the major developments in twentieth-century English and American children’s literature.

Norton, Donna E.  Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children's Literature.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1995. (PN1009 .A1 N68 1995).

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Review Journals

E-Journals (Selected)

Search the library catalog by Periodical Title for additional online journals.

ALAN Review
Full-text access to articles and reviews related to young adult literature (1994-present).

Book Links
Provides highlights of the current issue and a searchable index for previous printed issues.  

Booklist
Provides a monthly sampling of new reviews, lists of notable books, but not full-text of articles.

Horn Book Magazine
Reviews of the best children's books published, articles about children's books and more.

The Lion and the Unicorn (Project MUSE; UNCA only)
Online version of the journal committed to a serious, ongoing discussion of literature for children from an international scope (1995-present).

Current Printed Journals

The most recent journal issues are shelved in the Current Periodicals area. Consult the library catalog for the location of back issues or access to electronic versions.

The Alan Review  (PER Z 1037 .A1 A5)
Book Links  (PER Z 1037 .B7215)
Booklist  (PER Z 1035 .A49)
Children's Literature in Education  (PER 1037 .A1 C5)
Criticas (Per Z 1035 .A1 C75)
Horn Book Magazine  (PER Z 1037 .A15)
Journal of Youth Services in Libraries  (PER Z 718.1 A1 T6)
Language Arts  (PER LB 1576 .A1 E6)
The Lion and the Unicorn  (PER PN 1009 .A1 V6)
School Library Journal  (PER Z 675 .S3 S29115)
School Library Media Quarterly  (PER Z 675 .S3 S2912)
Voice of Youth Advocates  (PER Z 1037 .A1 V6)

Identifying Journal Citations

From the library home page click on Research Databases.  Click Education.  The following indexes are especially useful for locating articles about children’s literature. Always read the help and searching hints screens before attempting to search a database that is new to you.

ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center)

Begin your search for articles in the ERIC database. This database is available from two different vendors. While the content is the same, the search interface varies. 

The Educators Reference Desk: ERIC Database
Educational Resources Information Center's index to the literature of education. Also provides a searchable archive of lesson plans and resource guides. "Advanced Search" is recommended.

ERIC via EBSCOHost (Provided by NC LIVE)

Teacher Resource Center. Index of over 260 titles from the most popular teacher and administrator trade journals, periodicals, and books. 

Other Online Indexes

World Catalog.  Index to over 41 million book and audiovisual catalog records in 17,000 libraries. WorldCat is not a periodical index, but it is an excellent resource for identifying juvenile books and other media by subject.

Identifying journals owned by Ramsey Library

Search the library catalog to determine whether a certain journal is located at Ramsey Library or in the Western North Carolina Library Network (WNCLN). 

Obtaining journals not owned by Ramsey Library

Check the library catalog. If ASU or WCU owns a journal, you may request it through ABC Express.  If a journal is not at UNCA, ASU, or WCU, you may request an article copy through Interlibrary Loan.

Detailed information about ABC Express and Interlibrary Loan is available at the Research  Desk.

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