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Teaching and Learning Research Guide

An online reference guide for students, faculty, and staff in the Teaching and Learning Department.

Find Book Reviews and Summaries

Databases with Book Reviews or Summaries

Familiarize Yourself with the Children's Collection & Book Awards

  1. Identify the name and call number of a book that won the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award that is in the Children’s Collection.
  2. Identify the name and call number of a picture book that won the American Indian Youth Literature Award that is in the Children’s Collection.
  3. Describe two methods you can use to find a poetry book in the Children’s Collection.
  4. Identify what professional association awards the Caldecott Medal and explain what the medal recognizes.
  5. Define one keyword or topic that interests you from the electronic book “Keywords for Children’s Literature" or the electronic book "The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature".
  6. Explain the difference between the information you can find on an award-winning children's book from the awarding body with the information you can find on the book in a book review.
  7. Make a suggestion for what you would like added to this online guide.

Children's & Young Adult Book Awards

There are many awards given to children's and young adult literature each year. Below are a some associations or institutions that give awards and links to information on the awards they give.

Find Books in the Children's Collection (includes YA)

Browse the Shelves

  • Fiction titles are shelved by author's last name
    • e.g., "Jingle Dancer" by Cynthia Leitich Smith is at SMITH
  • Non-fiction titles are organized by a numeric call number
    • Autobiographies & biographies are shelved by the numeric call no. 921 followed by the name of the person who is the subject of the book
      • e.g., "Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudí" is at 921 Guadí
  • Fairy tales are shelved by the numeric call no. 398.2
    • e.g., "Rumpelstiltskin" is at 398.2
  • Graphic novels are shelved by author's last name or by the numeric call no. 741
    • e.g.,"Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection" is at 741.5
  • Poetry is shelved by the numeric call no. 811 and 821
    • e.g., "Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys" is at 811.6

Search OneSearch

  • Use the Advanced Search. Click on the radio button next to UM Physical Items.
  • In the search box(es) type the subject of books you want to find (e.g., music) or the genre (e.g., fiction, nonfiction, picture books, biography). Then, use the down arrow next to the word 'Any Field' to the left of the search box and change it to 'Subject'. (In most instances, genre is listed as a 'subject' in OneSearch.)
  • Once you see the results, choose "Mansfield Library - Level 2 - Children's Collection" from the options under "Location" on the left side of the page.
  • In addition to, or instead of, searching for a particular subject or genre use the other search box(es) to search for books that have won a specific award (e.g., American Indian Youth Literature, Caldecott). You can search using the word 'award' to find books that have won any award, though your search will include some books whose authors or illustrators have won awards for other books. You do not need to change the 'Any Field' option for these searches.
    • The information on awards is available in the '586' (MARC 21 field) when you look at the 'Full Record View' of an item. (See screen shot in the right column of this page for an example.)

Books on Children's and YA Literature in the Main Collection

A select list of books that review, summarize, offer programming ideas for using, or address the study of children's literature, along with the floor and call number to find the items.

  • Cullinan, B. E. & Person, D. G. (Eds.) (2005). The Continuum encyclopedia of children’s literature. New York: Continuum. Level 2 Q & F Oversize: Q 809.8928203 C7629, & Electronic book (in Credo Reference database)
  • Nel, P., & Paul, L. (2011). Keywords for children’s literature. New York, NY: New York University Press. Electronic book (in Credo Reference database)
  • Zipes, J. (2006). The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Electronic book (in Oxford Reference Online database)
  • American Library Association. The Newbery and Caldecott awards: A guide to medal and honor books. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 4: 028.5 N5342
  • Follos, A. M. G. (2013). Remarkable books about young people with special needs. Chicago, IL: Huron Street Press. Level 4: 028.5 F668R
  • Freeman, J., & Bauer, C. F. (2015). The handbook for storytime programs. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 4: 027.6251 F8554h 
  • Hahn, D. (2015). The Oxford companion to children’s literature (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Level 2: 809.89282 C295o 2015
  • Isaacs, K. T. (2016). Excellent books for early and eager readers. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 4: 028.55 I737E
  • Isaacs, K. T. (2013). Picturing the world: Informational picture books for children. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 4: 011.62 I737P 
  • Naidoo, J. C. (Ed.) (2013). Diversity in youth literature: Opening doors through reading. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 2: 810.992069 D6183
  • Slapin, B., Seale, D., & Gonzales, R. (2000). How to tell the difference: A guide to evaluating children’s books for anti-Indian bias. Berkeley, CA: Oyate. Level 2: 303.385 S631h 2000
  • Stan, S. (2014). Global voices: Picture books from around the world. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 4: 011.62 S784G
  • Wadham, T. (2015). Wordplay for kids: A sourcebook of poems, rhymes, and read-alouds. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Level 4: 027.625 W122W

Full Record View

Full Record View