Children's Literature Resources by Brandi Higa https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp en-us 2021-10-02 18:45:10 UTC 2026-03-14 20:40:39 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4da.png The Biography Clearinghouse bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1786311179 Summary: The Biography Clearinghouse website is a well-organized source for biographical literature. The goal of the website is to support teachers in literacy planning by providing foundational information about the book and publishing, leading into investigative, explorative, and creative information for each literary entry (Biography Clearinghouse). Each entry is incredibly detailed and filled with author information such as their background, processes, and helpful artifacts. The entries are also filled with photos and images related to the book that enhance the reader's experience on the website. The site organizes the books into picture books and chapter books sections; each section has a few books that readers can select to learn more about them. There is also a section that features authors and illustrators, along with blog entries, links, and video.

Critique: This is a great resource for getting the full scope of a specific biographical book or books. The selection of books is limited, however, the book entries listed are well thought out and executed. It will be great to see what need book entries get posted.    The panel of members behind The Biography Clearinghouse seems to be a very diverse and well-rounded group of individuals, as is apparent by the diversity seen in the book choices on the site. Compared to other more established sites, there isn't a lot of additional content. Yet, there are a lot of links to exterior sites like book links, news articles, and other organizations. Overall, this site serves to relay the importance of biography in literary education.]]> 2021-10-02 19:23:45 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1786311179 Read Write Think bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1786312280 Summary: Read Write Think is a dynamic website filled with content designed to help teach literacy with the majority of the resources on the site is free to access. The quality of materials posted are aligned with IRA/NCTE standards as well as Common Core State Standards. Content is arranged by collections (primary sources, booklists, authors, assessment, etc.) or grades (Read Write Think). On Read Write Think you'll find a Literacy Calendar where you'll find various historical and present day events- both interesting and informative to read. There are also lesson plans, printouts, and stud

Critique: Read Write Think has so many resources, that whether you are an educator or parent, you are bound to find something useful and informative on the site. With as much content on the site it can sometimes get overwhelming to navigate. However, the site does try to organize and categorize everything for a more user-friendly experience. You can also filter the content by grades, topic, and learning objectives. The search feature is a great benefit as is the FAQs section. The site is better suited for educators, although parents can benefit from the site from the site’s materials to provide an extension of their child’s learning and further practice.]]> 2021-10-02 19:24:55 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1786312280 We Need Diverse Books bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1787623412 Summary: We Need Diverse Books is a website dedicated to increasing visibility of diverse books, writers, and illustrators. This organization serves to provide programs that celebrate diverse books and their creators (We Need Diverse Books). The types of programs include mentorship opportunities, marketing help, writing and publishing support, classroom initiatives, and grants and funds to help finance more diverse books. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and such do rely on donations and volunteers to run the programs successfully and execute their mission (We Need Diverse Books). In addition to the programs offered from the organization, they also offer a wealth of external resources on where to find diverse books and other informative entries. Finally, the many blogs, essays, and features are also helpful resources for a wide audience.

Critique: This website is very easy to navigate and user friendly, especially in the "Start Here" section that separates content by "writers and illustrators", "parents, educators, and librarians", and "publishing professionals". This is a great way to hone in on the information that can best benefit you. It also certainly was nice to see the diversity of individuals behind the organization in the "About Us" section. There is a lot of great content throughout the site that can probably be best consumed by older children and up. While the site provides many resources about finding diverse books for all ages, the site itself is not very younger kid-friendly. However, there are many ways to contact the organization which may be a way to get support in locating more kid-friendly resources on the site.]]> 2021-10-03 16:50:16 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1787623412 De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1787850649 Summary: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children is a site honoring the rich culture and embodiment of "la raza", and the Indigenous groups of the Inca, Maya, Mexica, Tolteca, Zapoteca, and hundreds more (De Colores: The Raza experience in books for children). This site is filled with books, stories, and poems that reflect the lives and beauty of Latin American people and culture. It is a great resource to help discover books by famous and upcoming authors of this specific category with a brief summary and review of the material. The site is frequently updated, seemingly at least two times a month, so there is a lot of current and relevant content starting from the homepage. A great resource for educators, librarians, or parents looking for books on this sub-genre.

Critique: The De Colores site is a more simple looking site; without all the frills, brilliant graphics, or drop-downs and buttons galore, reminiscent of early WordPress websites. Still, this site holds a vast collection of literary pieces ranging from essays and stories to poems, collections, and reviews. In general, most of the content is geared to a more mature audience as there are some themes that may not be appropriate for younger audiences, or contain language that would be inappropriate to read in an elementary classroom setting. Many entrees are written in "Spanglish"- as in words in Spanish are peppered into a primarily English sentence. Majority of the time it is simple to discern the meaning of the word in context, but occasionally can be problematic for less experienced readers. Additionally, some of the reviews seemed unnecessarily critical such as in one version of the Cinderella story, the reviewer criticized the incorporation of the English translation in the book- an important element in the story in order for audiences unfamiliar with the Spanish language to understand the story, the predictability of the story- unfair to say given that it heavily derives from the Cinderella concept, and their caveat of not liking multicultural Cinderella remakes in general. A few other reviews seemingly also have reviewer-biases in which their arguments on the negative aspects of the story look to be more of a personal preferences instead of an objective review on the quality and value of the book to a larger audience. Overall, a great source to discover books of this genre, but it would be best to form your own opinion on the quality and value of the book in your library.]]> 2021-10-03 19:43:54 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1787850649 INTRODUCTION: Children's Literary Resource Database bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1788107770 Here you will find a variety of resources catered to children's literacy. In these resources you will find books of different genres, guidance for writing and publishing, and support for educators and parents. Literacy is an important part of children's education, and having the right tools to help curate high quality books for them is paramount. The websites listed here have a wide range of books, essays, guides, and more to help build a library filled books that will put children a well-rounded literary experience. The goal of this database is to provide a running source of information categorized by main purpose and intent of the website. Some websites can technically fall under more than one category, so, they were placed under the topic they most represented. ]]> 2021-10-03 23:37:17 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1788107770 Children's Literature Assembly bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1885973758 Summary: The website of the Children’s Literature Assembly (CLA) of the National Council of Teachers of English is built around their mission to provide literary resources for educators and promote children’s literature in the field of education and beyond (Children's Literature Assembly). The CLA board is comprised of individuals working in the the field of education that have a passion for increasing awareness of the importance and value of children’s literature. There is a great wealth of information and resources readily available on the Children’s Literature Assembly website, especially contained in the CLA blog. Posts are updated frequently and within the posts they offer information on a specific topic, as well as suggestions for mentor texts and lesson plans. The blog topics take on a wide range of subjects such as diversity and inclusivity in literature, books on famous people in history, bilingual education, and so many more. Because of the wide range of topics, this site is beneficial for grades K-12 as there is content applicable to the various reading and maturity levels. 

This organization also offers a variety of membership levels that unlock additional content and resources for educators. Membership is available at an individual or student level (full- or part-time status required), individual, and faculty/staff bundled memberships and ranges from $20-160 a year. The membership includes issues of Journal of Children’s Literature, exclusive members-only content such as prior issues of the journal and multimedia content. Additionally, members get voting privileges, access to national events and conventions, educational resources and more. 

Critique: The Children’s Literature Assembly website is a valuable resource filled with well-written content, brilliant mentor text suggestions, as well as helpful tips and strategies for educators. The site is organized and easy to navigate. Blog content is very well-organized with a running list of categories one can click on to access posts related to that topic. Content is updated frequently with well-thought out posts designed with educators in mind. The quality of content available for free is definitely enticing enough to have viewers of the site strongly consider obtaining membership to be able to access even more. However, even without membership, visitors to the site still have a broad wealth of resources at their fingertips.
]]> 2021-11-12 06:12:18 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1885973758 Read and Shine bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1886002623 Summary: Like the Children’s Literature site, Read & Shine is also an extension of CLCD. Unlike its sister site, Read & Shine has much more content readily available for viewers to the page. On its homepage, you are greeted with a running list of what the site calls articles. Each article has a specific topic or theme (STEM reading list, magic themed books, books for Kwanzaa, reviews on specific books, etc.), that when clicked on will give a brief description of the contents of the article, ages the books are best suited for are occasionally given, and book information including book cover, the title, author and illustrator if applicable, and a short description of the book is included (Read and shine). Themed lists are great companions to connect to classroom curriculum. Exciting author interviews help give students insight into the making of the books and serve to inspire interest in writing to budding authors.

Critique: The reading lists provide such valuable information in a neatly presented way. The site overall is not cluttered, and information and resources are relatively easy to locate. Read & Shine offers more content than Children’s Literature site, and offers a helpful sorting feature that sorts reading lists by categories: board books, picture books, early readers, middle grades, and young adults. The list and articles are highlighted with a vibrant collage of book covers adorning the top of the posts. Overall, a quality resource to access an array of text that meet a wide variety of reading levels and interests.

]]> 2021-11-12 06:35:39 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1886002623 Reading Rockets bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888377792 Summary: Recipient of the 2016 David M. Rubenstein Prize presented by the Library of Congress Literacy Awards program, the Reading Rockets project is an exceptional example of children’s literacy resources (Reading rockets: Launching young readers). Backed by partnerships with PBS and a multitude of literary organizations, this well-organized website provides content for every step of a child’s literacy journey. Beginning with the Teaching Reading section of the site, educators will find a host of valuable articles, ideas, tips, videos, and more on effective classroom strategies, addressing reading interventions, basics of reading, content area literacy, inclusive classrooms as well as resources that can benefit parents as well. For students that have learned the basics of reading but may be facing challenges in other areas, the Helping Struggling Readers section contains resources to help tackle those challenges and improve children’s reading skills. The Reading Topics A-Z section is exactly that - an alphabetical list of various reading topics to help visitors to the site find what they are looking for in an organized manner. While also well-organized, the Children’s Books & Authors section is not alphabetically organized but topical based on the subject matter or theme of its contents such as different types of booklists, award-winning literature, author interviews, and even a fun gift guide. Lastly, easy to access multimedia resources, scholarly research, blogs, and content geared towards specific educational professions can be found on each webpage of the site.

Critique: The Reading Rockets website is a fantastic resource for educators (and parents, too!) who work with students who are learning to read or encounter difficulties with reading. This site offers a significant array of content that addresses inclusivity, diversity, the effects of learning disabilities on literacy, and information geared towards English language learners. The addition of such responsive topic areas as those listed previously, is refreshing to see amongst the sea of children’s literature resources out there. It allows for a greater audience base to benefit from the site. Despite a massive amount of content, articles, and posts on Reading Rockets, the website is so well-organized and visually appealing that even the most novice of visitors to the site will have virtually no problems navigating its content. Additionally, thanks to partnerships, donations, as well as funding from the U.S. Department of Education, content is delivered free to the masses. Truly an impressive, high-quality resource designed with the viewer in mind, and the goal of improving children’s literacy ever-present. 

]]> 2021-11-13 16:36:41 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888377792 International Children's Digital Library bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888380808 Summary: Created in partnership with the University of Maryland’s Human-Computer Interaction Lab, the International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) aims to bring a database of books that reflect all cultures and languages to children around the world (ICDL - International Children's Digital Library). The ICDL goal is to remove language barriers that potentially affect children’s ability to access literature in their native language. One way this is done, is through their website which hosts a database of children’s literature that can be searched by language, color, shape, format, genre, character, fiction or nonfiction, and alphabetically by book title. The impressive collection includes books in over 40 languages- from Spanish to Arabic, Greek to French, Māori to Hindi, and more. Readers interested in the actual book cover aesthetic will appreciate the sorting by (cover) color and (book) shape. Those interested in genre and format benefit from the remaining types of book sorting. Finally, the heart of the website lies within the ability to read all the books in the database in either PDF or a viewing webpage called ICDL Reader. This enables the ICDL to deliver on its goal of providing literature of various languages to the masses. 

Critique: This no-frills website is one that should not be overlooked. The International Children’s Digital Library boasts a collection of over 4,000 books. Launched over 20 years ago, the ICDL has recently gone through significant changes largely due to lack of resources and resulting in the pared down version we see today. However, thanks to the University of Maryland, the expansive library is still accessible and free to readers. This incredibly generous resource is a great tool for educators and parents alike to share with children to inspire a love of reading and work towards overcoming language barriers. Some of the shortcomings of the website are that it lacks any reading or grade level indicators, may be best suited for a younger audience, very few new or contemporary literature pieces, and the topics may not interest most students. Overall, this website has the potential to be a great addition to classrooms with English language learners, but some educators may find it too limiting in scope for their needs.

]]> 2021-11-13 16:40:12 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888380808 Children's Literature bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888441497 Summary: Children’s Literature, a branch of CLCD Company, is a helpful resource for those interested in reviews on children’s and young adult literature. They have been critically reviewing books since the early 1990s, averaging over 2,000 book reviews annually (Children's Literature). Because they are not affiliated with any specific publishing house, they offer independent reviews for a wide range of titles including those that are self-published. The goal when reviewing books is trifold - 1) adequate representation for all children and young adults, 2) increased respect and responsiveness towards diversity and inclusivity, 3) and ultimately that what is being reviewed serves to provide an enjoyable and positive learning experience.

When you visit Children’s Literature, you are greeted with a Featured Reviews section showing eight book posts. The book reviews contain an image of the book cover, book title, author, illustrator (if applicable), publisher, ISBN, reviewer, and the actual review. 

Critique: The intended goal of the organization is noble. However, the execution of the website leaves much to be desired. The reviews are not dated, so there is no way of telling how old the books or reviews are just by looking at the post. Nor does it reflect how often the reviews are updated or changed. While the featured reviews are clear and informative, being able to only access eight book reviews is very limiting*. There is no definitive target audience other than those interested in book reviews. There is also no mention of specific reading levels these books would be best suited for. But, the reviews do a great job of evaluating the books for ways in which they can add value to a classroom library or ways in which they may fall short. Some workarounds, should you wish to explore more content from this organization, is to view the Resources section of the website and browse current and past editions of the ChildrensLit Now newsletter. Additional book reviews can be found here as well as pieces on authors and illustrators. Finally, their Facebook page hosts many past posts and reviews that are definitely worthy of browsing through. Consider this resource with an open-mind, and you could walk away pleasantly surprised. 

*There did not appear to be a search tool or archive section to access previous reviews.
]]> 2021-11-13 18:01:42 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888441497 The Children's Book Council bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888494469 Summary: The Children’s Book Council (CBC) is an organization centered around the children’s publishing industry and serves to improve children’s literature and resources (Children's Book Council – Dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting children's books and reading). The CBC website is divided into two main sections; a section for publishers and one for readers. The reader section will take the viewer to a few organized section carousels that rotate various book covers. The sections are organized by themes like monthly “hot of the press” titles, seasonal showcases, and “best of…” lists. Viewers can scroll through the moving images and click on them to learn more about it. The page headers offer reading lists, reader resources, a way to search for books, and a helpful FAQ section. CBC offers themed reading lists targeted to a wide audience such as educators, librarians, and parents. Links to books contained on the lists can be purchased from external sites to help classroom or personal libraries. The reader resources section addresses contemporary issues, inclusivity, diversity, and others created by professionals in the literary industry. Furthermore, the search feature is an excellent tool to search by age range, format, and genre. While not as helpful for the general audience, the FAQ section is available with information better suited to authors and illustrators.

The CBC is host to the Every Child a Reader nonprofit organization that delivers a multitude of programs to encourage children to read. Programs include Children’s Book Week, the Children’s & Teen Choice Book Awards, Get Caught Reading, and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. This impactful extension of the CBC has won awards and accolades for the work they have done to promote literacy.

Critique: The strength of the CBC website lies in the search feature. It is a great way to search for specific books that is also easy to navigate, saving viewers time and frustration. The reading lists are helpful in building units or library sections centered around specific topics or themes. CBC’s own lists hit a range of contemporary and diverse topics such as a Pride Month comics list, lists on books about the Tulsa Race Massacre, Hispanic and Latino resources, and a list of books about influential women in history. The content is frequently updated and often dated to ensure its relevance. Also, links to additional external sites containing further resources provide endless opportunities for seeking out content designed to increase children’s literacy through engaging texts. Accessible within the CBC site is also an archived list of hundreds of diverse literature for children and young adults.

]]> 2021-11-13 19:21:06 UTC https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888494469 bhiga3 https://padlet.com/bhiga3/qtwlol5lminodqwp/wish/1888609900 Authors & illustrators. Children's Literature. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.childrenslit.com/. 

Biography Clearinghouse. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.thebiographyclearinghouse.org/. 

Children's Book Council – Dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting children's books and reading. Childrens Book Council. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.cbcbooks.org/. 

Children's Literature Assembly. CHILDREN'S LITERATURE ASSEMBLY. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.childrensliteratureassembly.org/. 

De Colores: The Raza experience in books for children. De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from http://decoloresreviews.blogspot.com/. 

Homepage. Homepage | Read Write Think. (1970, November 15). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.readwritethink.org/. 

ICDL - International Children's Digital Library. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from http://en.childrenslibrary.org/index.html.
 
Read and shine. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from http://readandshine.com/. 

Reading rockets: Launching young readers. Reading Rockets | Launching Young Readers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.readingrockets.org/. 

We Need Diverse Books. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://diversebooks.org/. 
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