This article is presented by four librarians who have come together as a creative team at Ethical Culture School in New York City. As elementary school librarians, their goal is to develop and support curriculum where children's developmental needs are given central importance. By putting the thinking, interests, information needs, and the…

New teachers are eager to begin their careers with the information learned from their teacher preparation programs. Too many times, the classroom library is a second thought to the establishment of classroom rules and the implementation of curriculum. Rather than an instructional tool for literacy and classroom community, the library can become a…

With the intention of illuminating the many obstacles involved with literacy promotion in the developing nations of Africa, Asia, and South America, the authors of the 10 articles in this collection share their knowledge and experience of literacy promotion in the developing world--including the unique challenges faced by those who publish, print,…

Educators need to teach the lessons of the Holocaust in order to demonstrate the consequences of racism carried to its most frightful extreme. This paper highlights autobiographies, diaries, journals, and first person narratives in children's and young adult libraries that can be included in library programs. Textbooks used in American schools are…

This collection contains 13 selected papers presented at the 1992 conference of the International Association of School Librarianship. Titles are as follows: (1) "The Difference of Literature: Writing for the Future of Young Adults" (Aidan Chambers); (2) "Managing School Library Change" (Peggy Heeks); (3) "The Power of…

Discusses the importance of books that combine quality illustrations with quality stories of a multicultural world that are suitable for elementary school students. Includes suggestions for librarians and teachers who are selecting books and evaluating collections. (LRW)

The first of a series on Holocaust literature for young people, discusses reviewing, selecting, teaching, and promoting books about the Holocaust and suggests ways to connect these stories to accounts about racism. Highlights individual books, identifies print and nonprint teaching resources, and provides a bibliography of books for middle school…

A school librarian and book reviewer argues that buyers, reviewers, editors, and publishers need to look more carefully at series books. Discusses series and reviewing tools and ways reviewers can help colleagues make the best choices for students. Recommends two social studies series, and suggests questions to ask when buying series books. (PEN)

Presents an overview of libraries and related services for Palestinian Arab Children in the Haifa and Galilee regions of Israel and on the West Bank based on interviews with librarians and educators between 1993 and 1996. Covers funding, organization, collection development, censorship, staffing, and programming. (MMU)

Describes the development of children's services at the Champaign Public Library. Highlights include the first physically separate space for children; collaboration with students from the University of Illinois library school; and growth in the collection and in programs. (LRW)

Outlines the European Picture Book Collection project designed to help young children understand more about Europe. Contains preparatory stages of the project, discussing the first symposium in France (1966), the establishment of a European picture book collection, the initial evaluation of the materials in U.K. schools, the second symposium in…

Presents recommendations for developing sound baby collections that include selecting books that: have designs infants are attracted to, provide tactile experiences, incorporate rhymes, have rounded edges (board books), and can be cleaned (cloth books). Includes an alphabetical list of good books for babies, as well as books on planning a lapsit…

Because the media emphasize how females look rather than what they do, it is important for children to encounter strong girls in the books they read. This article provides an annotated bibliography of picture books for primary grade children in which African and African-American girls exhibit admirable traits. Suggests class activities in art and…

Studies show that the older a child gets the less likely he or she is to trust a librarian. To encourage pre-YAs (pre-young adults, 6th-8th graders) to use the library, librarians should consider four elements: client, librarian, library, and materials and services. Discusses these elements and suggests how to make the library more appealing to…

An online survey seeking librarians' opinions about including children's books in the high school library returned many positive responses. Lists ways children's books could be used in high school. Discusses the new wave of children's literature; children's books made into movies; commonality of high school libraries having collections of…