Using Children's Books to Teach
Teachers use children's books in the classroom for a variety of reasons - to stimulate imagination and curiosity, to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, to promote social skills and emotional intelligence, to develop an appreciation for heritage and culture, and to help children understand their communities and their connection to the world around them.
Find Children's Books
- MackinVIASearch to find children's and young adult eBooks as well as professional materials for educators.
- Storyline OnlineVideos of famous actors reading and bringing popular children’s books to life - from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
Kentucky Department of Education Resources
Start with the standard you want students to meet. Then select a book that you think you can use to help them do that.
- Kentucky Academic Standards [KAS]These standards drive all teaching and learning activities in KY classrooms.
- Structured LiteracyWhen understanding how the brain learns to read, educators implement Structured Literacy (SL) practices to ensure that all students are supported in becoming skilled readers.
Purposeful and Effective Reading Instruction
- Promoting Resilience Through Read-AloudsLacina, J., Bauml, M., & Taylor, E. R. (2016). Promoting Resilience Through Read-Alouds. YC Young Children, 71(2), 16–21. http://www.jstor.org/stable/ycyoungchildren.71.2.16
- Reading 101 - Reading RocketsWhat do educators and families need to know about how children learn to read?
- Reading Your Way to a Culturally Responsive ClassroomWanless, S. B., & Crawford, P. A. (2016). Reading Your Way to a Culturally Responsive Classroom. YC Young Children, 71(2), 8–15. http://www.jstor.org/stable/ycyoungchildren.71.2.8
- School Features That Support Effective InstructionLearn about eight features of research-based school reading programs.
- The Science of ReadingEvidence-based research on what really works for kids.
- Using Big Books for Shared Reading in Pre-K–1from Hameray Classroom Literacy Blog
- Why Do Kids Need Books?from The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
Reading Strategy Demonstrations
Award Winner Lists
- Caldecott Award WinnersThe Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the ALA to "the artist most of the most distinguished American picture book for children."
- Coretta Scott King AwardThe Coretta Scott King Book Awards annually recognize outstanding books for young adults and children by African American authors and illustrators that reflect the African American experience.
- Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult LiteratureHonors the best book written for teens, based entirely on literary merit.
- Newbery AwardThe Newbery Medal is awarded each year to the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year.
- Pura Belpré AwardThe Pura Belpré Award is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
- Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book AwardThis annual award is given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by children in grades 4 through 8 in participating Illinois schools.
- Walter AwardsThe Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children's Literature recognize diverse authors whose works address diversity in a meaningful way.