Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom

Explore one of the most important challenges of childhood: learning to read. In this groundbreaking new work, Joyce Bainbridge and Sylvia Pantaleo offer sensible, successful strategies to help children become lifelong readers. At root, their philosophy is simple: offer students a wide selection of high-quality, high-interest books, and kids will want to read! While the volume concentrates on the many fine books published in Canada each year, it surveys outstanding books from around the world. Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom is designed to help new and experienced teachers alike to use literature in the elementary classroom. Children's literature is presented as a rich, vital component of a balanced language arts program, and the needs of Canadian students are considered within an international reading context. Based on a reader-response orientation to the study of children's literature, the book presents a theoretically sound framework for its recommendations. It offers classroom-tested ideas that teachers can start using immediately, supported by descriptions of hundreds of exciting, engaging, accessible trade books for elementary readers. Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom features real-life classroom situations, sidebars on 20 Canadian authors and illustrators, reflection exercises, annotated professional references, an extensive bibliography of children's literature and chapter-relevant book lists, appendices, and an index. For pre-service or in-service teachers, librarians, reading specialists, and anyone else who works with children and books, this volume will prove a valuable resource. Joyce Bainbridge is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. Sylvia Pantaleo is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Queen's University.