LIBR 260
Resources for Children, Ages 0-6
Fall 2004

Blanche Woolls
E-mail

GREENSHEET

Course Description

This survey of materials for children from birth to age six emphasizes the evaluation and selection of literary and informational materials for use by, with, and for children at home, in day care centers, and public and school libraries. The course is designed to provide students with an introduction to child development, selection criteria and selection tools, materials currently available, trends in publishing, and program planning for children’s services for this age group.

Course Objectives

At the completion of this course, students should be able to

• Critically examine representative materials and apply criteria for evaluating such materials in relation to child development, multi-cultural concerns, meeting the informational and recreational needs of children, and responding to their interests,
• Demonstrate the ability to use these materials effectively with children in a variety of settings.
• Assist parents and caregivers with questions about appropriate materials for their children.
• Prepare and present a program for this age audience, and
• Develop a proposal to provide a new service or to expand an existing program.

This course supports the following SLIS objectives:

• One or more specialized aspects of information management, including the selection, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination, and utilization of information resources.
• Evaluating and utilizing relevant research studies from a variety of disciplines

Textbook

Kathleen T. Horning (1997). From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books. Harper Collins Publishers.

Audio and Video Resources

An audio recording of the Caldecott acceptance speech for 2004 can be heard by accessing the link on the Video and Audio page.

Assignments

Two Bibliographies: One for Babies/Gifts and one for Pre-School/Day Care

You are expected to read as many board books as possible for babies and other pictures books so that you could recommend a book to a parent or grandparent who might ask you for a book that would help a specific child with a specific problem such as, “My child doesn’t like to go to bed at night.” You are to create a bibliography of the books you have read. A second reading assignment is to read books for day-care and preschool children again creating a bibliography of what you have read. You may produce your bibliography in any manner you choose such as alphabetical by author, or by theme. The purpose of this assignment is to read and read and read. Your later assignments require more careful analysis of what you have read and will have written components. How many books should you read? The more the merrier, but certainly you should have at least 100 on your two bibliographies.

Caldecott Selection Committee (Due December 4)

Using Caldecott honor books since 1995, students will organize into a mock Caldecott committee and choose a winner for the Caldecott award. Using the honor books from these years, you will read and discuss their artistic value and then choose the one that best meets the Caldecott criteria. This will be explained more fully later.

Picture Book Assignment (Due November 6)

Select twenty picture books, not on our class lists, with recent publication dates, most of them written since 1999. You need to select from a variety of types including board books, wordless picture books, traditional literature, folk and fairy tales, and contemporary stories, trying to fit the categories discussed in the language development power point presentation with one choice for a disabled child.

For each book, please provide bibliographic data, a brief evaluative annotation of at least 150 words and no more than 200 words. These will be for librarians. You will match your reviews to two reviews found in Booklist, School Library Journal, Hornbook, or another professional reviewing source. These can be easily located on Follett’s TitleWave.

Your annotated list of picture books should be posted to the discussion list on Blackboard.

Children’s Television Assignment (Due November 6)

Watch one or more programs intended for preschool children. Using the information on child and vocabulary development, analyze the probable age level of interest and understanding of the program(s) offered. Your discussion should be posted on the discussion board.

Program Plan (Due November 6)

A major assignment for all librarians working with children’s services is to provide suitable programs for those who come into the library and for outreach services. While this is not as often the role of the school librarian whose primary assignment is to work with teachers and curriculum, it is critical for good children’s library service in a public library. You are to plan a program for this age child. Your program may use picture books and audiovisual resources, but they must be suitable for young children. School librarians may wish to specify the curriculum being covered in the kindergarten or first grade room. This assignment requires:

1. A description of your audience (daycare center, kindergarten or first grade in the school room or school library, public library or another group)
2. Theme of the program
3. Step-by-step description of your program
4. List of materials you will be sharing during this program
5. An attractive, accurate bibliography of the materials covered in the program with any additional suggestions, i.e., “You may want to read or view..” to be given to each children in attendance.

A discussion list will be posted to Blackboard for you to place your program plan.

Report of a Visit to a Day Care Center/Children’s Storyhour at the Public Library (Due December 4)

It is anticipated that students will be able to observe a preschool or daycare center visit with a children’s librarian. You are to write a brief (only two-three pages) report of this observation including the choice of materials, the reaction of the audience, how the librarian handles the children to engage their interest and attention, what happens if a child’s attention wanders, and any interaction with parents who are in attendance. Please be as unobtrusive as possible as you observe for this assignment. If your work schedule makes it very difficult to complete this assignment, please let the instructor know immediately.

Proposal (probable group project) (Due December 4)

Choosing a specific project or program, students will develop a proposal to secure the resources and personnel necessary to carry out the project or proposal. A discussion list will be provided on Blackboard to post your proposal.

Participation

Students are expected to participate in class discussions both in the classroom and on the discussion list.

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