Booktalks, Bookwalks, and Read-Alouds: Promoting the Best New Children's Literature Across the Elementary Curriculum » (Grades K-6)

ROSANNE J. BLASS is Visiting Professor, College of Education, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg.

Encourage elementary and middle school readers to read quality titles pertaining to subjects from across the curriculum. This guide features recently published (1998-2001) fiction and nonfiction titles that are either award winners, written by award-winning authors, positively reviewed in national reading advocacy journals, or representative of an emerging trend in children's literature. Each booktalk entry consists of bibliographic data, a plot summary, a short booktalk, curriculum connections, and identification of related books. TOPICS INSIDE: Relationships, coming of age, sports, art, music, dance, holidays, adventure, science, math, social studies, and others.

School Library Journal

Blass has selected more than 150 books published between 1998 and 2001 for inclusion in this guide, organized into four chapters: "Language Arts and Literature," "Mathematics and Science," "Social Studies," and "Arts and Recreation." Each entry includes a recommended age level, a brief summary, a booktalk (or "bookwalk"), curriculum connections such as activities to extend understanding, and suggestions for related books. Appendixes consist of clarification of vocabulary used in the curriculum-connection sections, such as a diagram showing a character web, a character wheel, or a "fish bone" chart to identify cause and effect. Blass has based her choices on reviews in standard professional journals. However, she hasn't chosen a single Caldecott or Newbery award winner within her four-year span. There is no indication of the author's credentials or experience in the field. Joni Richard Bodart's many booktalk guides such as Booktalk! 4 (H.W. Wilson, 1992) provide excellent samples and advice for young adult librarians to develop their own style in presenting to an older age group. Blass's book can be used as a supplement for the younger age group.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.