Finding books to use for school.
There are thousands of books for children and young adults published every year. Titles come and go, libraries stock some and not others, and bookstore browsing can be confusing if not overwhelming. And how can a parent or teacher order online if she or he does not even know what’s out there and if it is appropriate either in subject matter or for the age of the child?
The Cooperative Children’s Book Center
The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), a very special research library located at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, contains a treasure trove of information for anyone to access. This is a non-circulating library designed for drop-in research. However, director Kathleen T. Horning and her staff are more than happy to help people via phone and email.
Of special interest to families searching out quality books — especially books on a particular theme — are the lists of themed books constructed by the Book Center’s staff. These lists can be found on the CCBC website.
The book lists are arranged by age (books for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers; books for elementary age; books for middle and high school age) and then by theme. Each list gives vital information about the books featured such as title, author, and copyright date. But more than that, the Center offers a short summary of every book on each of the lists.
Some of the themes include peace and social justice, grief and loss, science and scientists, eco-reading with titles about the Earth and the environment, and books about bullying and teasing. There are also Spanish/English bilingual texts. And this is just a sampling. The middle and high school lists include fantasies and graphic novels as well as the serious topics of the Holocaust, World War II and more.
If you are simply looking for the latest and best in children’s literature, the Center also has links to over 40 awards organizations and their award-winning book lists. These include the Theodor Seuss Giesel Award books, the Coretta Scott King Awards, the Charlotte Zolotow Awards, and the Caldecott and Newberry Medal books, among many others.
Parents who home-school their children and families who want to find books that support a special need or interest will find the lists created by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center to be of immense value. Browsing their website will open up a treasure trove of resources and information about other aspects of children’s literature as well.
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center Book Lists
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center Awards Links
- Cooperative Children’s Book Center Home Page
