Resources selected to supplement Literature of Childhood (ENGL220) taught by Susan Cerretani at Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Children's Literature Resources

• Gale Virtual Reference Collection
• Books About Children's Literature in the TC3 Collection
• Children Books about Cultural and Social Diversity
• Subject Headings
• Locating Journal Articles in Databases
• Web Resources

Gale Virtual Reference Collection

TC3 students and staff have access to the Gale Virtual Reference Library which has over 250 academic reference encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research. This is a good place to start your research because it provides useful background information. Here are a few examples:

• African Children's and Youth Literature - By Osa Osayimwense, Twayne's World Authors Series 853m 1995. [Online Resource}
• Fairy Tales and Fables - Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood: In History and Society
• Beverly Cleary - By Pat Pflieger. Twayne's English Authors Series 572. Boston: Twayne, 1991. [Online Resource}

Books About Children's Literature in the TC3 Collection

• A to zoo: subject access to children"s picture books by Carolyn W. Lima and John A. Lima [O-SIZE Z1037 .L715 2006]
• A broken flute: the Native experience in books for children - Edited by Doris Seale and Beverly Slapin [REF E77.4 .B76 2005]
• The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature by Bernice E.Cullinan [REF PN1008.5 .C66 2003]
• Multicultural and ethnic children’s literature in the United States by Donna L. Gilton [Z1039.M56 G55 2007]
• Major authors and illustrators for children and young adults: a selection of sketches from Something about the author 8 volumes [REF PN451 .M37 2002]

To find books in the TC3 Library, search the Online Catalag. To find books in other libraries use the SUNY Union Catalog and WorldCat. These books may be requested through the TC3 Library's Interlibrary Loan service.

Cultural and Social Diversity

Below is a sampling of children's books in the TC3 Library on such topics as race, immigration, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, families, disabilities/ableness, tolerance, and same sex marriages.

• Ballerina dreams: a true story - By Lauren Thompson. "True story of five little girls with cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities who were determined to become ballerinas." [JUV RJ496.C4 T48 2007]
• Goin’ someplace special by Patricia C. McKissack. "In segregated 1950s Nashville, a young African American girl braves a series of indignities and obstacles to get to one of the few integrated places in town: the public library." [JUV PZ7.M478693 Go 2001]
• Grandfather’s journey - Written and illustrated by Allen Say. "A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather’s journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries." [JUV PZ7.M478693 Go 2001]
• Molly’s family by Nancy Garden; pictures by Sharon Wooding. - Written and illustrated by Allen Say. "A Japanese American man recounts his grandfather’s journey to America which he later also undertakes, and the feelings of being torn by a love for two different countries." [JUV PZ7.G165 Mo 2004]
• My brother Charlie by by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete with Denene Millner. "A girl tells what it is like living with her twin brother who has autism and sometimes finds it hard to communicate with words, but who, in most ways, is just like any other boy." [JUV PZ7.P3567 My 2010]
• Uncle Bobby’s wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. "Chloë is jealous and sad when her favorite uncle announces that he will be getting married, but as she gets to know Jamie better and becomes involved in planning the wedding, she discovers that she will always be special to Uncle Bobby--and to Uncle Jamie, too." [JUV PZ7.B737514 Unc 2008]

Subject Headings

These search terms, also known as subject headings, can be used to find books on this topic in the TC3 Library Catalog as well as in the SUNY Union Catalog and WorldCat. To find books in the TC3 Library, go to the main Library page and search the TC3 Catalog or use the 'ready-made' searches below.

• Children - Books and Reading
• Children's literature - Authorship
• Children's literature - History and criticism
• Children's Poetry
• Juvenile Fiction
• Juvenile Literature
• Picture Books for Children
• Reading (Early childhood)

Locating Journal Articles in Databases

History-related electronic journals are available to TC3 students and staff in our electronic databases and in our full-text journals listed by title and subject.

Web Resources

• Association for Library Service to Children - They award the Caldecott Medal, the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards . They also provide Children's Notable Lists
• Author Illustrator Source
• Booklist Online - American Library Association publication provides sections on Books for Youth.
• Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
• Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site
• Children's Book Council
• Children's Picture Book Database
• Cooperative Children's Book Center - University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education
• Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature
• Denver Public Library Podcasts: Stories for Kids
• Guys Read - John Scieszka's choices of good books for boys
• Horn Book - Monthly publication of children's book reviews. Includes information on Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards
• International Children's Digital Library (ICDL)
• Parents' Choice Awards
• Random House: Authors & Illustrators
• School Library Journal - With Archive and news on Awards

Send comments to Margaret Anderson

Last update: Friday, August 26, 2011