Research Guides: TEDU 386: Children's Literature: Additional Resources

Selected Web Resources

The Horn Book
Not an awards site, but rich with content from the publisher of Horn Book Magazine. Links to a wide variety of resources.
Scholarly Resources - ChLA
Very useful collection of links to childhood studies programs, awards, collections, journals, and more.
Select Bibliography of Children's Books about the Disability Experience
Most of the books listed were published between 2000 and 2008. The list is divided into age level categories.

Challenged Books

Children's books are frequently challenged on the basis of content and age-appropriateness. The Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association compiles lists of challenged books, including a list of Frequently Challenged Children's Books.

Children's Banned/Challenged Books

Finding Books at VCU Libraries

Open VCU Libraries Home Page

Search by title:

Enter title in quotation marks, e.g., "doll bones"
Look for "Cabell Library Juvenile Literature" in the area below the title

Search for award winners (sample search):

Select 'Advanced' link below search box on our home page
1st line - newbery medal OR newbery honor
Select 'Books' as Material Type
After results appear, select 'on shelf' from choices to the left

Titles will begin to appear on the 2nd screen of results

Selected Ejournals

NOTE: As a rule, 'children's literature' includes young adult literature.

Children & Libraries
(v. 1, 2003-present)
The official research journal of the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association. Peer-reviewed.
Children's Literature
(v. 1, 1972-present)
Peer-reviewed journal published annually by the Modern Language Association Division on Children's Literature and the Children's Literature Association (ChLA).
Children's Literature Association Quarterly
(v. 1, 1976-present)
Peer-reviewed journal providing scholarly articles on all aspects of children's literature.
Horn Book Magazine
(v. 66, 1990-current)
Reviews of and articles about children's and young adult books.
Journal of Children's Literature
(v. 37, 2011-present)
Peer- reviewed journal from the Children's Literature Assembly (CLA) of the National Council of Teachers of English. Focus is on grades K-8.
The Lion and the Unicorn
(v. 1, 1977-present)
Peer-reviewed journal focused on children's literature within the concepts of children's and adolescent culture.
School Library Journal
(v. 1, 1974-present). Trade publication (NOT peer-reviewed). Provides reviews of children's and young adult books, audio, and columns aimed especially to enhance the knowledge and capability of school librarians. Very useful for anyone interested in children's/young adult literature.

Selected Book Award Sites

Caldecott Medal & Honor Books
Award winners and honor books from 1938 to the present. Medal honors "the artist of the most distinguished American Picture Book for Children published in the United States during the preceding year."
Newbery Medal and Honor Books
Award winners and honor books from 1922 to the present. Medal honors "the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."
Batchelder Award
Given to an English translation of a children's book originally published outside the United States in a language other than English.
Belpré Medal
Awarded to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works depict Latino culture for children and youth.
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Given to African American authors and illustrators whose books depict African American life.
Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award
Recognizes authors, illustrators, and publishers of books that present outstanding portrayals of children and young adults with developmental disabilities.
Schneider Family Book Award
Given to an author or illustrator whose book focuses on the disability experience for children.
ALSC Book & Media Awards
Association for Library Service to Children awards the Caldecott and Newbery Medals. This page includes links to its other awards.
Children's Literature Association Phoenix Award
Given to a children's literature work determined to be of high literary merit.
Jefferson Cup Award
Awarded by the Virginia Library Association to the author(s) of a distinguished biography, historical fiction or American history book for young people.
Notables from Children's Literature Assembly
The 30 titles selected each year deal specifically with language. The criteria require that the audience for the books be in grades K-8. Unfortunately, individual titles are not annotated with the grade level.
Up All Night
An exhibition from the National Book Foundation on the history of the National Book Award in Young People's Literature. Pick a year range and then click on a book cover image to display information about the book including reading level.