Family Matters: Adoption and Foster Care in Children's Literature

(Paperback)

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Description

This volume is designed to give librarians and teachers guidance on the subject of adoption and foster careboth as themes in children's literature and as issues affecting many students. To help librarians and teachers gain a deeper understanding of this sensitive subject, Family Matters: Adoption and Foster Care in Children's Literature takes a close look at 115 works of children's literature that have themes related to adoption and foster care, including many that have received the Newberry Award, Caldecott Award, or other prestigious honors from the American Library Association. Family Matters is not just a digest of titles. It is an expert resource for addressing adoption and foster care in the classroom, both as a literary subject and as a personal issue with students. The book opens with an historical overview of adoption and foster care, then reviews level-appropriate titles by age groupK-grade 2, grades 3-5, and grades 6-8. Coverage includes discussions of the impact of adoption and foster care on normal development, as well as suggestions for safe language to use in the classroom, and fun, effective activities for each title.

Reviews

Meese (special education, Longwood U.) reviews 115 children's books that feature themes related to adoption and foster care, which are organized by grade level and summarized, with suggestions and themes. She provides guidelines for evaluating books included and not included on award-winning book lists, developmental issues related to adoption and foster care, and suggestions for positive language, discussion, and sensitive assignments. * Reference & Research Book News *
This may be the first library resource of its kind in two decades, perhaps ever. Although many children's literature bibliographies exist that regularly include the subject of adoption, this handy paperback is dedicated to the topic. . . . This reference work is an informative goldmine for librarians, parents, and teachers seeking appropriate reading opportunities for their special audiences. * ARBA *
Charts, Venn diagrams, and extensive annotations supplement the annotated list of books for children in kindergarten through grade eight. Meese explains her rationale for choosing these books to that readers have the tools to evaluate other selections. * School Library Journal *

Author Bio

Ruth Lyn Meese, PhD, is professor of special education at Longwood University in Farmville, VA.