Introduction to children's literature and its different genres. Understanding the principles and criteria for selection of children's literature in a library or museum setting. Familiarization with popular books and authors.
History of Children's Literature: This topic covers the evolution of children's literature, including the different types of books that have been written for young readers throughout history.
Literary Genres: This topic focuses on the various literary genres and sub-genres that exist in children's literature such as fantasy, science fiction, adventure, mystery, poetry, and non-fiction.
Children's Publishers: Knowledge of different publishing companies and their publishing house focuses on their contributions to children's literature.
Award-Winning books: This topic includes discussion of the different literary awards, their criteria, and notable winners, such as Caldecott, Newbery, Coretta Scott King, and Pura Belpre.
Reading Engagement for Children: This topic considers the best practices of encouraging reading to children, such as storytime, storytelling, reading programs, book clubs or discussions.
Book Selection and Evaluation: This topic teaches the skills for selecting children's literature, including understanding book reviews and having a criteria system.
Censorship and Controversy: This topic focuses on the censorship of children's literature throughout the years and still to present.
Diversity and Multiculturalism: This topic explores the benefits of including representation of different races, religions, cultures, and ethnicities in children's literature.
Literary Analysis: This topic covers literary techniques such as symbolism, theme, plot, and character development, as well as theories of literary analysis Children's Literature.
Educational purposes of children's literature: This topic includes books aimed at teaching children various subjects such as science, mathematics, social studies, and history.
Digital Children's Literature: This topic covers the rise of digital devices and applications and their role in children's literature.
Promoting literacy programs and youth services: This includes offering programs at schools, libraries, and museums.
Literature for different age ranges: This topic considers the literature appropriate for certain age ranges such as board books for younger children, picture books for early readers, and chapter books for middle-grade children.
Current trends in Children's literature: This topic includes emerging trends that modern children's literature sees in humor, social media, and imaginative storytelling that provide a fresh update to classical approaches.
Popular Children's Authors: This includes the popular children's authors listed in publishing industry magazines, and frequent reviews in literary form for how they contributed to children's literature.
Picture Books: Illustrated stories with few words or no text at all, often targeted at very young children.
Board Books: Similar to picture books, but with sturdy pages that can withstand rough handling by young children.
Early Reader Books: Designed for children who are starting to read on their own, these books have simple vocabulary and shorter sentences.
Chapter Books: Longer stories broken down into chapters, these books are aimed at older children who can read more complex text.
Graphic Novels: Illustrated stories that use sequential art to tell a story, often appealing to reluctant readers who are drawn to the visual format.
Middle Grade Fiction: Books for children aged 8-12, often dealing with themes of friendship, growing up, and identity.
Young Adult Fiction: Books for teenagers aged 12-18, often dealing with more mature themes such as love, loss, and social issues.
Non-fiction: Books that provide information and facts about a wide range of subjects, often using photographs and illustrations to support the text.
Poetry: Collections of poetry written specifically for children, often featuring themes related to childhood and imagination.
Folktales and Fairy Tales: Stories passed down through generations that often teach moral lessons and have fantastic elements.
Picture Storybooks: A hybrid of picture books and chapter books, featuring illustrations and longer, more complex text.
Audio Books: Recorded versions of children's books, often including sound effects and music, to appeal to auditory learners.
Interactive Books: Books with interactive features such as touch-and-feel textures or lift-the-flap elements, often aimed at very young children.
Pop-up Books: Books with three-dimensional elements that "pop up" when the pages are opened, often with intricate paper engineering.