Bibliography
Books for Teachers
Blount, Margaret. Animal Land: The Creatures of Children's Fiction. New York: William Morrow & Company, 1975.
This is a perceptively written book devoted solely to stories that contain animals. It references many of the stories we know and also a few we may not know.
Bokesch, Laura. "Literary Elements." Yorba Middle School. 1 Sept. 2004. 10 July 2006 http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elements.htm>.
This is a fabulous website for referencing literary elements. It gives many more literary elements than were used in this unit and each element is clearly defined. A great resource.
Borges, Jorge Luis, Silvina Ocampo, and A. Bioy Casares, eds. The Book of Fantasy. New York: Viking, 1988.
This is a compilation of short fantasy stories. I planned on using the book as a reference for short stories. Although the stories were good, many were too difficult for sixth grade. This would be a good book for high school though.
Braiman, Mr. "Literary Devices." Mr. Braiman's English Online. 10 July 2006 http://mrbraiman.home.att.net/lit.htm>.
This is another resource for literary devices. It is quite extensive with not only definitions, but examples as well. A great resource.
Gardner, Patrick and Phillips, Brian. "SparkNote on The Hobbit." 2006. Sparknotes. 24 Jul. 2006 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/hobbit/>.
This website features literary notes on an abundance of novels. The Hobbit was used for this unit. The site provides summaries, character analysis, key facts and overall information for the novel.
Hourihan, Kelly. "SparkNote on The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe." 2006. Sparknotes. 24 Jul. 2006 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lion/>.
This website features literary notes on an abundance of novels. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was used for this unit. The site provides summaries, character analysis, key facts and overall information for the novel.
Hunt, Peter. Criticism, Theory, and Children's Literature. Oxford: Basil Blackwell Ltd., 1991.
This is a book to read just for background information on theory. Although I enjoyed reading parts of it for my own knowledge, it doesn't specifically help me with this particular unit. However, Peter Hunt is well respected in the field of children's literature and that is a good reason to pick up this book.
Gates, Pamela S., Susan B. Steffel, and Francis J. Molson. Fantasy Literature for Children and Young Adults. Lanham: The Scarecrow Press, 2003.
The title says it all. This book will help teachers deepen their knowledge and understanding of fantasy literature.
Kurshan, Ilana "SparkNote on A Wrinkle in Time." 2006. Sparknotes. 26 July 2006 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/wrinkle/>.
This website features literary notes on an abundance of novels. A Wrinkle in Time was used for this unit. The site provides summaries, character analysis, key facts and overall information for the novel.
Sale, Roger. Fairy Tales and After: From Snow White to E. B. White. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1978.
This book gives good insight into fairy tales and fantasy. It offers criticisms and information about stories and authors. Another book for enhancing your own knowledge about children's literature.
Stauffer, Dr. Marilyn H. "Outline on Literary Elements." University of South Florida. 4 Mar. 1999. 10 July 2006 http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/lis6585/class/litelem.html>.
This is another website I used when referencing literary elements. It is very helpful and in-depth in its definitions.
Thomas, Rebecca L. and Catherine Barr. Popular Series Fiction for K-6 Readers. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2004.
This is a book compiled of lists of books appropriate for grades K-6 that are series. In the index you can find the listing of stories by genre. I found it helpful. It gives a brief description of the story line of the series and tells you each book in the series. There is also a companion titled Popular Series Fiction for Middle and Teen Readers. The only disadvantage of this book is that it doesn't rate the books. I would have enjoyed some kind of rating system so I would know how good the stories are.
Weinstein, Ari and Henriksen, John. "SparkNote on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." 2006. Sparknotes. 24 Jul. 2006 http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/harrypotter/>.
This website features literary notes on an abundance of novels. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was used for this unit. The site provides summaries, character analysis, key facts and overall information for the novel.
Books for Students
Banks, Lynne Reid. The Indian in the Cupboard. Ill. By Brock Cole. New York: Avon Books, 1980.
Nine-year-old Omri received a toy Indian, a cupboard, and a small key for his birthday. To his surprise the Indian comes to life and the adventure begins.
Baum, L. Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Ill. Russell H. Schultz. Racine: Whitman Publishing, 1957.
The classic story of Dorothy and her journey with the Scarecrow, the Lion, and the Tin Man on their way to Oz. Each is looking for something they are hoping to find by seeing the wizard.
Carroll, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Ill. Helen Oxenbury. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 1999.
This is the classic tale of Alice's fall down a rabbit hole and her subsequent adventure in Wonderland. This topsy-turvy world produces an equally topsy-turvy story where nothing seems to make sense and everything seems to be upside down.
Collodi, Carlo. Pinocchio. Trans. E. Harden. Ill. Gioia Fiammenghi. New York: Puffin Books, 1944.
The classic story of the wooden toy who longs to become a real boy, but gets into quite a bit of mischief along the way.
Conrad, Pam. The Tub People. Ill. Richard Egielski. New York: Harper & Row, 1989.
The touching story of a family of wooden toys who sit at the edge of the bathtub all day long. One day the boy gets stuck in the drain and the rest of the family is very worried about him. Once he was rescued from the drain the family was together again.
Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach. Ill. Lane Smith. New York: Puffin Books, 1961.
A great story about a boy named James whose life is quite depressing while living with his two horrible aunts. James' life takes a turn for the better when he is magically transported by a giant peach to the city of New York. He makes great friends with the silkworm, the grasshopper, the centipede and more while on his journey in the peach.
Jacques, Brian. Redwall. New York: Philomel Books, 1986.
When the peaceful life of ancient Redwall Abbey is shattered by the arrival of the evil rat Cluny and his villainous hordes, Matthias, a young mouse, determines to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior which, he is convinced, will help Redwall's inhabitants destroy the enemy. This summary was taken from The Library of Congress website.
Lawson, Robert. Rabbit Hill. New York: Dell Publishing, 1944.
A wonderful tale about a community of animals, including a family of rabbits, a fox, a squirrel, a field mouse, etc. They live on a house and grounds that is soon to have new folks moving in. The talk among all the animals concerns whether this family will be planting folks. The survival of these animals depends on the hope that these folk will be planting a garden that will sustain the community.
L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1962.
This is the story of Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin as they venture into the fifth dimension. They are on a journey to save Meg's father who has been gone for quite some time. The reader is taken into an entirely new universe which defies any symbolism in the human world. It is a fantasy in all respects possible.
Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Ill. Pauline Baynes. New York: Collier Books, 1950.
The wonderful story of four siblings who by accident find a land called Narnia. They have many adventures in this wonderful land and are forced to fight battles to protect it. They eventually become the four kings and queens of the land of Narnia.
Pfister, Marcus. The Rainbow Fish. New York: North-South Books, 1992.
Rainbow fish is the only one in the sea who has shimmering scales. When one little fish asks if he can have one Rainbow fish is shocked. How could he give away his precious scales? When he says no, all the other fish shun him. Rainbow fish learns that having shimmering scales is no good if you are lonely. He shares his scales with his friends and discovers happiness.
Rey, H. A. Curious George. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1941.
The first book in the Curious George series. The man in the yellow hat finds George in Africa and brings him to the city. There George finds himself too curious to stay out of trouble.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Ill. Mary Grandpre. New York: Scholastic, 1997.
This is the first in the Harry Potter series. Harry has been living with his "muggle" aunt and uncle since he was an infant. Ten years later Harry finds out that he is actually a wizard and he is invited to come to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The series continues with the adventures and mishaps of Harry becoming a full fledged wizard and living with the fact that he is the sole survivor of a series of killings by the evil Lord Voldemort.
Schulman, Janet, Ed. The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.
This is a compilation of forty-four picture story books. These are wonderful, favorite stories that are great for read-alouds. This book contains The Tub People, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, as well as Curious George. It is a great book to have in your classroom for a one stop shop for picture book read alouds.
Steig, William. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. New York: Windmill Books, 1969.
Sylvester has a magic pebble but in his fright asks the pebble to make him a rock so he will be invisible. Sadly, for a long time Sylvester is stuck as a rock and his parents are sad that he has disappeared. But one day his parents are sitting by the rock and wish for Sylvester to return, and he does.
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fellowship of the Ring. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982.
Tolkien's brilliant story about Frodo Baggins and his quest to return the ring to Mordor for fear of evil doings and curses associated with it. In this unit the novel, and the trilogy in fact, are referred to for its use of otherworlds, its use of special character types and the use of the fantastic object, the ring.
Van Allsburg, Chris. Jumanji. New York: Scholastic, 1981.
Two children discover a board game and begin to play. However, this is no ordinary board game. With every move they make a part of the game comes to life. Before they know it they have lions, monkeys, rhinoceros, a snake and a tour guide tearing up their house.
White, E. B. Charlotte's Web. Ill. Garth Williams. New York: Harper and Row, 1952.
Wilbur the pig is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help. Charlotte has an uncanny ability to spin her web into words. By doing so she ultimately saves Wilbur's life.
White, E. B. Stuart Little. Ill. Garth Williams. New York: Scholastic, 1945.
Stuart is a mouse that was born to human parents. This is the story of his everyday life and how he lives as a tiny mouse in a human world.
Williams, Margery. The Velveteen Rabbit. New York: Platt & Munk, 1987.
The Velveteen Rabbit is one of the favorite toys of the Boy. One day the boy gets very sick and once he is well all of his toys must be burned. The Velveteen Rabbit finds what it was to be Real because he had been loved by the Boy.
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