Deep Plunge is a definitive commentary on key aspects of children’s and adolescent literature. Offered freely by Vernon the Reading Primate for the betterment of all reading primates everywhere, it reveals invaluable insights into how books work and why you should read them. Being kind to others is one of those (cross)cultural norms that seem…
Creators: Erica Boulay-Ali, Melissa Johnson, Aleisha Smith and Ali Zimmerman Project Context: As a special education teacher, I am always looking for ways to help students with special needs improve their self-esteem, and to create a safe learning environment for them within the school as a whole. This means helping mainstream students recognize and include students…
Check out these excellent fall-themed texts you can use with your little readers! How many seeds in a pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara and G. Brian Karas What’s it about? The students in Mr. Tiffin’s class have to guess how many seeds are inside the pumpkins, but Charlie, the smallest student in class, is frustrated when…
Arnold leaves the reservation and hopes of a better life at a small white school. The novel illustrates situations of alcohol and physical abuse, which although portraying real life, is mature content calling for a target audience of teens. This book can be placed in the contemporary realistic fiction genre since it allows readers to…
In the author’s own words: Eleanor & Park is set in 1986. It’s about to 16 year old to fall in love on a school bus. The story is told from both of their points of view. Eleanor, a chubby redhead, is the new kid at school, and she’s facing some pretty intense bullying. Also,…
Children's Literature at UMN 