Windows on the World: International Books for Elementary and Middle Grade Readers

by Rosanne Blass

Overview

This resource book for librarians and teachers of elementary and middle grade readers introduces over 400 titles of books (fiction, nonfiction, and poetry) written and illustrated by international authors and illustrators.

Windows on the World: International Books for Elementary and Middle Grade Readers helps librarians and teachers open the eyes of elementary and middle grade readers to what life is like for children like themselves around the globe. In this extraordinary resource, you will find introductions to over 400 fiction, nonfiction, and poetry titles for age levels 4-8 and 8-12, written and illustrated by international authors and illustrators, and matched with related curriculum activities correlated with national curriculum standards.

Windows on the World consists of over 100 lead books and over 350 related books published in the last ten years, organized by countries and cultures. It includes work from non-American authors working in the United States and abroad, as well as reissues of classics, and a few American titles noted for their authentic representations of other cultures. Each entry includes bibliographic data, information about the author and illustrator, identification of genre, recommended age level, a synopsis, suggested curriculum responses correlated with national curriculum standards, and related books.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591588306
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/14/2009
Pages:	214
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Rosanne J. Blass, EdD, is retired from the University of South Florida College of Education, St. Petersburg, FL.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgment and Dedication vii

Introduction ix

Ages 4-8 1

Africa 1

Asia 12

Australia and New Zealand 26

Canada 38

Cross Countries and Culture 44

Europe 48

Greenland, Iceland, Arctic, and Antarctic 59

India and Pakistan 64

Mexico, Latin and South America, and the Caribbean 69

Middle East 77

United Kingdom and Ireland 81

Ages 8-12 95

Africa 95

Asia 104

Australia and New Zealand 111

Canada 119

Cross Countries and Cultures 127

Europe 136

Greenland, Iceland, Arctic, Antarctic 152

India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan 156

Mexico, Latin and South America, and the Caribbean 165

Middle East 171

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 178

Appendix 193

National Standards for Arts Education 193

Standards for the English Language Arts 194

National Science Education Standards 195

National Council for the Social Studies 196

Index 197

Editorial Reviews

Librarians and teachers who work with children will find this book a valuable guide to the literature of different cultures.” —ARBA

“Teachers and librarians looking for international books will refer to this volume often. It will be especially helpful to schools in the international baccalaureate program. Recommended.” —Library Media Connection

From the Publisher

This annotated bibliography includes more than 100 "lead books" and 350 "related books" published or reissued within the last 10 years. Each main entry includes the usual information—genre, age level, helpful background material about the author and illustrator, placement on the USBBY Outstanding International Book List or other awards, a summary of the story, suggested classroom activities, and specific professional standards those activities might meet. The titles are organized in two broad sections—ages 4–8 and 8–12—and then more narrowly by continent (Africa, Asia); area (Middle East, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan); or country (Canada). However, teachers and librarians hoping for a genuine window into another culture will be disappointed to discover that the entries have been organized by the creator's nationality, not the topic. New Zealander Nic Bishop, for example, is represented by Backyard Detective, which features photographs of insects in this country. Similarly, Deborah Ruddell's poems about American woodland creatures, A Whiff of Pine, is a lead book under Africa because of the illustrator's South African nationality. Lead-book summaries vary in length and apparent intended audience. Related books, with more traditional annotations, may include titles by the same creators (sometimes earlier ones in a series), or books with a similar approach or setting. An appendix includes the main topics of national standards of several educational organizations, but not the detailed decimal-pointed subheadings listed under each entry. A wide-ranging but disappointing collection.—Kathleen Isaacs, Children's Literature Specialist, Pasadena, MD

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