Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons^™

The Effects Of Book Location On The Selection Of First Readers By Elementary Students, Tracy Merfeld

Graduate Research Papers

167 kindergarten, first and second graders at Garfield Elementary School in Boone, Iowa, and 470 first reader books were used to investigate whether justification can be given to shelving first reader books in a separate section. An increase in the number of charges of first reader books might demonstrate a need of students to have this type of material readily accessible.

The study was conducted over two 45 day cycles. During the first cycle, first reader books were identified, marked with a red dot and interfiled with picture books. A first reader section was created for the second cycle. All …

The Portrayal Of Characters With Physical Disabilities In Children’S Literature, Marilyn Newhouse

Graduate Research Papers

This research study used a content analysis technique to analyze 25 fiction books which featured a character having a physical disability. All books were published between 1980-1990 and were at a fourth through sixth grade reading level. A comparison was made to determine if the portrayal of physically disabled characters has changed from their portrayal in books written prior to 1980.

In the books chosen for this study the physically disabled characters were typically juvenile, Caucasian, and male. Orthopedic disorders were most frequently portrayed. The majority of the physically disabled characters were portrayed in important family and societal roles, and …

Use Of Storytelling By Iowa Elementary Library Media Specialists, Frances E. Lachance

Graduate Research Papers

Seventy-five percent of 41 randomly selected Iowa public school library media specialists who answered a storytelling questionnaire in November, 1990, indicated that they used one or more storytelling activities with students in grades prekindergarten to six. Eleven of the 12 storytelling activities were used more with students in grades three or below than they were with students in grades four to six. Just 22% of the library media specialists indicated that they taught students to do storytelling, and this activity was done about equally with upper and lower elementary students.

Seventy-three percent of these library media specialists had participated in …

Growing Up Too Fast, Cynthia Rapp Hartman

Graduate Research Papers

A content analysis technique was used to examine 16 children's books to determine whether the growth and development of the 24 main characters fit the growth and development of real-life children of the same chronological age.

Books published since 1982 with main characters who were eight, nine, ten, and eleven years of age were selected from Booklist and Best Books for Children. ·Descriptions and actions of the main characters were examined in the categories of general behavior, self-concept, social relations, and school orientation. Four hypotheses relating to these four categories were rejected and the researcher concluded that as depleted in …

Amanda’S Mirror, Judy Stark

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to explore the problem-solving and positive self-concept techniques used in drama and dance programs. After studying the specific techniques of role play, pantomimes, and body control, the book Amanda's Mirror was written. The specific problem was can a children's book be written using problem-solving and positive self-concept techniques used in drama and dance programs.

A Content Analysis Of Books Depicting Adopted Teenagers In Adolescent Novels Published Between 1965-1981, Myrna Griffith

Graduate Research Papers

Since .adolescents can find answers to their questions by reading fiction, fiction that portrays teenagers like themselves, adolescent books on the subject of adoption may serve as a source of current information on adoption and society's attitudes of searching. This researcher proposed that an annotated bibliography be developed in this study. The technique of content analysis was used and young adult fiction titles were selected which might enable the young adult readers to determine if they can find answers to some of their questions about their birth parents and whether to search for them.

Stereotypes Of The Native American In Fiction Books In Elementary School Libraries, Karma Anderson

Graduate Research Papers

This study proposed to investigate the kinds of Native American materials which were found in elementary school library media centers in Iowa Education Agency Seven (AEA 7). A questionnaire was prepared with seventeen recommended titles and fifteen presently criticized titles on which media specialists in AEA 7 were to indicate availability in their media centers. The hypothesis to be tested was: Given a list of books containing both reconnnended and presently criticized titles, 75 percent of school library specialists in AEA 7 will indicate that there are more recommended titles than presently criticized titles on Native Americans in their fiction …

The Portrayal Of Death In Selected Fiction Books For Adolescents, Nancy Helmers

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to examine and evaluate the portrayal of death in selected fiction books for adolescents. The sample for the study consisted of eleven books selected by a committee of professionals in the field of adolescent literature. These are books that tend to be available to adolescents in libraries. A method of content analysis was applied'as the research design in which each book was analyzed on a basis of seven categories.

It was found that most of the books do handle the death theme realistically. In death vocabulary the most frequently used words were "die", "dead", …

The Analysis Of Library Books To Use With Gifted Readers Grades Four Through Six, Judith A. Mills

Graduate Research Papers

The major purpose of this research was to determine if a list of prototype questions, structured to elicit cognitive responses at the upper levels of the Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, would be sufficiently productive when applied to the episodes in twelve books that they may elicit higher level thinking from gifted readers at the fourth through sixth grade levels.

Eighty questions were developed through the use of a mini-course entitled, "Higher Cognitive Questioning" secured from Cooperative Network Inservice Resources (CNIR), and two Gifted and Talented Workshops presented to the Marshalltown Schools by Educational Consulting Associates (ECA). Questions were further categorized …

An Annotated Bibliography On Divorce In Children's Books, Lilith J. Dorr

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to investigate books about divorce which can be used with elementary children. Results of this investigation were compiled in an annotated bibliography of fiction books to be used by students, teachers, guidance counselors, and media specialists in elementary schools. A comprehensive chart of readability, child of divorce, and divorce related problems was compiled and some interesting comparisons and conclusions were made. The number of books located was not as many as expected. The majority of books were located in Fry readability level three. The many feelings and emotions experienced by children of divorce, as …

Objective Measuring Techniques Applied To Illustrations In Children’S Picture Storybooks, Diane Brown Harrington

Graduate Research Papers

This research study was designed to determine if found and developed objective measuring techniques, using children's preferences and interests, were effective when applied to the illustrations of picture storybooks.

Using only fourteen books written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain, the five methods used to gather data for this study were: 1) applying the Picture Potency Formula to obtain the language stimulation value of each book; 2) Using a kindergarten child to determine if the essence of the story can be told by a child from lookin0 at the illustrations; 3) recording the number of times the main character(s) …

A Study Of Historical Fiction And The Works Of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Kathleen L. Mclaughlin

Graduate Research Papers

This study was undertaken for the specific purpose of developing criteria for good historical fiction, applying the resulting criteria statements to each of the books that make up the "Little House" series, and determining the frequency of criteria appearance in each book separately and as a series. The purpose of this study was to develop and apply a criteria list to each of the books in the "Little House" series point by point.

A valid list of criteria has been established and used in evaluating the "Little House series. Eleven separate criterion which describe the five important elements of good …

A Content Analysis Of The Portrayal Of The Emotionally Disturbed In Books Popular With Adolescents, Judith A. Heusinkveld

Graduate Research Papers

The major purposes of this research were to analyze the portrayal of emotionally disturbed characters in books which adolescents are reading and to attempt to determine if this portrayal was realistic and balanced in terms of the entire group of books. A panel of experts was used to obtain a sample of ten books. The portrayals of twelve characters from these ten books were analyzed using an inventory of twelve elements which were derived from traditional stereotypes of the emotionally disturbed. The results of this analysis suggested that, for the most part, a realistic and generally balanced portrayal of emotionally …

An Annotated Bibliography Of Materials About The Physically Handicapped For Non-Handicapped Elementary School Children, Karen Dole

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of existing materials about the handicapped which can be used with elementary school children, and to compile an annotated bibliography of quality materials for use by teachers and media specialists.

The Female Image In The Caldecott Medal Award Books, Patricia Lee Brighton Roberts

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

PROBLEM: Millions of children read and view the Caldecott Winners each year There are no published studies regarding the possible stereo-typing of the role of the human, animal and inanimate female image in the texts and illustrations of these 37 books.

Purpose: The. investigation ·was conducted to determine the extent the total population of the Caldecott books did stereo-type the role of the human, animal and inanimate female image.

Procedures: The investigation was completed in four steps: (1) First, a panel of sociologists determined the content validity of the definitions used in the hypothesis; (2) Second, a Content Analysis Form …

A Study Of The Attitudes Of Iowa Junior High Media Specialists Concerning Sex And Sexuality Materials In The Media Center, Elizabeth Campbell

Graduate Research Papers

This research was undertaken as a study of attitudes toward sex and sexuality materials and their availability and use in junior high media centers. Several basic assumptions were accepted before the study began. The first assumption: the Media Center best serves the school by maintaining a wide selection of media at different levels of ability and interest, and a large portion of these materials are selected to support the school's curricular objectives. The second assumption: if the Media Center is truly serving the school, the Media Specialist must be providing up to date and vital information concerning adolescent sexuality. A …