Elementary school media specialists and teachers routinely use children's picture books in their lessons. These books add depth and vitality to the curriculum because they are written and illustrated by some of the world's most gifted writers and artists. Yet, educators are finding it increasingly harder to insert this pleasant and important activity into the busy school day due to increased pressures to improve test scores, to implement a standards-driven curriculum, and to stay abreast of new technologies to deliver instruction. This book helps educators continue to incorporate literature into the school day in spite of these obstacles. CyberLit is a book for those who work with, or teach others who work with, children in the primary grades. It is for those who use trade books to supplement and enhance health, science, creative writing, history, geography, reading, math, language arts, character education, multicultural studies, holidays, citizenship, and the fine arts. It's for those who love children's literature and book illustration. With this book, you no longer need to get lost in cyberspace! The information has already been searched, collected, assessed, and compiled.
Easily accessible and at your fingertips, this directory can help you to get biographical information about authors and illustrators, and to learn how they get ideas for stories, how illustrations are created, how to extend the books into the curriculum, and where to find time-saving lesson plans and book-related activities for classroom projects and units. These outstanding websites of children's authors, illustrators, and storybook characters were selected based on their educational value and for the fact that they contain a minimum of commercialization. They are exemplary examples of authors, publishers, and scholars who understand and acknowledge the roles of teachers and librarians. Like little gems in cyberspace, they go beyond the ordinary content for busy educators.
