Dates: 08/18/2025 - 12/06/2025
Location:
Adlai E. Stevenson Hall 221B (STV 221B)
Instructor: Mary Jeanette Moran
Class Notes: Think back to the first book you can remember, whether you read it yourself or someone read it to you. Most likely you have strong feelings about this book, and probably they’re positive. Most likely, too, this book was written for an audience of young children. Many people assume that children’s texts are simple, shallow, and unimportant because of their relatively limited vocabulary and plotlines. However, when we stop to consider the influence that children’s texts have had on our own lives, we start to get a sense of how this literature can influence the psychological, moral, intellectual, and emotional development of individuals and communities. Because of this incredible influence, adults spend a lot of time, in public and in private, debating what kinds of books children should read. In this course, we’ll be furthering our sense of the richness of children’s literature by analyzing, through writing and discussion, samples of a variety of genres written for and read by young children. It is my hope that you will leave this class better able to discern how children’s texts function, whether you use that discernment to enjoy the literature yourself, choose books for any children in your life, or participate in debates about the societal and personal benefits of complex and diverse children’s literature.
We will analyze a variety of works written for young children (what are now considered standard reading levels for ages five to nine), including multicultural picture books, fairy tales, poetry, and chapter books. Texts will include variations on Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White tales; Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s picture book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Fractured Tales; Duncan Tonatiuh’s picture book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote; Sharon Creech’s verse novel I Hate That Cat!; and Remy Lai’s illustrated novel Pie in the Sky. Whether you are hoping to be a teacher or parent, or you intend your direct interactions with children to be minimal, the goals of this course include the development of writing, speaking, and analytical skills that will benefit you in other courses as well as your life beyond college. As you revisit some familiar tales and encounter new ones, you’ll find that there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate these texts as much or even more now than you did when you were young!
Textbook Special Instructions: Texts marked “picture book” are required for the course, but there will be options for sharing texts. Details to follow on the syllabus.
Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears
(Required)
ISBN9781416959304
AuthorEmily Gravett
Edition
PublisherSimon & Schuster Books for You
MSRP
$21.27
Bowwow Powwow
(Required)
ISBN9781681340777
AuthorChild, Brenda J.
Edition
PublisherMinnesota Historical Society
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Pie in the Sky
(Required)
ISBN9781250314109
AuthorLai
Edition
PublisherHenry Holt
MSRP
N/A
White Nights of Ramadan
(Required)
ISBN9781629798462
AuthorAddasi
Edition
PublisherBoyd Mills Press
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Picture This: How Pictures Work
(Required)
ISBN9781452151991
AuthorBang
Edition
PublisherChronicle
MSRP
N/A
Rosie Revere, Engineer
(Required)
ISBN9781419708459
AuthorBeaty
Edition
PublisherHarry N. Abrams
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Click Clack Moo
(Required)
ISBN9781481465403
AuthorCronin
Edition
PublisherSimon Spotlight
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
PANCHO RABBIT & THE COYOTE
(Required)
ISBN9781419705830
AuthorTONATIUH
Edition
PublisherABRAMS
MSRP
$16.95
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
I Want My Hat Back
(Required)
ISBN9780763655983
AuthorKlassen
Edition
PublisherCandlewick
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
STELLALUNA
(Required)
ISBN9780152802172
AuthorCANNON
Edition
PublisherHARCOURT
MSRP
$17.00
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
NIKKI & DEJA
(Required)
ISBN9780547133621
AuthorENGLISH
Edition
PublisherGRAPHIA
MSRP
$4.99
HATE THAT CAT
(Required)
ISBN9780061430947
AuthorCREECH
Edition
PublisherHARP/COLL
MSRP
$5.99
IVY & BEAN
(Required)
ISBN9780811849098
AuthorBARROWS
Edition
PublisherCHRONICLE
MSRP
$5.99
We Are Water Protectors
(Required)
ISBN9781250203557
AuthorLindstrom
Edition
Publisher
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic
(Required)
ISBN9780593377796
AuthorCandace Fleming Deena So'oteh
Edition
PublisherRandom House
MSRP
$17.48
How We Share Cake
(Required)
ISBN9781957363851
AuthorKim Hyo-eun
Editiontranslated by Deborah Smith
PublisherScribble Publishing
MSRP
$18.55
Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa
(Required)
ISBN9781250838612
AuthorSara Andrea Fajardo & Juana Ma
Edition
PublisherRoaring Brook Press
MSRP
$16.31
BLACK & WHITE
(Required)
ISBN9780618636877
AuthorMACAULAY
Edition
PublisherHM TR
MSRP
$7.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Cherries and Cherry Pits
(Required)
ISBN9780688104788
AuthorWilliams
Edition
PublisherGreenwillow
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
HAROLD & THE PURPLE CRAYON
(Required)
ISBN9780064430227
AuthorJOHNSON
Edition
PublisherHARP/COLL
MSRP
$6.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Alphabet City
(Required)
ISBN9780140559040
AuthorJohnson
Edition
PublisherPuffin
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
(Required)
ISBN9780689835681
AuthorMartin
Edition
PublisherBeach Lane
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
SNOWY DAY
(Required)
ISBN9780140501827
AuthorKEATS
Edition
PublisherPENGUIN
MSRP
$7.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Make Way for Ducklings
(Required)
ISBN9780140564341
AuthorMcCloskey
Edition
PublisherPuffin
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
LITTLE HOUSE
(Required)
ISBN9780395259382
AuthorBURTON
Edition
PublisherHM TR
MSRP
$7.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
WE ARE IN A BOOK!
(Required)
ISBN9781423133087
AuthorWILLEMS
Edition
PublisherHYPERION
MSRP
$8.99
The Classic Fairy Tales
(Required)
ISBN9780393602975
AuthorTatar
Edition
PublisherNorton
MSRP
N/A
STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID
(Required)
ISBN9780670844876
AuthorSCIESZKA
Edition
PublisherVIKING
MSRP
$17.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Little Brown Essential Handbook
(Recommended)
ISBN9780134515212
AuthorAaron
Edition
PublisherPearson
MSRP
N/A
RUBY LU, BRAVE & TRUE
(Required)
ISBN9781416913894
AuthorLOOK
Edition
PublisherS&S
MSRP
$5.99
FROG & TOAD ARE FRIENDS LEVEL 2
(Required)
ISBN9780064440202
AuthorLOBEL
Edition
PublisherHARP/COLL
MSRP
$3.99
LING & TING: NOT EXACTLY THE SAME
(Required)
ISBN9780316024532
AuthorLIN
Edition
PublisherLB
MSRP
$3.99
Julian at the Wedding
(Required)
ISBN9781536212389
AuthorLove, Jessica
Edition
PublisherCandlewick
MSRP
$10.23
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Dates: 08/18/2025 - 12/06/2025
Location:
Adlai E. Stevenson Hall 221B (STV 221B)
Instructor: Mary Jeanette Moran
Class Notes: Think back to the first book you can remember, whether you read it yourself or someone read it to you. Most likely you have strong feelings about this book, and probably they’re positive. Most likely, too, this book was written for an audience of young children. Many people assume that children’s texts are simple, shallow, and unimportant because of their relatively limited vocabulary and plotlines. However, when we stop to consider the influence that children’s texts have had on our own lives, we start to get a sense of how this literature can influence the psychological, moral, intellectual, and emotional development of individuals and communities. Because of this incredible influence, adults spend a lot of time, in public and in private, debating what kinds of books children should read. In this course, we’ll be furthering our sense of the richness of children’s literature by analyzing, through writing and discussion, samples of a variety of genres written for and read by young children. It is my hope that you will leave this class better able to discern how children’s texts function, whether you use that discernment to enjoy the literature yourself, choose books for any children in your life, or participate in debates about the societal and personal benefits of complex and diverse children’s literature.
We will analyze a variety of works written for young children (what are now considered standard reading levels for ages five to nine), including multicultural picture books, fairy tales, poetry, and chapter books. Texts will include variations on Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, and Snow White tales; Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith’s picture book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Fractured Tales; Duncan Tonatiuh’s picture book Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote; Sharon Creech’s verse novel I Hate That Cat!; and Remy Lai’s illustrated novel Pie in the Sky. Whether you are hoping to be a teacher or parent, or you intend your direct interactions with children to be minimal, the goals of this course include the development of writing, speaking, and analytical skills that will benefit you in other courses as well as your life beyond college. As you revisit some familiar tales and encounter new ones, you’ll find that there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate these texts as much or even more now than you did when you were young!
Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears
(Required)
ISBN9781416959304
AuthorEmily Gravett
Edition
PublisherSimon & Schuster Books for You
MSRP
$21.27
Bowwow Powwow
(Required)
ISBN9781681340777
AuthorChild, Brenda J.
Edition
PublisherMinnesota Historical Society
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Pie in the Sky
(Required)
ISBN9781250314109
AuthorLai
Edition
PublisherHenry Holt
MSRP
N/A
White Nights of Ramadan
(Required)
ISBN9781629798462
AuthorAddasi
Edition
PublisherBoyd Mills Press
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Picture This: How Pictures Work
(Required)
ISBN9781452151991
AuthorBang
Edition
PublisherChronicle
MSRP
N/A
Rosie Revere, Engineer
(Required)
ISBN9781419708459
AuthorBeaty
Edition
PublisherHarry N. Abrams
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Click Clack Moo
(Required)
ISBN9781481465403
AuthorCronin
Edition
PublisherSimon Spotlight
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
PANCHO RABBIT & THE COYOTE
(Required)
ISBN9781419705830
AuthorTONATIUH
Edition
PublisherABRAMS
MSRP
$16.95
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
I Want My Hat Back
(Required)
ISBN9780763655983
AuthorKlassen
Edition
PublisherCandlewick
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
STELLALUNA
(Required)
ISBN9780152802172
AuthorCANNON
Edition
PublisherHARCOURT
MSRP
$17.00
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Alberto Salas Plays Paka Paka con la Papa
(Required)
ISBN9781250838612
AuthorSara Andrea Fajardo & Juana Ma
Edition
PublisherRoaring Brook Press
MSRP
$16.31
How We Share Cake
(Required)
ISBN9781957363851
AuthorKim Hyo-eun
Editiontranslated by Deborah Smith
PublisherScribble Publishing
MSRP
$18.55
HATE THAT CAT
(Required)
ISBN9780061430947
AuthorCREECH
Edition
PublisherHARP/COLL
MSRP
$5.99
NIKKI & DEJA
(Required)
ISBN9780547133621
AuthorENGLISH
Edition
PublisherGRAPHIA
MSRP
$4.99
IVY & BEAN
(Required)
ISBN9780811849098
AuthorBARROWS
Edition
PublisherCHRONICLE
MSRP
$5.99
We Are Water Protectors
(Required)
ISBN9781250203557
AuthorLindstrom
Edition
Publisher
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic
(Required)
ISBN9780593377796
AuthorCandace Fleming Deena So'oteh
Edition
PublisherRandom House
MSRP
$17.48
BLACK & WHITE
(Required)
ISBN9780618636877
AuthorMACAULAY
Edition
PublisherHM TR
MSRP
$7.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Cherries and Cherry Pits
(Required)
ISBN9780688104788
AuthorWilliams
Edition
PublisherGreenwillow
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
HAROLD & THE PURPLE CRAYON
(Required)
ISBN9780064430227
AuthorJOHNSON
Edition
PublisherHARP/COLL
MSRP
$6.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Alphabet City
(Required)
ISBN9780140559040
AuthorJohnson
Edition
PublisherPuffin
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
(Required)
ISBN9780689835681
AuthorMartin
Edition
PublisherBeach Lane
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
SNOWY DAY
(Required)
ISBN9780140501827
AuthorKEATS
Edition
PublisherPENGUIN
MSRP
$7.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Make Way for Ducklings
(Required)
ISBN9780140564341
AuthorMcCloskey
Edition
PublisherPuffin
MSRP
N/A
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
LITTLE HOUSE
(Required)
ISBN9780395259382
AuthorBURTON
Edition
PublisherHM TR
MSRP
$7.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
WE ARE IN A BOOK!
(Required)
ISBN9781423133087
AuthorWILLEMS
Edition
PublisherHYPERION
MSRP
$8.99
The Classic Fairy Tales
(Required)
ISBN9780393602975
AuthorTatar
Edition
PublisherNorton
MSRP
N/A
STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID
(Required)
ISBN9780670844876
AuthorSCIESZKA
Edition
PublisherVIKING
MSRP
$17.99
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book
Little Brown Essential Handbook
(Recommended)
ISBN9780134515212
AuthorAaron
Edition
PublisherPearson
MSRP
N/A
RUBY LU, BRAVE & TRUE
(Required)
ISBN9781416913894
AuthorLOOK
Edition
PublisherS&S
MSRP
$5.99
FROG & TOAD ARE FRIENDS LEVEL 2
(Required)
ISBN9780064440202
AuthorLOBEL
Edition
PublisherHARP/COLL
MSRP
$3.99
LING & TING: NOT EXACTLY THE SAME
(Required)
ISBN9780316024532
AuthorLIN
Edition
PublisherLB
MSRP
$3.99
Julian at the Wedding
(Required)
ISBN9781536212389
AuthorLove, Jessica
Edition
PublisherCandlewick
MSRP
$10.23
NotesTextbook/Material Note: Picture book