Hello Everyone

For my advanced children’s literature class this summer, I researched three eBook resources. Below are my findings.

• The intuitive use of the International Children’s Digital Library (ICDL) is somewhat difficult. Users should select desired language before using any buttons around the edges of the Simple Search site, such as length, characters, cover color, age group, or type. I first started to read a book with kid characters in the Persian language, without any English translation, so I chose English as the only language I wanted and found Titoy’s Magical Chair, a book with both English and Filipino/Tagalog text on each page, which details the wonderful imaginary adventures of a boy in a wheelchair and his friend. It was difficult to read the book since it did not let me enlarge any of the text in either language. Children with friends who have physical needs, children with physical needs, such as wheelchair transportation, and children who read Filipino/Tagalog or English would enjoy this book. It fits into the English language arts curriculum or the AASL library curriculum by providing students opportunities to make text-to-self and text-to-world connections with learning how to be friends with someone potentially very different than themselves. Since the mission of the database is to support “the world’s children in becoming effective members of the global community – who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages, and ideas – by making the best in children’s literature available free of charge” (as cited in Hintz & Tribunella, p. 181), use of the database by children to understand other communities around the world would support the various missions of the website, schools, and library media centers. The database would also help children have access to materials in their first languages that might not be available in print in a school library media center.
• The four reading sections of Starfall all provide intuitive access to several eBooks of developmentally appropriate levels, with navigability between books and within them highlighted through the use of a green arrow pointing backwards or forward. The ABC books, for instance, each focus on a letter of the alphabet, give students the sound and reads words to them that have the sound with accompanying pictures of the objects named. This format is an example of today’s “concept book” in which a picture of an object is placed next to the words representing that object” (Hintz & Tribunella, 2013, p. 162). These eBooks fit into various areas of the English language arts curriculum and the AALS standards, particularly the early elementary focus on kindergarten and first grade on phonemic awareness and language usage. Starfall supports pre-readers with language acquisition, early readers with correct usage, and older readers with exposure to a variety of topics and genres.  When I have observed and assisted students using Starfall, they enjoy the materials available and are engaged in navigating the online environment. These online books at Starfall give students opportunities to hear words spoken, which is not available in the more traditional eBooks through the Kindle or Nook stores for older readers.
• I learned Epic! offers free educator accounts! For most school library media centers, this resource might be preferable to paying for myOn for purchasing eBooks from Follett. The library media specialist would need to set up accounts for each teacher and add students to their teachers’ accounts. The only down-side I see is the “school only” access. If students want to access the books at home, their parents have to subscribe to the service for the $5 per month, and there is no communication between students’ classroom accounts or home accounts. Acting like the “Netflix of children’s books,” as I have sometimes seen Epic! advertised through Pinterest, recommendations are personalized based on interests and reading habits, with 36 student accounts to every free teacher account. It features numerous popular titles, even some Newberry and Caldecott award-winners! Some books have “read to me” options and there are even books in Spanish. Epic! can be used on computers and devices that run on an IOS or Android operating system. I totally love the school-wide use options there might be for this resource.

Enthusiastically,

Ms. Tyler

Reference

Hintz, C. & Tribunella, E. L. (2013). Reading children’s literature: A critical introduction. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins.