Educator's Companion to Children's Literature

This comprehensive resource guide offers educators practical strategies for integrating five major literary genres into upper elementary and middle school curriculum. Sharron L. McElmeel provides detailed book recommendations, related title lists, and classroom-ready activities that connect children's literature to thematic learning units. The volume serves as a valuable teaching tool for librarians and teachers working with fourth through sixth grade students, offering concrete ways to make literature relevant across subject areas. Each genre section includes thoughtful discussion prompts and extension ideas that help young readers develop deeper connections to texts.

What distinguishes this professional resource is its balanced approach between theoretical framework and immediately applicable classroom strategies. The genre-based organization allows educators to quickly locate relevant materials for specific instructional needs, while the activity suggestions promote both literacy skills and content knowledge. Teachers seeking to refresh their literature curriculum or librarians building genre studies will find particularly useful guidance here. This companion ultimately empowers educators to create more engaging, literature-rich learning environments that help intermediate students discover the joy and educational value of diverse reading experiences.