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- CIED 3133: Children's Literature
- Contemporary Realism
CIED 3133: Children's Literature: Contemporary Realism
Resources for educators who use children's literature with elementary and middle schoolers.
How Do I Find Contemporary Realism?
To see if the library has a book, you can go to the OSU Library Catalog online and put the title or subject into the search box. Once you have done a search, you can narrow your results by using the options on the left side of the screen.
In the ETL, Contemporary Realism can be found in the jE or jF sections. Contemporary Realism focuses on real life situations such as dealing with parents, friends, social norms, etc.
The ETL has many bibliographies of different genres and subjects available for you to use if you need a suggested title.
Your textbook also has lists of high-quality children's books. You can search the catalog to see if the ETL has a title you need.
Examples of Contemporary Realism
All Are Welcome by Call Number: jE PenISBN: 9780525579649Publication Date: 2018-07-10Join the call for a better world with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. The perfect back-to-school read for every kid, family and classroom!
In our classroom safe and sound. Fears are lost and hope is found. Discover a school where all young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated. Readers will follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
Blackout by Call Number: jE RocISBN: 9781423121909Publication Date: 2011-05-24One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, "Mommm!" His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can't work on her computer, and Dad can't finish cooking dinner. What's a family to do? When they go up to the roof to escape the heat, they find the lights--in stars that can be seen for a change--and so many neighbors it's like a block party in the sky! On the street below, people are having just as much fun--talking, rollerblading, and eating ice cream before it melts. The boy and his family enjoy being not so busy for once. They even have time to play a board game together. When the electricity is restored, everything can go back to normal . . . but not everyone likes normal. The boy switches off the lights, and out comes the board game again.
Using a combination of panels and full bleed illustrations that move from color to black-and-white and back to color, John Rocco shows that if we are willing to put our cares aside for a while, there is party potential in a summer blackout.
Coquí in the City by Call Number: jE PerISBN: 9780593109038Publication Date: 2021-03-16A heartfelt picture book based on the author-illustrator's own experiences, about a boy who moves to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico and realizes that New York City might have more in common with San Juan than he initially thought.
Miguel's pet frog, Coquí, is always with him: as he greets his neighbors in San Juan, buys quesitos from the panadería, and listens to his abuelo's story about meeting baseball legend Roberto Clemente. Then Miguel learns that he and his parents are moving to the U.S. mainland, which means leaving his beloved grandparents, home in Puerto Rico, and even Coquí behind. Life in New York City is overwhelming, with unfamiliar buildings, foods, and people. But when he and Mamá go exploring, they find a few familiar sights that remind them of home, and Miguel realizes there might be a way to keep a little bit of Puerto Rico with him--including the love he has for Coquí--wherever he goes.
Hula-Hoopin' Queen by Call Number: jE GodISBN: 9781600608469Publication Date: 2014-06-03Kameeka is confident that today she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin' Queen of 139th Street. But then Mama reminds her that today is their neighbour Miz Adeline's birthday, and Kameeka has to get ready for the party they are hosting. But then Miz Adeline's confesses something too: she's also got the itch - the hula-hoopin' itch! Her fingers start snappin'. Her hips start swingin'. Soon everyone's hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street. The whole neighbourhood's got the itch - the hula-hoopin' itch!
Last Stop on Market Street by Call Number: jE DeLISBN: 9780399257742Publication Date: 2015-01-08Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don't own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn't he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty and fun in their routine and the world around them. This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena's vibrant text and Christian Robinson's radiant illustrations.
Wonder Walkers by Call Number: jE ArcISBN: 9780593109649Publication Date: 2021-03-30A Caldecott Honor winner! Micha Archer's gorgeous, detailed collages give readers a fresh outlook on the splendors of nature.
When two curious kids embark on a "wonder walk," they let their imaginations soar as they look at the world in a whole new light. They have thought-provoking questions for everything they see: Is the sun the world's light bulb? Is dirt the world's skin? Are rivers the earth's veins? Is the wind the world breathing? I wonder... Young readers will wonder too, as they ponder these gorgeous pages and make all kinds of new connections. What a wonderful world indeed!
