A Hotlist on Australian Children's Literature

A Hotlist on Australian Children's Literature
An Internet Hotlist on Australian Children's Literature

created by Martin Dawson

Introduction

In addition to using books and magazines to find out about Australian Children's Literature, why not also use the power of the Internet? The links below will get you started.
The New South Wales 7-10 English Syllabus that comes into action in 2004 stresses the need for students to be able to use 'information literacy' as well as Reading, Writing , Listening and Speaking. This hotlist is designed to assist teachers in focusing onto the internet as a teaching tool. Sites are chosen to assist teaching skills of searching and assessing on the net, and also as a start point for locating resources to analyse Australian children's literature and assist with writing of their own literature.

The Internet Resources

Internet Skills

21st Century Literacies Home Page - This site offers a series of lessons designed to teach students information literacy. It also offers links to search engines along with tips on how to use them. Very suitable for the teacher who wishes to develop student's ability to use the internet effectively.

Publishers of Australian Childrens Books

Pan Macmillan Publishers - This site offers teachers notes for their authors, profiles/biographies of their authors, and notes on how the some of their authors write their books. The site also has information on submissions for writers and connects to pandemonium a site specific to children,s authors. A caveat here, as with most publishers the site is trying to sell a product and will thus be biased in favour of its own products. Australian authors here include Morris Gleitzman, Andy Griffiths and John Marsden. The Teacher Notes for Andy Griffiths included worksheets that test reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking for each of his books.
Scholastic Publishing, Australia - Another publisher of Australian children's books. Scholastic offers author profiles which include links to the author's website. For teachers Scholastic offers professional development tutorials and dates of seminars(that the teacher must pay for). Also for students and teachers are notes on how to get published, a classroom magazine and a Kid Zone section. Parents are also catered for with a parent magazine. Overall a good resource for teachers and students up to year 8.
Allen and Unwin Publishing - Another commercial publisher's site. Allen and Unwin offers the usual author profiles, extracts from novels and information on purchasing the materials. Where Allen and Unwin is different is in their Student resources section. This section includes tips on Time Management, Oral Presentations, Writing Essays, Writing Reports, Reading Effectively and Using Your Computer. This area can easily be adapted as a source for teacher lessons. The Teacher resources include briefings on the books- these are especially useful in covering the writing process and influences on the author. The site also rates books for Primary, Middle or Secondary students. Another useful option is the Thematic Search that will choose books suitable for different units of work in the classroom. This is a very 'user friendly' site for teachers but you will need to carefully review the site before use.

How to Write/Kids Sites

About Com. Creative Writing For Teens - Creative Writing For Teens is a list of sites aimed at teenagers(American teenagers). This is a high interest site with lots of tips and ideas for writing short stories. The site also has links to other writing sites that aim to develop specific skills to improve student storywriting e.g. Figurative Language. This site would be especially useful to stimulate students to begin writing their own stories in a Short Story Writing Unit . An easy to navigate site that suits students for Years 6-11.
Robin's Nest - Robin's Nest is a site aimed at the teacher. It offers checklists for story writing that are clear, short and suitable for adaption into classroom notes. This site connects to other tips and ideas but has not been updated since May 1996 and may be out of touch with changes in thinking in following years,
Yarra Melbourne Regional Library Kids Site - Yarra Melbourne Regional Library Kids Site is a site specifically aimed at children up to Year 11. The site is easy to use and kid friendly with sections on Australian authors and books as well as Australian reference sites. It also has sections on international authors and books as well as International reference sites. Yarra Melbourne Regional Library Kids Site offers booklists and reviews of books aimed at the specific audience for the books. This site is very well presented and run by librarians who obviously have consulted their target audience. Some teacher supervision is needed as Games are available online. This site also offers students the option of asking for a librarian's assistance in researching a topic online. Last updated 14/3/2003.
Annenberg CPB Learner. Org - The Annenberg CPB Learner. Org site offers notes on short story elements of plot development, constructing plot and constructing character. These notes are short and easy to read. As practical suggestions or a 'how to' they will assist in the development of any students short story writing.

Teachers Resources

Children's Book Council Of Australia - The Children's Book Council Of Australia site lists notable Australian chidren's books for 2003. It also offers links for author visits or online workshops. Unlike some other sites the Children's Book Council Of Australia site also includes information on book covers and illustrators. Another section deals with Getting Published in a simple practicable way. Links are also included to awards won by books and author sites. This site is especially useful in directing students towards 'quality' reading and could be used to creat reading lists for a class or research assignment on an Australian author, illustrator or book.
Australian Authors and Illustrators - The Australian Authors and Illustrators site is a useful site for teachers seeking resources. It offers lists and links to authors and illustrators nominated for awards, including the Children's Book Of The Year Award. The information on each author and illustrator includes biographies, information on how the author writes or illustrates his/her books and any awards won by the author/illustrator. Specifically for teachers are ideas for writing based on the author's books, frequently asked questions about the author and a What's New section that was last updated on 5/11/2002. A good site for teachers setting students a research assignment on an Australian author or illustrator.
Australian Shool Library Association (nsw) Inc. Australian Authors and Illustrators for Young People. - The Australian Shool Library Association (ASLA) site is a very well organised and easy to use site for teachers of literature. It includes information on Australian authors and illustrators and offers links to each author's home site. Several authors include teacher notes prepared by teacher librarians for other teachers. This site also offers multiple sites for authors so that a more detailed research into authors is possible. The site also includes authors shortlisted for the CBC awards for 2002/2003. The site is current and is updated monthly. A very useful site for teachers.
University Southern Queensland Library - The University Southern Queensland Library site offers reviews of children's books including their suitability for the classroom. The site also offers a history of pictre books and notes on illustrating books. Also included are biographies and bibliographies for authors and illustrators. For more serious research their are Teacher Guides including ERIC digests. This section is aimed at the higher level of teacher pedagogy.

Author Sites

Paul Jennings Home Site - The Paul Jennings Home Site is aimed at readers of Paul Jenning's books. It includes a biography,news, games and links to four different sites on his books and interests. It also includes interviews about how Paul writes his books. Mostly suitable for students in Years 6-8.
Morris Gleitzman Home Page - The Morris Gleitzman Home Page is a very kids friendly site. It includes an About morris page giving a humorous biography and Freaquently Asked Questions that are answered by the author. The site also includes chapters from Morris's books, a monthly newsletter to his readers and competitions that readers can enter. On the whole this is a well stuctured , up to date site that would be a high interest area for any interested readre of morris Gleitzman's books or short stories.
Libby Gleeson Home Page - The Libby Gleeson Home Page is very easy to use and is especially suitable for students. It offers the standard author bniography and Frequently Asked questions.for teachers the site offers information on the books content, how the books were written and Libby's thoughts on how she develops character in her writing. The site also offers links to other Australian writers, publishers and organisations. Any teacher about to undertake an author study of Libby Gleeson or even the study of a single novel will find this site a godsend of relevant, easy to use information.

Content by Martin Dawson, teach@hunterlink.net.au
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/listaustralma.html
Last revised Mon Nov 24 19:58:13 US/Pacific 2003