Children’s Literature: Internet Resources on Literature for Children with Learning Disabilities
There are a multitude of websites featuring children’s literature on the
Internet. The purpose of this directory is to help parents and teachers
locate literature which would be of interest specifically to children with
learning disabilities. Although literature for other special
needs children can be found on some of these web pages, this directory focuses
primarily on Internet bibliographies of books for children with learning
disabilities. The goal of this directory is to sort through the numerous
websites and to provide the reader quick access to those websites pertaining
to literature for children with learning disabilities. In addition,
Internet resources are provided for those who are interested in other literacy
media for children who learn differently – audio books, videos, and books
on computer software.
Booklists
- Bibliotherapy – Fiction books for Children with Learning Disabilities
This resource is provided by LD Online, a service of the Learning Project
at WETA, Washington D.C., in association with the Coordinated Campaign for
Learning Disabilities. “Bibliotherapy is the use of literature to help
heal the emotional wounds of being different. Many students with learning
disabilities struggle with a variety of problems. Reading about characters
who have the same problems and struggles may help the student come face to
face with themselves. Reading can be like attending a support group. For
example, students may gain insight into difficulties; they may acquire information
that may help them cope with their problems. Hopefully, they may be motivated
to persevere. Most importantly, they learn that they are not alone.”
A short list of suggestions for using bibliotherapy is given. This is an archived web page.
- Books for Kids about Learning Differences
This resource is provided by The Greenwood School, a preparatory boarding
school for boys with dyslexia and related language disorders, and The Greenwood
Institute, offering teacher training and a home schooling support program
for teachers and parents of students with dyslexia and related disorders.
This is an archived web page.
- Children’s Books About Disabilities
This resource is provided by ERIC, Educational Resources Information Center.
The web site contains a list of books recommended for children with disabilities.
A key is given indicating reading levels for books to be read by adults to
children, juvenile easy readers, juvenile fiction, young adult books and
adult books. A story profile is provided.
- A Guide to Children’s Literature and Disability 1989-1994
This resource is a comprehensive bibliography covering books published between
1989 and 1994 and is provided by the National Information Center for Children
and Youth with Disabilities, Washington, D.C. This bibliography is intended
to help parents and professionals identify books that are written about or
include characters who have a disability. The list is grouped according the
following disabilities: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
blindness, cerebral palsy, deafness, learning disabilities, serious or life-threatening
conditions, physical disabilities, and other disabilities. Additional information
about what disability or what the main theme is may be indicated in parentheses.
Books have designated codes which represent an age or grade level.
- High Interest / Low Reading Level Books
This resource is provided by The Logan Library (Utah). Reading
and interest level notations are taken from The Elementary School Library
Collection (21st Ed.). The Logan Library’s list of easy-to-read books
for reluctant readers includes interesting novels for Grades 3-5.
- Resources You Can Use-Children’s Literature and Disability
This resource is provided by the National Information Center for Children
and Youth with Learning Disabilities, Washington, DC. The purpose of
this list is to help provide parents and professionals with books that are
written or include characters who have a disability. This list is grouped
according to disability or issue. Age/grade level is noted in parentheses.
A list of publishers is provided (in alphabetical order) at the end of this
document.
- Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
This resource is provided by the Young Adult Library Services Association
(YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). YALSA
compiles an annual list of recommended books and releases the list at its
ALA Midwinter Meeting. This site gives links to the selections made
from 1996-2007. This year’s 2007 Quick Picks contains eighty
titles on the list and the books were published late 2005 through 2006. Thirty of the titles are non-fiction and forty-six are fiction. The Quick
Picks Committee seeks books that “teens, ages twelve to eighteen, will pick
up on their own and read for pleasure. The list is geared to the teenager
who, for whatever reason, does not like to read. Teen input is a vital aspect
in the final decision of the committee. The visual appearance of a book and
the standard considerations in the quality of content is equally important
when selecting books for reluctant young readers. The list is not intended
for teenagers with reading disabilities, though some of the selected titles
may be appropriate for those teens.” A link is also provided to a list
of books nominated for 2004.
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Books on Cassette Tapes/Software
- Accessible Book Collection-Providing Digital Text to Persons with Disabilities
This resource is provided by the Accessible Book Collection, a non-profit
corporation. It is a subscription based program which provides books online
or by download. “Our primary mission is to provide high interest/low
reading level digital text to qualified persons with disabilities. Government
and non-profit schools and others can subscribe to the Accessible Book Collection
and have a large selection of e-books for all their eligible students for
one low price.” The site lists accelerated reading lists, complete
title inventory, and recently acquired titles.
- Audiobooks for Young Adults
This resource is provided by the Audio Book and Media Exploration Committee
of the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of American Library
Association, ALA. This committee compiles an annual list of recommended
titles of audio books for young adults. Links are provided for the 1999-2007.
Selection is based on “their appeal to a teen audience, the quality of their
recording, and because they enhance the audience’s appreciation of any written
work on which they may be based. While the list as a whole addresses the
interests and needs of young adults ranging in age from 12 to 18, individual
titles may appeal to parts of that range rather than to its whole.”
- 2007 Notable Children’s Recordings
This resource is provided by the Notable Children’s Recordings Committee,
a division of the American Library Association (ALA). Titles are selected
annually by a committee of librarians and educators from across the country.
The length of the recording is noted and whether it is available on cassette
or compact disc.
- 2007 Notable Children’s Videos
This resource is provided by the Notable Children’s Video Committee, a division
of the American Library Association (ALA). Titles are selected annually
by a committee of librarians and educators from across the country on “the
basis of their originality, creativity, and suitability for young children.
The members select materials that respect both children's intelligence and
imagination, exhibit venturesome creativity, and encourage the interests
of users.” The length of the video, age level, and phone number for
ordering is given.
- RFB&D: Learning Through Listening
This resource is provided by Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, a nonprofit organization. It is the nation's largest educational library serving people who cannot effectively read standard print because of a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability.
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Additional Resources
- Learning to Read Resources for Language Arts and Reading Research
This resource is a home page provided by John Nemes. It is a comprehensive
web page with links to numerous other sites providing additional resources
on literacy, critical issues, research, interactive lessons, virtual literature,
professional organizations and publications, book publishers and authors,
listservs, and recommended books to read.
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