Internet resources
for teaching and sharing literature and author studies

With all the wonderful children’s literature books available today, reading has something enjoyable to offer every child. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a child excited about reading when he or she discovers a great book. As teachers, we have the opportunity to expand students’ abilities and view of the world by providing them with the interest and skills to become good readers. eThemes has an extensive list of resources of more than 150 titles of children’s literature as well as more than 40 different author studies. From first grade to high school, there is something for everyone! These resources provide information about the book, content, time period and author. They are complete units for teaching literature.

eThemes Resources provide Web sites around specific themes. These theme topics are combinations of several different Web sites that provide teachers useful information such as background information, lesson plans, graphics, media, activities, quizzes, etc. Since there are more than 1,000 eThemes topics in our database, you can search several topics that will fit your own teaching and students’ learning. Below are a few links to eThemes Resources that can help teachers put together units with several learning activities and information around literature.

Literature: Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001584.shtml
These Web sites are about the book Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko. You’ll find reviews, activity ideas and discussion questions. There are also resources on several themes, including autism, Al Capone and Alcatraz. Find out how real children felt about living on Alcatraz.

Literature: Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan
www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001403.shtml
Find summaries and reviews of the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Read the biography and an interview with the author. Learn about Mexico, the Mexican Revolution, the Great Depression, migrant workers and labor camps. These Web sites include photographs, maps, video files, a lesson plan and a quiz.

Literature: Holes by Louis Sachar
www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000542.shtml
Find information about the book, suggested classroom activities, discussion questions and online quizzes. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on author Louis Sachar.

Author Study: Gary Paulsen
www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001391.shtml
These Web sites are about author Gary Paulsen and his books. You’ll find biographical information, interviews, lesson plans, activity ideas and book reviews. There is also a booklist of adventure stories for teens. Many of the Web sites and lesson plans deal with the common Paulsen theme of survival.

Author Study: Lois Lowry
www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00001801.shtml
These Web sites are about author Lois Lowry. Included are biographies, interviews with the author and bibliographies. There is information about her memoir, “Looking Back.” View a video clip of Lowry talking about the art of writing and read the text of her Newbery acceptance speech for the book The Giver. There are links to eTheme Resources on Lowry’s books The Giver and Number the Stars.

Any educator can access eThemes resources at www.emints.org/ethemes. Official eMINTS teachers (www.emints.org/about/policies/teacher.shtml) and library media specialists in their schools may request new eThemes topics using a convenient online form. Next, eThemes Resource scouts, who are University of Missouri-Columbia graduate students trained in navigating the Internet, search for child-safe, age-appropriate Web sites about the topic. Scouts write a short description about sites matching the requested criteria. The eThemes coordinator double checks the sites and assigns related educational standards to the new resource. The new eThemes resource is then entered into the online database for all users to access. Currently, there are more than 1,000 eThemes on topics ranging from Africa to Yellowstone National Park. The links within eThemes Resources have been checked for their grade and age appropriateness. Because links on the Web change frequently, teachers are advised to review all links before introducing them to students.

By Laura Diggs, Ph.D.
University of Missouri-Columbia College of Education