ENGL 3703 - Literature for Young Children
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 40461,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Terry Benton
Email: tdbenton@ysu.edu
Course Description
3703. Literature for Young Children. Study of the development of children's literature, giving the prospective elementary teacher criteria for evaluating books for children. Required of all elementary education candidates. Prereq.: Completion of ENGL 1551 with grade "C" or better. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Essentials of Children's Literature, 10th edition | Kathy G. Short & Desireé W. Cueto | 9780137451418 |
| Required | Ramona Quimby, Age 8 | Beverly Cleary | 9780380709564 |
| Required | Doctor De Soto | William Steig | 9780312611897 |
| Required | Blizzard | John Rocco | 9781423178651 |
| Required | Chester's Way | Kevin Henkes | 9780688154721 |
| Required | Julius, the Baby of the World | Kevin Henkes | 9780688143886 |
| Required | Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse | Kevin Henkes | 978066128975 |
| Required | The Blue House | Phoebe Wahl | 9781984893369 |
| Required | The Little House | Virgina Lee Burton | 9781328741943 |
| Required | Charlotte's Web | E. B. White | 9780064400558 |
| Required | Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White | Melissa Sweet | 9780358137290 |
| Required | Juana and Lucas | Juana Medina | 9781536206395 |
| Required | El Deafo | Cece Bell | 9781419712173 |
| Required | Moses Goes to a Concert | Isaac Millman | 978374453664 |
| Required | A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms | Paul B. Janeczko | 978076341320 |
| Required | Student-selected children's books, as assigned | ||
| Required | Supplemental online resources will be posted in the appropriate modules on Blackboard |
The focus of this course is literature for young children from birth through grade three, so the books are necessarily short and include many picture books. Required children's books can be purchased from the university bookstore or borrowed from a library.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Textbook, Chapter 1: Connecting to the Value of Story | Introduction to Course | Introduction Discussion Week 1 Discussion Goodreads Setup Assignment Final Assignment - Question 1 |
| 8/31 | Textbook, Chapter 2: Connecting Children with Literature Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary (chapter book) Textbook, Chapter 10: Realistic Fiction |
Connecting Children with Literature Realistic Fiction Ramona Quimby, Age 8 |
Week 2 Discussion |
| 9/7 | Textbook, Chapter 2 (continued) Textbook: Appendix A: Children's Book Awards |
Connecting Children with Literature (continued) | Week 3 Discussion Begin Book Selection Assignment Part One (Due September 20) |
| 9/14 | Textbook, Chapter 2 (continued) Textbook, Appendix A (continued) |
Connecting Children with Literature (continued) | Week 4 Discussion Book Selection Assignment Part One Final Assignment - Question 2 |
| 9/21 | Textbook, Chapter 3: Learning about Literary Elements Doctor De Soto by William Steig (picture book) Blizzard by John Rocco (picture book) Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes (picture book) Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes (picture book) Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (picture book) Links to online resources will be posted on Blackboard |
Learning about Literary Elements | Week 5 Discussion Literary Elements Assignment |
| 9/28 | Textbook, Chapter 3 (continued) Textbook, Chapter 4: Learning about Illustration and Visual Elements The Blue House by Phoebe Wahl (picture book) The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (picture book) Links to online resources will be posted on Blackboard Children's picture books from the week of 9/21 (continued) |
Learning about Literary Elements (continued) Learning about Illustration and Visual Elements |
Week 6 Discussion Book Research Assignment |
| 10/5 | Textbook, Chapter 4 (continued) Textbook, Chapter 6: Picturebooks Links to online resources will be posted on Blackboard Children's picture books from the weeks of 9/21 and 9/28 (continued) |
Learning about Literary Elements (continued) Learning about Illustration and Visual Elements (continued) |
Week 7 Discussion Illustration Assignment |
| 10/12 | No new readings Continue readings from the weeks of 9/21, 9/28, and 10/5, as needed to complete assignments |
Learning about Literary Elements (continued) Learning about Illustration and Visual Elements (continued) |
Work on Book Selection Assignment Part Two (Due at end of semester) |
| 10/19 | Charlotte's Web by E. B. White (chapter book) Textbook, Pages 73-75: Understanding the Categories of Literature Textbook, Chapter 9: Fantasy and Science Fiction |
Charlotte's Web Categories of Literature Fantasy and Science Fiction |
Week 9 Discussion |
| 10/26 | Charlotte's Web (continued) Some Writer!: The Story of E. B. White by Melissa Sweet (biography) Textbook, Chapter 12: Nonfiction and Biography |
Biography Charlotte's Web (continued) |
Week 10 Discussion Begin working on Picture Book Analysis assignment (Due November 24) |
| 11/2 | Textbook, Chapter 13: Literature in the Curriculum Textbook, Chapter 5: Learning about Diversity through Literature Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina (chapter book) |
Literature in the Curriculum Learning about Diversity through Literature Juana and Lucas |
Week 11 Discussion Continue working on Picture Book Analysis Assignment (Due November 24) |
| 11/9 | El Deafo by Cece Bell (graphic novel) Moses Goes to a Concert by Isaac Millman (picture book) Links to online resources will be posted on Blackboard |
El Deafo | Week 12 Discussion Evaluation Assignment Continue working on Picture Book Analysis (Due November 24) |
| 11/16 | Textbook, Chapter 7: Poetry A Kick in the Head: An Everyday Guide to Poetic Forms, edited by Jack Prelutsky (poetry collection) Links to online resources will be posted on Blackboard |
Poetry | Week 14 Discussion Poetry Assignment Final Assignment - Question 3 |
| 11/23 | No new readings | Picture Book Analysis | Picture Book Analysis |
| 11/30 | Textbook, Chapter 8: Traditional Literature Links to online resources will be posted on Blackboard |
Traditional Literature | Week 15 Discussion End of Semester Discussion Book Selection Assignment Part Two |
| 12/7 | No new readings | Final Assignment | Final Assignment due December 9 |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.