Critical Literacy

Critical Literacy Books ?

2012-11-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

Children’s literature has played a major role in elementary school classrooms for years. The widespread use of literature across the school curricula has created multiple opportunities for children and their teachers to interact with these literacy texts in a variety of ways, including critically reading and analyzing books with an eye for how those texts work to position readers in particular ways.

The take on critical literacy presented here is not about the books per se but about creating opportunities for critical conversations and making available different social positionings for students as they engage with texts: Social position considers how peers perceive each other and themselves as members of a community. (Vasquez, 2010)

On this site are reviews of books from the Larissa Gerstel Critical Literacy collection at American University in Washington DC. The reviews take the form of podcasts created by my undergraduate and graduate students at American U. Please feel free to browse, listen and enjoy!

Vivian Vasquez

Vasquez, V.(2010). Getting Beyong I Like the Book: Creating Spaces for Critical Literacy in K-6 Settings. Newark,DE: International Reading Association.

A Mango in the Hand

2012-11-07T23:27:00.000-08:00

By Paul B.

Horton Hatches the Egg

2012-11-07T23:14:00.000-08:00

By Sarah K.

The Horse and His Boy

2012-11-07T23:04:00.001-08:00

By Nathan T.

Big Red Lollipop

2012-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

By Alex C.

The Ugly Duckling Dinosaur

2012-11-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

By Mark P.

Heather Has Two Mommies

2012-11-07T20:25:00.000-08:00

By Marley

Are You My Mother?

2012-11-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

By Stacia

Rich Cat Poor Cat

2012-11-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

By Katie C.

Because of Winn Dixie

2012-11-07T20:16:00.000-08:00

By Taylor E.

Hooray for Diffendoofer Day!

2012-11-07T20:11:00.000-08:00

By Geleisa

The Quite Contrary Man: A True American Tale

2012-11-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

By Claire D.

Frog Went A-Courtin'

2012-11-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

By Sarah S.

Africa Brothers and Sisters

2012-11-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

By Dominique

The Giver

2012-11-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

By Lauren M.

Ruth and the Green Book

2012-11-07T20:00:00.002-08:00

By Kathryn

Caterina, the Clever Farm Girl

2012-11-07T20:00:00.001-08:00

By Amanda H.

Creativity

2012-11-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

By Magana

The Black Snowman

2012-11-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

By Keia

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series By Jeff Kinney

2012-04-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

A Podcast by Dan
Click here for a review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid
or use the player below.

For more on critical literacy go to
www.vivianvasquez.com or
www.clippodcast.com

Skinny By Ibi Kaslik

2012-03-19T13:48:00.007-07:00

A Podcast By Kelcie

Click here for a review of Skinny
or use the player below.

For more on critical literacy go to
www.vivianvasquez.com or
www.clippodcast.com

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie By Laura Numeroff

2012-03-18T23:07:00.009-07:00

A Podcast by Liam Click here for a review of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
or use the player below.

For more on critical literacy go to
www.vivianvasquez.com or
www.clippodcast.com

The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang

2012-03-18T22:13:00.012-07:00

A podcast by Danielle.

Click here for a review of Popularity Papers
or use the player below.

For more on critical literacy go to
www.vivianvasquez.com or
www.clippodcast.com

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys By Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard

2012-03-17T22:57:00.003-07:00

A Podcast By Sari S.Click here for a review of Virgie Goes to School

For more on critical literacy go to
www.vivianvasquez.com or
www.clippodcast.com

Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa By Jeanette Winter

2012-03-17T22:47:00.002-07:00

A Podcast By Maddie Click here to listen to a review of Wangari's Trees
or use the player below.

For more on critical literacy go to
www.vivianvasquez.com or
www.clippodcast.com