Analyzing Children’s Literature for Literacy Development

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It is important to understand:
Young students benefit when teachers choose quality materials with characteristics that support reading.
The inherent value of books for both general reading and classroom use.
The power of these books is to affirm lived experience, create empathy, catalyze conversations, and respect childhood questions, challenges, and emotions.
In your final Capstone presentation, it is also vital that you include how you would utilize the books you have selected in the classroom for pre-literacy and/or literacy skill development. Please show your understanding of how the interaction of reader characteristics, motivation, purpose of reading, and text elements impacts comprehension and student engagement.
Instructions
The Capstone presentation should include an extensive analysis/examination of three books from your bibliography and should be 10–15 slides in length with embedded voice-over or video. Your Capstone presentation may be created in PowerPoint or Prezi or uploaded as a video into ARC in our Canvas course (if uploaded into ARC as a video, you must provide a brief, supplemental supporting document). The presentation will be a continuation of your annotated bibliography, which focused on one of the following topics:
Multicultural picture books and types of cultural differences (example: books portraying children with disabilities, African-American children’s books, books on culture-based holidays, Latin America, other counties, etc.);
Books that address current social issues (example: divorce, death, terminal illness, bullying, nighttime fears, events of 9/11, etc.);
Media and audiovisuals that present children’s literature (example: Peter Rabbit cartoon, children’s book apps, voice recordings of children’s books using celebrities, etc.); or,
Children’s poetry (example: Where the Sidewalk Ends, poems by A.A. Milne, poems by Christina Rossetti, Mother Goose rhymes, etc.).
Your analysis in the Capstone presentation should include these elements:
Selection of three books, media, or poetry from your bibliography:
Describe the style of illustrations
Describe the author’s writing style
Utilize literary terms in your analysis, such as theme, tone, point of view, plot, etc., and descriiption of character
Mention any background information you have found about the author or illustrator
Examine how early childhood education teachers can use these children’s book examples in the classroom. Specifically, include ways to teach or strategies you would use to share each of the books you selected, including how you would present each story in class/circle time (dramatization, puppet play, felt boards, audiovisual equipment, props, etc).
Reference three scholarly resources (this can include our textbook) when presenting each book selection. Please include a References page.
For example, in Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats, research from a 1991 article in Children’s Literature Association Quarterly by W. Nikola-Lisa entitled “The Image of the Child in the Picture Books of Ezra Jack Keats” mentions that many different archetypes of children can be found in Keats’s works–the divine child, the nature child, magical child, etc.
Another example: in examining The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, Fresch and Harrison (2013) state that instruction that supports learning while having a fun romp through language is sure to entice even the most reluctant learner (p.3). Children’s author and illustrator Karla Kuskin (1996) noted, “If there was a recipe for a poem, these would be the ingredients: word sounds, rhythm, descriiption, feeling, memory, rhyme, and imagination. They can be put together a thousand different ways, a thousand, thousand…more” (p. 17).
Note how each book supports reading and literacy or pre-literacy characteristics. (HINT: use chapters in our textbook or other articles you have found.) Answer questions such as:
Is there a good text-picture match? Does it provide nonlinguistic visual cues?
Is the book interesting or imaginative? Are students engaged in the text?
Do situations and characters represent diverse cultural groups?
Is the book predictable? Use of rhyme, alliteration, or repetitive patterns?
Does the book support phonological awareness concepts such as songs, rhymes, poems, and matching pictures to words?
Please Note: This is a Portfolio Assignment
This assignment counts not only toward this course but also toward your portfolio, which will be due prior to participating in your culminating internship during your last semester in the program. You will complete the assignment, including a rationale statement at the beginning explaining how the assignment meets the FEAP, ESOL/ELL, Reading Competency, and so forth. Again, this will be due before your internship during the last semester in the program. No rationale statement should be included now.
Your instructor will provide feedback when he or she grades it for the course. You will revise your graded assignment and rationale and submit it to TaskStream. Your instructor will mark it complete in TaskStream before the end of the course.
Submission
This assignment requires a file upload submission. After reviewing the assignment instructions and rubric, as applicable, complete your submission by selecting the Start Assignment button next to the assignment title. Browse for your file, and remember to select the Submit Assignment button below the file to complete your submission. Review the confirmation annotation that presents after submission.
Need Help? View the Canvas Student Guide: How do I submit an online assignment?

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Assignment Prompt

This Capstone presentation requires you to analyze three children’s books from your bibliography. Your task is to:

Select three books or other media (e.g., poetry or audiovisual content)
Analyze the illustrations, author’s writing style, and literary elements like theme, tone, and character development
Discuss how these materials support literacy or pre-literacy skills
Offer strategies on how early childhood educators can incorporate these books into classroom activities
Provide scholarly references to support your analysis

The presentation should be 10–15 slides and include embedded voice-over or video. It should be organized based on the focus of your bibliography topic, such as multicultural books, books on social issues, or children’s poetry.

Step 2: Choose Three Books or Media from Your Bibliography

Select your three books/media: Ensure that each selection aligns with the topic of your bibliography. This could be multicultural books, books addressing social issues, children’s poetry, or media formats like audiovisual materials.
Evaluate each selection: Consider how these books support literacy skills and engage children with diverse cultural backgrounds, emotional experiences, and pre-literacy concepts.

Step 3: Analyze Illustrations and Author’s Writing Style

For each book, provide the following details:

Illustrations: Describe the style of illustrations. Are they colorful, abstract, realistic? How do they complement the text and support comprehension?
Author’s writing style: Discuss the tone, language, and structure of the writing. Is it simple or complex? Is it engaging for young readers? Use literary terms to describe key elements like point of view, plot, or character development.

Step 4: Examine Literary Terms and Background Information

Literary terms: For each book, identify literary elements such as:
- Theme: What is the underlying message or central idea?
- Tone: What is the mood of the story (e.g., cheerful, serious, playful)?
- Point of view: Is the story told from the first-person perspective, third person, or another viewpoint?
- Characterization: Who are the main characters, and what are their roles in the story?
Author/illustrator background: Research any relevant information about the author or illustrator that can enrich your analysis. For example, what themes do they commonly explore, or how do their personal experiences influence their works?

Step 5: Discuss Classroom Application and Literacy Strategies

For each book, explain how you would:

Use the book in the classroom: Describe the strategies you would use to share each story in class or during circle time. Would you dramatize the story? Use puppets, props, or audiovisual equipment to bring the story to life? How would these tools help engage the students?
Support literacy or pre-literacy skills: Consider how the books support concepts such as phonological awareness, language development, vocabulary building, and engagement. Does the book include songs, rhymes, or repetitive patterns? Is there a good text-picture match?

Step 6: Cite Scholarly Resources

Reference scholarly sources: For each book, include at least one scholarly source to back up your analysis. These can include research articles, educational journals, or textbook chapters that discuss early childhood literacy or children’s literature.
Use APA style for in-text citations and references. These should support your discussion of the book’s impact on literacy, comprehension, and student engagement.

Step 7: Create Your PowerPoint/Prezi Presentation

Now that you have all the analysis and content prepared:

Structure your slides: Create slides with the following sections:
1. Title slide: Include the title of your presentation and your name.
2. Introduction: Briefly introduce your three book selections and their connection to literacy development.
3. Book 1 analysis: Include details on illustrations, writing style, and classroom strategies.
4. Book 2 analysis: Repeat for the second book.
5. Book 3 analysis: Repeat for the third book.
6. Conclusion: Summarize key findings and strategies for using the books in the classroom.
7. References: List your scholarly sources.

Step 8: Add Voiceover or Video

Voice-over or video: Add a voice-over explaining your analysis for each slide, or include a video explanation for key points.
Ensure your voice-over is clear, concise, and engaging. It should provide additional context to each slide and help guide the viewer through your analysis.

Step 9: Review and Edit Your Presentation

Before submitting:

Review for clarity: Make sure your slides are easy to follow and visually appealing.
Check APA formatting: Ensure your references page and in-text citations are formatted correctly according to APA guidelines.
Proofread: Look for any spelling or grammatical errors.

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