This children’s literature textbook is based on the textual response framework which recognizes that, while readers’ personal experiences and knowledge shape their understanding of literature, readers’ knowledge of format and genre conventions is equally important in reading literature.

Historically, children’s literature textbooks have focused largely on introducing readers to quality literature (and criteria for evaluating literature) and building readers’ knowledge of different genres of children’s literature. These are important goals that this textbook will also address. However, we recognize that textual knowledge includes more than genre knowledge; it also includes knowledge of what is distinctive about different formats of literature. In particular, this book helps preservice teachers understand the distinctive features of picturebooks, chapter books, novels in verse, and graphic novels, and what these distinctive features mean for engaging and supporting students as they read different formats. The book:

·introduces preservice teachers to quality literature, including the rich array of diverse literature that is being published for children

·provides preservice teachers with knowledge of major genres of children’s literature—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry

·provides preservice teachers with knowledge of different formats of children’s literature including picturebooks, chapter books, novels in verse, and graphic novels

·offers preservice teachers strategies for using textual knowledge (both genre and format) to support readers’ engagement with and understanding of literature.