Researching Children's & Young Adult Literature

A selected list of reference tools for the study of children's literature. All books are located in the Children's Literature stacks unless noted otherwise.

Finding Journal Articles about Children's Literature

       MLA International Bibliography

The MLA International Bibliography provides a classified listing and subject index for books and articles published on modern languages, literatures, folklore, and linguistics, including Children's literature.

       Academic OneFile (Gale)

Indexes some literary criticism and education journals and some of the Children's/Young Adult review periodicals.

       Academic Search Complete (EBSCO)

Indexes some literary criticism and education journals and some of the Children's/Young Adult review periodicals.

       Education Fulltext

Journal articles in the field of education; despite its name, the database is not entirely fulltext

       ERIC: Educational Resources Information Center

ERIC is a national education database sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). Presently the largest education database in the world, ERIC contains over one million citations covering research documents, journal articles, technical reports, program descriptions and evaluations, and curricular materials in the field of education.

       Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA)

Indexes articles from library and information science journals, with an emphasis on journals published in the United Kingdom and countries other than the United States. Covers 1969 to the present.

       Library Literature & Information Science

Covers more than 200 library and information-science journals, and more than 600 books per year, from December 1984 to the present. Emphasis is on journals published in the United States.

       Literature Resource Center

Full text resource for literary biographies and critical essays. Includes coverage of some children's and young adult authors and integrates MLA International Bibliography.

       Sociological Abstracts

Covers academic journal articles, conference papers, and dissertations in sociology, including the social function of books for children.

Reference Sources on Children's and Young Adult Literature

Literature Resource Center
          Literary biographies and critical essays; includes some coverage of children's & YA authors.
Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature
          Covers many topics and figures in children's literature. Also available in print, Suzzallo Reference, PN1008.5 .O94 2006.
Continuum Encyclopedia of Young Adult Literature
          Only encyclopedia devoted specifically to YA literature. Suzzallo Reference, PN1008.5 .C67 2005
Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature
          Suzzallo Reference, PN1008.5 .C66 2001
Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English
          Suzzallo and Odegaard Reference, PR990 .C36 2001

Subject Access to Children's/Young Adult Books

A to Zoo
          Z1037 .L715 1998
Best books for ...(series)
          See catalog for individual call numbers.
Children's catalog (Wilson Web) (Seattle Campus only)
          Annotated list of books and magazines for children from preschool through 6th grade, with review sources and other aids
Children's, Middle and Junior, and Senior High School Library Catalog
          See catalog for individual call numbers.
UW Libraries Online Catalog
          Search for subject keywords plus the phrase "juvenile fiction" or "juvenile literature"
Young Adult Reader's Adviser
          Z1037 .Y674 1992

Finding Reviews of Children's & Young Adult Books

Academic OneFile (Gale)
          Indexes some literary criticism and education journals and some of the Children's/Young Adult review periodicals.

Academic Search Complete (EBSCO)
            Indexes some of the Children's/Young Adult review periodicals.
Book Review Index- Indexes all of the major Children's/Young Adult review periodicals.
          Z1035 .A1 B6 Suzzallo Reference
Children's catalog (Wilson Web) (Seattle Campus only)
          Annotated list of books and magazines for children from preschool through 6th grade, with review sources and other aids
Children's Literature Review (1976-1995)
          PN1009 .A1 C5139
Children's Book Review Index
          PN1009.A1 C487
Children's Literature Abstracts (1973-fall/winter 1999)
          PN1009 A1 C49
Horn Book Guide Online
         Offers "short, critical reviews of virtually every hardcover trade book published in the United States for young people"
         since 1989. Searchable by subject, author, illustrator, rating and grade level.
Horn Book Index - Indexes Horn Book Magazine from 1924-1989.
          Z1037.A1 D39 1990
LexisNexis Academic Universe
          Full-text of U.S. and international newspapers, wire services, and more. Some newspapers occasionally review children's books.

Biographical Information on Authors of Children's & Young Authors

Something About the Author - Indexed in Literary Index.
          PN451 .S6.
Something about the Author:  Autobiographical Series - Indexed in Literary Index.
          PN497 .S66.
Twentieth Century Children's Writers
          PN1009.A1 T9 1995
Junior Authors & Illustrators Series
          PN1009.A1 F6
100 Most Popular Young Adult Authors
          PS490 .D74 1996

Award-Winning Books and/or Authors

Children's Literature Awards & Web Sites
Children's Books:  Awards & Prizes
          Z1037.A2 C45
Newbery Medal Winners
Caldecott Medal Winners
Coretta Scott King Awards

School Library Media Topics

Juniorplots, Middleplots, and Seniorplots
          See catalog for individual call numbers.
Guides to Collection Development for Children and Young Adults
          Z1037 .G495 1998
El-Hi Textbooks and Serials in Print
          Z5813 E45 1999
Children's, Middle and Junior, and Senior High School Library Catalog
          See catalog for individual call numbers.
Elementary School Library Collection
          Z1037 .E4 1998
Storytelling Encyclopedia
          GR72 .S76 1997

Special Topics in Children's/Young Adult Literature

What Do Young Adults Read Next?
          Z1037 .S7575 1994
Characters in Children's Literature
          Z1037 .A1 J78 1997
Characters in Young Adult Literature
          Z1037 .A1 G47 1997
Whole Story: 3000 years of Sequels and Sequences
          Z5917.S44 S56 1996
Masterplots: Juvenile and Young Adult Fiction Series
          Z1037.A1 M377 1991

Special Collections and Book Arts Material

Special Collections in Children's Literature
          Z688.C47 S63
Art of Children's Picture Books: a Selective Reference Guide
          Z1037.1 .M37 1995
Children's Book Illustration and Design
          NC965 .C43 1992