Topics in Children's Literature  

Need help?  The Curriculum Materials Center reference collection features many directories and bibliographies designed to help users locate books on specific subject areas. 

A to Zoo: Subject Access to Children's Picture Books

Call Number: WCU CMC REF Z1037 .L715 2006

Best Books for Children: Preschool through Grade 6

Call Number: WCU CMC REF Z1037 .G48 2006

Best Books for Middle School & Junior High Readers

Call Number: WCU CMC REF Z1037 .G482 2004

Popular Series Fiction for K-6 Readers

Call Number: WCU CMC REF Z1037 .T4655 2005

The Children's and Young Adult Handbook: A Research and Reference Guide

Call Number: WCU REFERENCE Z1037.A1 G475 2005

Welcome to the Children's Literature Topics Research Guide.

This guide is a starting place for information on children's books and how to locate desired topics and subjects. A growing resource, it currently includes juvenile book resources for math, special education, folklore, and art, dance, theater and music.

Take time to explore this guide and feel free to recommend additions to the existing resources via the "What do you think?" interactive poll.  Please note that comments are moderated and will be verified before displayed.

Many thanks to Diane Schrecker, Curriculum Librarian at Ashland University for permission to use her research guide as a basis for this one. 

Library Catalog 

Use the library catalog to locate books in the children's literature collection. Start with a keyword search on your topic, and add the words and juvenile to your search.  For example:  motorcycles and juvenile will retrieve children's books about motorcycles.  Your search results will include books from Western Carolina University, Appalachian State University, and University of North Carolina - Asheville.  Students, faculty and staff can request these books from the other universities online, and they will be delivered the next Monday, Wednesday or Friday after the request is made via ABC Express (Asheville, Boone, Cullowhee).

If you prefer to see only what is available at WCU, simply click and choose WCU CMC under location.

Juvenile fiction falls under the Library of Congress subject heading P, language and literature; specifically PZ for general juvenile fiction. Juvenile non-fiction titles is classes within the topic area of it's regular subject heading class from A (general works) to Z (bibliography). Below is a quick guide resource for popular subject headings within language and literature.

Interested in learning more about Library of Congress Classification? Visit the Library of Congress Classification Outline web site.

Meet with a Subject Specialist
Arrange to meet with the librarian who specializes in your subject field for customized help with major research projects. Contact the subject specialist for your area

Was this resource helpful?