EN 250 - Exploration of Children’s and Early Adolescents’ Literature

Description
In this course, students evaluate a variety of children’s books for use across the curriculum. Students establish a framework in which they study a variety of genres, embrace literature that represents a variety of cultures, and develop a heightened awareness of the needs of people living in a multicultural society. They learn how to select authentic, worthwhile multicultural literature for children, investigate children’s book choices, and become familiar with a wide variety of multicultural literature. In addition, students write critical analyses on a variety of topics, make oral presentations to the class, and complete other projects as assigned. Students may also participate in field trips and listen to presentations from field specialists.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: EN 101 (C or Higher)
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: No
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
Pre-Early Childhood Education, A.A. (Ferris State University), Pre-Elementary Education, A.A. (Ferris State University),Pre-Writing, A.A. (General Transfer),

General Education Requirement:
Humanities
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
1. Civic Engagement: Apply knowledge of social, political, or environmental conditions to demonstrate understanding of community responsibility, 3. Critical Thinking: Gather and synthesize relevant information, evaluate alternative perspectives, or understand inquiry as a means of creating knowledge, 4. Cultural Competence: Understand diverse interpersonal and cultural perspectives through analysis of scholarly or creative works
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Explore and survey multiple genres and the works of major authors and illustrators within a variety of cultures.

2. Interpret the meaning of artistic and stylistic elements and demonstrate how illustrations convey meaning in children’s and early adolescents’ literature.

3. Use evaluative criteria to analyze texts and materials for cultural and linguistic authenticity. (GELO4)

4. Analyze, create, and demonstrate methods of integrating literature into developmental and learning environments of children and early adolescents.

5. Identify and discuss relevant issues within literature that will facilitate a respect for differences in gender, language, race, ethnicity, disabilities, economic challenges, and religion. (GELO1)

6. Recognize how children’s and early adolescents’ literature serves as windows and mirrors into the lived realities of children. (GELO3)

7. Critique, assess, and advocate for the value of children’s and adolescents’ literature and its role in personal, developmental, and social contexts.(GELO3)
Course Outline:

Genres and Works of Major Authors and Illustrators
1. Traditional literature, fantasy, poetry, historical fiction, realistic fiction, biography and informational literature
2. Inclusion of works of major authors and illustrators include but are not limited to the most recent awards presented: Caldecott, Newbery, Correta Scott King, Orbis Pictus, Pura Belpre, and American Indian Youth Literature Award.

II. Artists and their illustrations

A. Artistic Elements, Artistic Media, Artistic Style

B. Book Design

C. Role of Illustrations in Picture Books

III. Value of Literature for Children and Early Adolescents

A. Promote child and adolescent development through literature for children and adolescents.

B. Motivate children to select, analyze, and respond to quality books.

C. Value of multicultural literature

IV. Evaluating and Selecting Literature

A. Literary Elements

B. Picture/Text Relationships

C. Criteria for Accessibility, Readability, and Evaluation

D. Challenged, Banned, and Censored Books

V. Social Issues within Child and Early Adolescent Literature

A. Awareness, acceptance, and respect for those from different cultures and lifestyles including but not limited to identity, fairness and equity, racism and injustice, violence, death, and bullying

VI. Integration of Children’s and Early Adolescent Literature into Learning Environments

Books as Windows and Mirrors
Using lessons and activities that nurture and and support stages of child and adolescent development

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
Yes
Instructional Strategies:
Percentage of lecture: 20-40%

Percentage of facilitated discussion: 30-50%

Percentage of collaborative work: 20-30%

Percentage of writing: 10-30%
Mandatory Course Components:
Students will create an artifact pursuant to issues evident in literature for children and early adolescents such as, but not limited to, age, gender, race, identity, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religious ideologies, physical abilities, and/or neurodivergent/learning differences.
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: None

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: NA

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
General Education- Offering designed to meet the specific criteria for a GRCC Distribution Requirement. The course should be designated by the requirement it fulfills.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
People Soft Course ID Number: 100680
Course CIP Code: 23.01
Maximum Course Enrollment: 25
General Room Request: None

High School Articulation Agreements exist?: No
If yes, with which high schools?: NA
Non-Credit GRCC Articulation Agreement With What Area: No
Identify the Non Credit Programs this Course is Accepted: NA

School: School of Liberal Arts
Department: English
Discipline: EN
Faculty Credential Requirements:
18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement), Other (list below)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
Standard requirements for the English Department
Recent coursework in children's literature at the graduate level

Major Course Revisions: Title, Credit/Contact Hours, General Education Review
Last Revision Date Effective: 20220216T10:57:45
Course Review & Revision Year: 2026-2027