Children's Author Specialists Pathfinder Liz Deskins J.W. Reason Elementary School Hilliard, OH Columbus Workshop Action Plan: Children's Author Specialists Grade level: 4th grade Curriculum/Subject area(s): Literature, reading, literary response, technology skills. Specific Topic(s): Language Arts, Reading, and Research This pathfinder is designed for 4th graders immersed in a language arts unit that integrates reading author autobiographies and writing pathfinders about these authors and their books. The goal of this project is twofold: to continue to encourage students to read a variety of authors and genres, and share what they have found with others; and to introduce/review some basic technology skills, including critically choosing appropriate web sites. Dewey numbers include: 810, 920s, Biographies, and Reference. Subject headings include: Biography -- Juvenile literature; Children's literature b- American History and criticism b- Juvenile literature. Reference books: REF 920 BLO Blount, R. Howard, Jr. The Address Book of Childrenbs Authors & Illustrators. Instructional Fair, 1999. REF 920 HAR Harris, Laurie Lanzen. (Editor) Biography for Beginners: Sketches for Early Readers. Favorable Impressions, 2000. (A subscription series.) REF 920 HAR Harris, Laurie Lanzen. (Editor) Biography Today: Author Series. Omnigraphics, 2000. (A subscription series.) REF 920 FAV Primm, E. Russell III. (Editor in Chief) Favorite Childrenbs Authors and Illustrators. Tradition Books. Excelsior, 2003. REF 920 SOM Something About the Author. Gale Publishing, published annually since 1962. (A subscription series.) Student Books Resources: B Meet the Author Autobiography books series by Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc. B Rookie Biographies by Children's Press Co. B Young at Heart Biography books series by Abdo Publishing Co. Web Sites for students: Children's Authors & Illustrators on the Web http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/authors.html Elementary Authors on the Web http://students.washington.edu/harrid/finalproject/eauthors.html Fairrosa Cyber Library of Children's Literature http://www.fairrosa.info/ Office of Library Media Services: Elementary Author Web Sites http://www.aacps.org/aacps/boe/INSTR/CURR/LMS/elemauthors.htm ISLMC Children's Literature & Language Arts Resources http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/childlit.htm#F Click & Go Authors http://www.murrieta.k12.ca.us/alta/library/authors/a.html Scholastic Authors and Books http://www2.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/authorstudies/authorstudies.jhtml Yahooligans! - Authors http://www.yahooligans.com/School_Bell/Language_Arts/Authors/ Children's Authors http://www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/Pioneer/ppc/pages/authors.html Celebrate Children's Authors http://www.ehhs.cmich.edu/~tbushey/author.html Teacher Online Resources: Preparing to Do Author Studies http://www.people.virginia.edu/~lbs5z/Author_Studies/ Details of a student critical author study http://kwr.co-nect.net/pdfs/authorstudy.PDF Teacher InfOhio Sources: Meet Favorite Kids' Authors Online. By: Jacobson, Jennifer Richard; Buzzeo, Toni. Instructor, Oct2003, Vol. 113 Issue 3, p25, 2p, 1c; (AN 11451382) Author Sites to Thrill Young Students. By: Troutner, Joanne. Teacher Librarian, Dec2003, Vol. 31 Issue 2, p28, 3p, 10bw; (AN 12123809) Teacher Professional Book Sources: PROF 810.9 KOV Kovacs, Deborah & James Preller. Meet the Authors and Illustrators: 60 Creators of Favorite Childrenbs Books Talk About Their Work, V.l. Scholastic, 1991. PROF 810.9 KOV Kovacs, Deboraah & James Preller. Meet the Authors and Illustrators: 60 Creators of Favorite Childrenbs Books Talk About Their Work, V.2 Scholastic, 1993 Children's Author Videos: Good Conversation! Series of author videos. Tim Podell Productions, 1995. Meet _______ (the author) series. American School Publishers, 199-. Trumpet Video Visits ______ series. The Trumpet Club, 199-. A Visit with __________ series. Puffin, 199-.