Includes bibliographical references and index.

INTRODUCTION: The Value of Stories
My Journey with Books Portraying Characters with Disabilities -- Writing Books about Characters with Disabilities -- The Value of Diverse Perspectives in Children’s Literature -- Changing the World through Critical Literacy -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 1: The History of Characters with Disabilities in Children’s Texts
The Evolution of Disability -- The Definition of Disability in the Context of This Book -- Historical Patterns and Trends -- Contemporary Trends -- Future Predictions -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 2: Critical Literacy and the Value of Shared Reading as a Teaching Context
Rationale for Sharing Stories with Children -- Evaluation of Children’s Literature -- Critical Literacy -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 3: Contemporary Canadian Picture Books
Introduction to Picture Books in Canada -- Summary of Picture Books Portraying Characters with Disabilities -- Annotated Bibliography of Picture Books Portraying Characters with Disabilities -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 4: Contemporary Canadian Junior Novels
Introduction to Junior Novels in Canada -- Author Portrait: Rachna Gilmore -- Annotated Bibliography of Canadian Junior Novels Portraying Characters with Disabilities -- Read-On Bibliography -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 5: Contemporary Canadian Intermediate Novels
Introduction to Intermediate Novels in Canada -- Author Portrait: Pamela Porter -- Annotated Bibliography of Canadian Intermediate Novels Portraying Characters with Disabilities -- Read-On Bibliography -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 6: Contemporary Canadian Young Adult Novels
Introduction to Young Adult Novels in Canada -- Author Portrait: Beverley Brenna -- Annotated Bibliography of Canadian Young Adult Novels Portraying Characters with Disabilities -- Read-On Bibliography -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

CHAPTER 7: Contemporary Canadian Books on an International Landscape
Book Selection Ideas -- The Promise of Radical Change -- Concluding Thoughts -- Three Essential Questions for This Chapter

References

"Academic study of children’s literature has explored various aspects of diversity; however, little research has examined Canadian books that portray characters with disabilities. This relevant and timely text addresses the significant dearth of research by exploring the treatment of disability in Canadian literature for young people. Engaging and highly accessible, this text will assist teachers, teacher educators, and teacher candidates in finding and using books about characters where disability is a part of their characterization, supporting the development of curricula that reflect critical literacy and social justice issues. Stories for Every Classroom explores the historical patterns and trends, theoretical frameworks, and critical literacy methods used to understand and teach children’s literature and its portrayal of characters with disabilities. It provides educators with curriculum ideas and enriches the body of resources shared with children in K–12 settings for the purposes of developing imagination, empathy, and understanding of self and others. Featuring author portraits, comprehensive annotated bibliographies of contemporary Canadian children’s books that depict characters with disabilities, and read-on bibliographies that provide connections with other books in the field, this unique text will be an invaluable resource for educators." (Book Cover)

Issued also in electronic format.