Easy information sources for ESL, adult learners, & new readers

Librarians in every community find challenges in serving adult patrons who struggle to read. Adult book collections are too daunting...and many children's books are simply too childlike. This bibliography identifies and describes more than 250 nonfiction books from the children's department that will support and engage your adults with special needs. Organized into 15 popular subject areas, and based on recommendations from respected public library adult and children's librarians, school librarians, and children's authors, the books included in this annotated bibliography are based on specific criteria, including: Coverage of popular, but complex topics, using clear language, and highly readable presentations Accurate, well-researched texts Appealing, informative illustrations to enhance text A minimum of "childish" features The majority of works recommended are recent with publishing dates after 1998 and they can be recommended with confidence because they do not "talk down" to adult readers or embarrass those who may be new readers. This new work is both a handy "book finding" tool and a terrific resource helping your library fulfill an important community outreach mission.

• Preface p. v
• Acknowledgments p. ix
• Part I Essential Background
• Chapter 1 Reference Service to Adults: Utilizing the Children's Nonfiction Collection p. 3
• Sources of Information on Children's Nonfiction Books p. 4
• Criteria for Choosing Children's Nonfiction Books p. 12
• Books in Series and Single Title Volumes p. 14
• Summary p. 16
• Chapter 2 The Reference Interview: Connecting Adults to Children's Nonfiction Literature p. 19
• Elements of a Successful Reference Interview p. 19
• Question Negotiation and Case Studies p. 21
• Staff Training p. 25
• Summary p. 27
• Chapter 3 Housing and Promoting the Collection: Focusing on Children's Nonfiction p. 29
• Integrating or Separating the Children's Nonfiction Collection p. 30
• Promoting Children's Nonfiction p. 35
• Summary p. 39
• Part II Recommended Titles: An Annotated Bibliography
• Architecture p. 43
• The Arts (Art, Music, Film, Theater, and Dance) p. 53
• Biography p. 67
• Computer Technology p. 83
• Cookbooks and Cookery p. 93
• Cultural Mores and Institutions p. 103
• History and Geography p. 117
• Language Arts and Communications p. 145
• Medicine and Health p. 155
• Nature and Natural History p. 167
• Pets and Pet Care p. 189
• Science and Engineering p. 201
• Social Sciences p. 223
• Sports p. 233
• Transportation p. 243
• Bibliography of Professional Resources Consulted p. 259
• Author Index p. 263
• Title Index p. 269
• Series Index p. 275
• Subject Index p. 279
• About the Author p. 285