Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature

Are you ready for something new to read but don't know what to pick? Maybe you're interested in a fiction novel aimed at ages 10-12, set in China, that features a male protagonist.  Or maybe you prefer a YA fantasy and want a female protagonist. The Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature (DAWCL) can help you find that perfect book.

Lisa Bartle, a reference librarian at California State University in San Bernardino, came up with the idea for DAWCL while attending UCLA. Her website states, "The purpose of this database is to create a tailored reading list of quality children's literature or to find out if a book has won one of the indexed awards." 

DAWCL has over 7,000 records from 79 awards across six English-speaking countries (United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Ireland). 

To find a book click "Search DAWCL" at the top of the page. A menu to help narrow your search will appear with the choices: Age of Reader, Setting, Historical Period, Ethnicity/Nationality of Protagonist or Tale, Language, Keyword or phrase, Awards, Format, Genre, Multicultural, Gender of Protagonist, Publication Year, and Author/Illustrator/Translator. 

Once you've made your choices, click on "Search," and wait for your list to appear!  

Happy Reading!

Bartle, Lisa R. The Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature.   <http://www.dawcl.com>. 
          20 Apr. 2002. (08 May 2008).



2 comments:

Tabitha said...

Great link!! I'm always looking for more great books to read, but finding them can sometimes be like pulling teeth. Without pain killers. :)

This is awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Nora MacFarlane said...

You're welcome! I use this link often, especially when searching for literature to use in the classroom.