Introduction

Before beginning this overview of children’s materials I decided I would approach this as a way to explore the large collections of materials and differing formats available. As a library employee I have rarely worked with children other than basic questions surrounding books “like” Harry Potter or what a book’s lexile number is. Instead I primarily dealt with adults throughout my time in a library.

Because I work for a small library I set out trying to become as well-rounded as possible. For the sake of this deep dive into children’s materials I decided very early on how I would organize the blog. The first section deals with my illustrator study which is covering Dan Santat who is a wonderful illustrator of all types of children’s books. That section covers a brief introduction, a look at their background, their techniques, and some comparisons. The second section deals with print materials. Because of the variety of materials I selected the categories of Board books, ready to read, picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, and nonfiction. Each section contains five items minimum. The third section is non-print materials. When setting out I decided to cover at minimum five items. The categories are audiobooks, board games, movies, CDs, video games, and websites. Finally I wrap things up with a conclusion and additional resources. 

Children’s materials and services make up a large portion of public library service. While I personally do not often work with children, it is always a good idea to understand a new area of the library to be able to serve all patrons. 

My goals for this assignment are the following:

1. Gain a better understanding of children’s materials
2. Explore an illustrator to see the variety of techniques in illustrations
3. Consider a variety of materials for different age groups and see how they can be used in my day to day job
4. Explore print and non-print material to understand the range of materials.