E-literature for Children: Enhancing Digital Literacy Learning

Today, children's literature engages young readers not only with favorite books, but also through an explosion of multi-media digital storytelling on CD-ROM, the internet, and via myriad complex computer game narratives. So how can children's experiences of digital literature be channeled into more enjoyable and challenging classroom literary learning experiences? E-Literature for Childrenwill help practicing teachers and students of teacher education to understand the differences and similarities of the literary experience for children through classic, contemporary and innovative narratives in both book and computer formats - in order to enhance their pupils' understanding of the 'text'.E-Literature for Childrenuniquely draws together issues of pedagogy, children's literature in education and computer technology and literacy. The author describes practical functional analyses of language and images in the context of real-live classroom learning experiences. Readers will alsofind practical ideas and suggestions for the planning of programmes of work for children, which will encourage and provoke more innovative understandings from their pupils, whatever their level and age.

Len Unsworth is Professor in English and Literacies Education at the University of New England, Australia