Introduction
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve is a collection of outstanding literature for children and adolescents that is available in print and as a searchable database. The recommended titles reflect the quality and the complexity of the types of material students should be reading at school and outside of class.
The evaluation and selection of literature used in an instructional program is a local decision. However, each district should have a selection policy that establishes procedures for selecting literature that reflects the school's philosophy of education, curriculum, and the ages and interests of the students. The selection policy should also establish procedures for reconsidering the use of a specific title.
Recommended Literature Search
Search the online database for reading and language arts titles using specific criteria.
Acknowledgments
Listing of individuals who worked on Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
District Selection Policies
District selection policies to be used in conjunction with Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
Search Categories
Explanation of search categories used in the online database for Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
Awards
Awards noted on database for Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
Literary Genres
List defines each of the genres included in Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
Classifications
List defines each of the classifications included in Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
Connections to Content Standards
Explains standards connections that are noted in Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
Cultural Designations
Explanation of the cultural designations used in Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
FAQ
Answers to the questions most commonly asked related to Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve.
The 2009 list updates and replaces three earlier documents published by the California Department of Education (CDE): Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (2002), Recommended Readings in Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Eight (1996), and Recommended Literature: Grades Nine Through Twelve (1990). This comprehensive list is updated periodically to ensure that recently published titles are included.
The 2009 list includes more than 3,400 fully annotated titles in six languages commonly spoken by California students.
The development of Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve was coordinated by CDE staff with the assistance of many individuals, including teachers, consultants from school and public libraries, administrators, curriculum planners, college professors, and parents.
Some annotations were taken from Web sites such as the Association for Library Services to Children (Outside Source), the Library of Congress’ Online Catalog (Outside Source), Follett Library Resources (Outside Source), book award-related sites, and others.
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve is kept current in the following ways:
- Award-winning titles are added to the database. (Please see the CDE Recommended Literature: K-12 Awards Web page for details.)
- The 2009 edition features the addition of more than 700 additional titles.
- Works that contain potentially controversial material are identified.
The Recommended Literature: Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (2009) printed document is for sale. To order, contact CDE Press at 1-800-995-4099 or by e-mail at sales@cde.ca.gov and ask for publication #001694 .
View links to lists of authors and titles on the CDE Previously Published Literature Lists Web page.