Children's Bookshelf Archive

DR. SUE  ANN  MARTIN

Sue Ann Martin is Professor Emeritus in the Communication and Fine Arts Department and the founding and past Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts at Central Michigan University. She first became interested in children’s literature when she wrote her Ph.D thesis on the oral characteristics of the Caldecott Award-winning children’s books.

Her Ph.D is in Speech and Interpretation with a cognate in Early Childhood Education. She went on to review children’s books for The Detroit Free Press, write three popular resource books for teachers regarding children’s books and the creative process and reviewed newly- published books for Arts Almanac Specials. Her 2002 children’s books special for WCMU Public Radio won a Merit Award in Special Interest Programming from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. According to Dr. Sue Ann Martin:

"Reading books aloud to young children is one of the most satisfying ways to introduce them to the beautiful sounds and lilts of the language, to the wonders of the world, to the excitement of suspense and to the pleasure of concentration while at the same time bonding with the child in a genuine, long lasting way. My mother did the same with me as she read hours and hours of Robert Louis Stevenson poems."

DR. PAMELA S. GATES

Pamela Gates is a Professor of English and the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences at Central Michigan University.  She holds a Ph.D. in Teacher Education--Curriculum, Teaching, & Educational Policy with cognates in Children’s & Young Adult Literature and English Education. Her dissertation focused on the use of multicultural literature in sixth grade classrooms to address and examine issues of racism and prejudice and was the origin for one of her books.  Her research and teaching for the past two decades has focused specifically on literature for Children and Young Adults.  In addition to a dozen articles, her list of publications includes two co-authored books, Fantasy Literature for Children & Young Adults ( Scarecrow Press, 2003) and Cultural Journeys: Multicultural Literature for Children & Young Adults (Scarecrow Press, 2006).  She is currently working on two books which include a biography and the second edition of Cultural Journeys.  She strongly believes in and is committed to the power of good literature to develop young readers and critical thinkers who will be the next generation of parents, teachers, and committed global citizens.