Following are subject headings that can be searched to locate children's and young adult literature in the library catalog. Often searching by keyword is as fruitful in locating titles and an easier search to perform. The keyword "juvenile" can to added to any topic search to find books suitable for young people. The subjects listed below are divided between those used to find titles FOR children and those used for finding books ABOUT children's and young adult literature.
To locate books FOR Children & Young Adults use these subjects:
Childrens Books
Children's Stories
This is used instead of juvenile fiction which is generally either a sub-heading under a topic [eg. Arizona-juvenile fiction] or it is used in conjunction with a topic [e.g. juvenile fiction horses]
Picture Books for Children
Children's Poetry
To locate books ABOUT Children's and Young Adult Literature use these subjects:
Children - Books and Reading
Children's Literature
This subject also locates some books for children
Teenagers - Books and Reading
Young Adult Fiction
Generally followed by a qualifier in the manner: Young Adult Fiction, American
Young Adult Literature
Juvenile Literature
This is similar to searching juvenile fiction; it cannot stand alone as a main subject in the same way the subjects above do; it must be combined with a topic If you want to find all titles that are juvenile literature there are 2 options: search juvenile literature as a keyword OR search it together as part of a topic. For example, if you want to find juvenile literature about a topic you can do a subject search like this: flags-juvenile literature or Africa-Juvenile Literature. Juvenile fiction or juvenile literature can be searched alone as keyword phrase but they are "monster" searches retrieving thousands of titles. It is best to combine one of these phrases with a specific topic [e.g. families juvenile literature].
