Donna and Saundra Norton classify the various genre of children's literature as traditional literature (fables, myths, etc.), modern fantasy, poetry, contemporary realistic fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction. Examples of each genre exist in electronic formats, and you can use examples from each genre to foster multicultural understandings.

You can use technology when creating learning experiences involving children's literature. Non-fiction materials, for instance, are abundant on the Web and can be used by students for reports and electronic presentations. Students can make use of an online translation engine to translate traditional literature from other countries into their own language to compare versions of classic tales. Picture books and concept books appear on some web sites created specifically for young children. Online modern fantasy lets you discuss social, ethical, and human issues, and you can find original and classic poetry online—some accompanied by very well-made illustrations. Contemporary realistic fiction can be used to engage students in telecollaborative learning experiences with students in other schools, and historical fiction can lead students to genealogy, government, and historical sites to verify facts or ideas they encounter.

The ability for students to locate and share information using technology means that many of the computer software applications and much of the content on the World Wide Web will be useful to you across genre. In addition, students will find many authors' and illustrators' web sites and, in some cases, may find a way to communicate with them through e-mail. The quality of multitudinous online stories and materials ranges from poor to excellent, so you can help students learn to recognize good and poor production values in the materials they find. Students should find some of their favorite characters online or on CD-ROMs.