Jane Kelley

Research interests

The nature of Jane E. Kelley’s research and scholarly activities is grounded in critical multicultural analysis and involves the examination of ideology of power in children’s literature and the dissemination of this theory and pedagogy. Kelley’s research is two-fold. First, she applies a critical multicultural analysis to children’s literature in order to bring the ideology of power as it is portrayed in children’s literature. Second, she investigates pedagogical strategies to introduce a critical multicultural analysis to pre-service teachers, service teachers, and graduate students.

Teaching/professional interests

Dr. Kelley teaches Survey of Children’s Literature, Improving Comprehension Through Literature, Advanced Children’s Literature, and Critical Analysis of Children’s and Young Adult Literature. She taught ESL and K-5 for ten years in Missouri, Massachusetts, and Texas, including three years in inner-city Houston.

Selected Publications

• Barrio, B. L., Hsiao, Y-R., Kelley, J. E., & Cardon, T. A. (2021). Representation matters: Integrating books with characters with autism in the classroom. Intervention in School and Clinic.
• Barrio, B. L., Kelley, J. E., & Cardon, T. A., (2019). Pre-service educators’ understanding and perceptions of ASD before and after reading ASD narrative fiction. Northwest Journal of Teacher Education, 14(1), 1-17.
• Kelley, J. E., Barrio, B. L., Cardon, T. A., *Brando-Subis, C., *Lee, S., & *Smith, K. (2018). DSM-5 autism spectrum disorder symptomology in award-winning narrative fiction. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities.
• *Muthukrishnan, R., & Kelley, J. E.(2017). Depictions of sustainability in children’s books. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 19(3), 955-970.
• Cardon, T. A. & Kelley, J. E.(2016). Fictional narratives about individuals with autism spectrum disorder: Focus group analysis and insight. Reading Horizons, 55(3), 1-28.
• Kelley, J. E., Cardon, T. A., & *Nichols, D. A. (2015). DSM-5 autism spectrum disorder symptomology in fictional picture books. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 50(4), 408-497.
• Kelley, J. E.& *Stair, M., Price, P. G. (2013). Anthropomorphic veneers in Voices in the Park: Questioning the Master Narratives Through a Socio-Historical Analysis of Images and Text. The Dragon Lode, 31(2), 44-53.
• Kelley, J. E.,& *Darragh, J. J. (2010). Depictions and gaps: Portrayal of U.S. poverty in realistic fiction children’s picture books. Reading Horizons, 50(4), 263-282.
• Kelley, J. E.(2008). Power relationships in Rumpelstiltskin: A textual comparison of a traditional and a reconstructed fairy tale. Children’s Literature in Education, 39(1),31-41. (*Denotes works with students.)

Educational background

• Ed.D. Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of Massachusetts, 2004.
• M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction in Elementary Education, University of Missouri, 1996.
• B.A. Education and Social & Rehabilitative Services, Assumption College, 1988.