Assoc. Prof. Matthew Zbaracki

Dr. Zbaracki attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, obtaining an undergraduate degree in elementary education. While at Wartburg, he had the opportunity to student teach in a bilingual Spanish-speaking classroom in Denver, Colorado, utilizing his own skills as a Spanish speaker. Dr. Zbaracki remained in Colorado and taught four years in the Denver Public Schools.  During that time he obtained his Masters Degree in Bilingual Education from the University of Colorado at Denver. He spent two more years teaching in a suburban school district, and then decided to attend The Ohio State University for a PhD, in children’s literature. He returned to Colorado, teaching four years at the University of Northern Colorado. In 2006, he moved to Rhode Island College.   He arrived in Australia at the beginning of 2008 and teaches at Australian Catholic University.   

He is author of the book, Best Books for Boys, (Libraries Unlimited) and he is co-author of Language and Literacy published by Oxford, and Listen Hear and Books and Beyond both published by Heinemann. 

Dr. Zbaracki is currently studying the engagement and response Australian and American children have to humourous children's literature from both Australia and the United States. 

Dr. Zbaracki has also been exploring the influence social media has with undergraduate students in a teacher education course. 

Humorous Children's Literature, Boys and Reading, Literacy, Children's Literature, Spelling

International  Reading Association (IRA)

Australian Literacy Educators' Association