Exploring Children′s Literature

by Nikki Gamble, Sally Yates

This book is based on the belief that deep subject knowledge of language and literature provides a foundation for effective teaching and learning. It provides a comprehensive guide to the range of genres and characteristic features of English language fiction written for children. It will help readers to develop their understanding of literature within social, cultural and political reading practices; extend their knowledge of language features and conventions of different genres; and develop skills in analytical and critical reading.

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2008

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why on earth did I become a teacher?"

Those moments you have when you are tired yourself, working desperately to manage students' tiredness as well, which more often than not manifests itself in rule-breaking, naughtiness, anger and conflict, and you ask yourself what happened to those ideas you had when you sat and read pedagogical books to develop as a teacher. The ideas you had of always giving everything to each student according to his or her needs, always providing materials suitable for their individual level of learning and interest. What happened to all that, you ask yourself when you force yourself to just carry on with a regular, rather boring, nonspecific lesson on "language" and "literature" in the "context" of contemporary fiction.

For those of us who have only cynical laughter left for the guidebooks on "perfect classroom management" (which mostly seem to believe that teachers are alone in a vacuum with one single student who reacts to suggestions according to option a), b) or c)), it is still worthwhile to keep some favourite professional development books on subject content within reach - those books that made us want to b teachers in the first place. If reality hits too hard, it is good to go back to "Exploring Children's Literature", for example, following the own younger self's enthusiastic marks in the margins, and checking which advice from the book actually was followed, and which turned out to remain a literary utopia in the desert of everyday life.

I did that today. I went back to this straightforward introduction into teaching literature to children of different age groups, offering a loose framework for using books in different contexts, and I was pleased to remember how I set out to conquer the world, only to discover that I am mostly defending a corner. But what a delightful corner it is in the wide world of education.

Cheers to to the quixotic task!

Recommended to those of you interested in children's literature in general, and of course to those of you who feel the call of the wild. Good luck. You'll need it. This is part of the survival kit.

[Kerrie Durkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 'must read' for student teachers

[Angela Oatham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really useful CPD title with loads of good ideas.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very useful read and helped me complete my assignment. It was also very interesting and I continued to read it as further reading.

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful information on literature, but have read better books on the subject.