Aesthetic Approaches to Children's Literature: An Introduction

by Maria Nikolajeva

As undergraduate and graduate courses in children's literature become more established and numerous, there is an intense need for a textbook that offers aesthetic rather than educational approaches to children's literature. This work fills that void by providing students of children's literature with a comprehensible and easy-to-use analytical tool kit, showing through concrete demonstration how each tool might best be used.

The chapters are organized around familiar and easily recognized features of literary texts (e.g. author, genre, character). Theoretical issues are illustrated by specific texts from the North American children's literature canon. The book explores the particular aesthetics of children's fiction and the ways critical theory may be applied to children's texts, while remaining accessible to a college readership without prior specialized knowledge of literary theory. Each chapter includes a short introduction to a specific theoretical approach (e.g. semiotics, feminist, psychoanalytic), an example of its application to a literary text, a number of activities (study questions, reading exercises), and suggestions for further explorations.

Genres: Childrens, Criticism, Academic

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Maria Nikolajeva is an academic hailing from Russia, whose chief focus is on literary theory and the study of children's books.

"I was born in Russia, and I moved to Sweden in 1981.

Until 2008 I was a Professor of Comparative Literature at Stockholm University, Sweden. Now I am a Professor and Chair at the University of Cambridge, UK, which is about the highest an academic can get.

... Some highlights (of my career) include a Fulbright Grant at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; a Fellowship at the International Youth Library in Munich and H. W. Donner Visiting Chair at Åbo Akademi. In 2006 I was also made Honorary Professor at the University of Worcester, UK. In 1993-97 I was President of the International Research Society for Children's Literature. However, the crown of my success is the International Brothers Grimm Award 2005 from the Osaka Institute for Children's Literature, given for a life-time achievement in children's literature research.

I have written and edited twenty scholarly books and about three hundred articles and reviews. I have also published two young adult novels, two picturebooks, a cookbook and a memoir. My current research project is on literary cognitivism.

I have been a visiting lecturer all over the world: Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and South Africa.

I am married to Staffan Skott, who is a Swedish writer and journalist. We have five children and ten grandchildren.

My current hobbies are gardening, pottery, star gazing, papermaking and miniature making, and I also enjoy cooking and eating a good meal. Believe it or not, but I do read for pleasure sometimes. My favorite book is Winnie-the-Pooh. Recently, I have been re-reading classics, such as Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, Cervantes's Don Quixote and Melville's Moby-Dick."

- from Academia.edu

Reviews

[Jenthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only study/theory book I've ever read in full, as it was interesting enough and written in such an accessible way that I felt motivated to read even the chapters that were not assigned reading.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for classroom teachers and literacy specialists. It is a great guide for improving how we read and analyze children's literature

[Angélica · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro no es malo, de hecho elegí traducir este libro para titularme por la claridad y estructura en la que le da valor a los libros infantiles. Como dice, es una introducción muy general a la estética de la LIJ y yo por ser promotora de literatura en inños y adolescentes agradezco que haya tìtulos como éste que respalden el valor de las herramientas con las que trabajo.

Sin embargo, ha sido el causante de inumerables dolores de cabeza y ganas de botar todo a la basura n cantidad de veces. Nikolajeva al ser rusa escribe en un inglés arrusado (jejeje), hay términos técnicos que en español varían y al ser una embarradita de lo que implica toda la literatura infantil pues en ocasiones se queda corto en ejemplos o justificaciones.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Gelezen voor master Jeugdliteratuur)

[niina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pleasant surprise, this one! I'm not even exaggerating when I say this is probably the best and the most pleasant textbook I've ever read. The print is fine and the pages many, yes, but even though I had sparsely two days to tackle this baby I had no problem at all: Once I finally got started, I had no trouble studying it through. It probably helped that I have some background knowledge on the subject, nevertheless I felt like Nikolajeva did better job at explaining, clarifying and getting through to me than any other academic writer before. In the preface it was stated that the aim was that even beginners on the field could read this and understand, and I think that that goal was reached. Then again, this book isn't about the heaviest subjects and the researches and theories weren't authors own, so she probably has experience and has had all the necessary time to make this collection of information and interpretations the clearest, most likable she could.

The author was present in this handbook through the class, but didn't make too much noise about herself. She also used numerous examples, well-known ones, not forgetting them once mentioned but going back to them whenever the need instead of inventing new ones or apologizing for traces of repetition. This continuum of familiar titles that ran along the skeleton of the book made certain I felt that I was still following, and that this gets really well along with my other exam readings. Not too heavy, not difficult.

[Tuk Ta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Useful for only beginner.

[Cora Ziengs · Rating 4 out of 5]

In een zucht uitgelezen. Een prettige en toegankelijke introductie in, en een handige opfrisser voor mensen die al bekend zijn met literatuurwetenschap. Door de toepassing op kinderboeken erg leuk.

[Heli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Ok for self-study but as I had limited time to read it I didn't really stop and think about the exersises that much, but because of the exersises I think this book works wonderfully for example literary courses of universities.

[Car Mint · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finish it only one day.
it's useful for teacher and everybody who what to read Children's fiction deeply.

[Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handig handboek waarbij wordt ingespeeld op de kind als lezer. Fijn om in huis te hebben!

[Neda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great textbook for children's literature students and those into it. One can claim that it handles every aspect of children's literature perfectly.
Thanks Maria :)