Reading Children's Literature: A Critical Introduction

by Carrie Hintz, Eric L. Tribunella

Reading Children’s Literature offers insights into the major discussions and debates currently animating the field of children’s literature. Informed by recent scholarship and interest in cultural studies and critical theory, it is a compact core text that introduces students to the historical contexts, genres, and issues of children’s literature. A beautifully designed and illustrated supplement to individual literary works assigned, it also provides apparatus that makes it a complete resource for working with children’s literature during and after the course.

The second edition includes a new chapter on children’s literature and popular culture (including film, television, and merchandising) and has been updated throughout to reflect recent scholarship and new offerings in children’s media.

Genres: Nonfiction, Textbooks, Academic, School, Education, Teaching, Literary Criticism

624 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2012

Reviews

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful for my class on teaching children's literature. Easy, informative, and enjoyable (for a textbook).

[Rachel Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading Children's Literature A Book Review I had to read this textbook for my children's literature. It is an easy flowing book for a textbook. But, I hated it. I hated how I ended up looking so critically at children's literature. Everything was very negative, from sexuality to race to the problems with fairy tales. 
 
I read children's books, from picture books to juvenile books because I enjoy them. They make me laugh, some make me think about how hard it can be a child at times. 
 
But this class, and this book made me hate the books I had to read at points. So disappointing. 

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to critical analysis of children's literature. Accessible to those with very little critical reading / critical literature experience. May come off a little too basic to those more familiar with literary scholarship but still an excellent text.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful overview of various themes, genres, etc. I've read more in-depth analyses elsewhere, but this is a good primer if children's lit is new to you.

[Troy Zaher]

Dry but helpful. I started this in my childrens lit class last year and read the rest of it on my own sometime later. Will likely go back to if I attempt more childrens lit essays

[Marnie]

I DONT CARE THAT THIS IS AN ACADEMIC BOOK IM PUTTING IT ON MY READ BC IVE BEEN POURING OVER IT FOR THE LADT TWO DAYS

[Culleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this for my grad school class. great resource to be added to my school library

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this was a "textbook," I really enjoyed all the ways this helped me critically view and understand genres of children's literature more deeply. I learned a lot, read a lot of great books to apply the concepts presented, and feel I'll be better able to recommend books to all ages of young readers as a result. Readable, and I felt smarter at the end :-)

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only a DNF because I am crunched for time, so I read everything that was assigned, but we didn't read the whole book as a class, so I haven't read the whole book. Fascinating history of children's literature. Definitely worth a look if you love children's/youth lit!

[Sal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good introduction to children's literature. Not as dry as your typical textbook, it makes for an easy and very informative read.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overview of Children's literature

[SquidneyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of different genres, classical works of children's literature, noteworthy contemporary works, and the historical significance of some of the genres.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved how this explained children's literature.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This class was an experience. This book was ok.