Children's Literature: Approaches and Territories

by Janet Maybin, Nicola J. Watson (Editor)

How has children’s literature been defined? In what ways has it changed over time? How are the classics of children’s literature established? What is the impact of digital media and globalization on books for children?

Children’s Literature: Approaches and Territories provides a social and literary overview of the field of Anglophone children’s literature: its history and genres, its current concerns and its possible future directions. Emphasising how children’s literature is embedded in the social life of children and adults, the collection brings together lively and accessible scholarly essays by leading scholars, some reprinted and others newly commissioned. It includes sections on poetry, drama and picture books and is supported by detailed introductory material, suggestions for further reading and a colour plate section reproducing illustrations from key children’s texts.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Childrens

395 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2009

Reviews

[MrsB · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first Reader for my course with the OU. There are some interesting essays, but some are lengthy and dull. Overall, they’re informative (even if I don’t agree with all of the arguments made)

[Gary Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An indepth critique of children's literature exploring the traits of childhood, and how literature for children has been created, explored, deemed. It also explores how adult conceptuously view childhood's, children's and their own.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The completion of this book of essays marks the end of my course (almost). Just an essay and an assessment to write.

There were some very interesting essays contained in here, got me thinking a lot about the depths of children's literature.

[Wondra Vanian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of the two critical readers for Children's Literature this is the best. The essays are very in depth and informative - if not exactly fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting collection of critical essays to accompany EA300 Children's Literature. Some are more readable than others, but almost all of them came in useful at some point.