Acknowledgements; List of illustrations; Introduction: what is children's literature?; 1 An outline history of publishing for children in English; 2 Why and how are children's books studied?; 3 Transforming the texts of childhood; 4 Genres and generations - the case of the family story; 5 Visions of the future; 6 Ethical debates in children's literature; References and further reading; Index.
Summary:
Children's literature takes many forms - works adapted for children in antiquity, picture books and pop-ups - and now includes the latest online games and eBooks. This vast and amorphous subject is both intimately related to other areas of literary and cultural investigation but also has its own set of concerns, issues and challenges. From familiar authors including Beatrix Potter and Roald Dahl, classic books such as Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and The Secret Garden, to modern works including Harry Potter and the Twilight series, this Very Short Introduction provides an overview of the history.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.