Children's Literature: Approaches and Territories

by Janet Maybin, Nicola J. Watson

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230227132
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Edition description:	2009
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

JANET MAYBIN is Senior Lecturer in Language and Communication at The Open University, UK. She researches and writes on children's informal language and literacy practices and creativity in language. Recent publications include Children's Voices: Talk, Knowledge and Identity and Using English.

NICOLA J. WATSON is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at The Open University. Her research over the last fifteen years has focussed upon the reception, adaptation, transformation, and consumption of historical and literary narratives. Her publications include Revolution and the Form of the British Novel, 1790-1825, England's Elizabeth: An Afterlife in Fame and Fantasy (with Michael Dobson) and The Literary Tourist.
JANET MAYBIN is Senior Lecturer in Language and Communication at The Open University, UK. She researches and writes on children's informal language and literacy practices and creativity in language. Recent publications include Children's Voices: Talk, Knowledge and Identity and Using English.

NICOLA J. WATSON is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at The Open University. Her research over the last fifteen years has focussed upon the reception, adaptation, transformation, and consumption of historical and literary narratives. Her publications include Revolution and the Form of the British Novel, 1790-1825, England's Elizabeth: An Afterlife in Fame and Fantasy (with Michael Dobson) and The Literary Tourist.

Table of Contents

List of figures
List of plates
Acknowledgements
Introduction; J.Maybin & N.Watson
PART I: PURPOSES AND HISTORIES
Introduction; H.Montgomery
Instruction and Delight; P.Hunt
Origins: Fairy Tales and Folk Tales; J.Zipes
Children's Literature: Birth, Infancy, Maturity; M.Grenby
The First Golden Age; H.Carpenter
The Same But Different: Conservatism and Revolution in Children's Fiction; P.Hunt
Multicultural Agendas; L.Paul
Transformative Energies; K.Reynolds
PART II: PUBLISHING, PRIZES AND POPULARITY
Introduction; J.Maybin
Boys' and Girls' Reading, 1884; E.Salmon
Empire Boys; J.Bristow
20th Century British Publishing; N.Tucker
Prizes! Prizes! Newbery Gold; K.Kidd
In Defence of the Indefensible? Some Grounds for Enid Blyton's Appeal; D.Rudd
Marketing at the Millennium; C.Squires
PART III: POETRY
Introduction; N.Watson
'From the Garden to the Street': The History of Poetry for Children; M.Styles
The Language of Poems for Children: A Stylistic Case Study; L.Jeffries
'From the Best Poets?' Anthologies for Children; M.Styles
PART IV: STORY-TELLING, STAGE AND SCREEN Introduction; N.Watson
Stories in Performance; J.Swann
Drama; S.Greenhalgh
Screen Classics; D.Cartmell
PART V: WORDS AND PICTURES
Introduction; S.Goodman
Texts and Pictures: A History; J.Whalley
Picturebook Codes W.Moebius
Postmodern Experiments; B.Goldstone
PART VI: CONTEMPORARY TRANSFORMATIONS
Introduction; A.Hewings
In Praise of Adaptation; L.Hutcheon
Harry Potter Goes to China; S.Gupta with C.Xiao
Reading Transformations; R.Flewitt
Cross-reading and Crossover Books; R.Falconer
Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This is a challenging and rich collection of essays which students of children's literature in particular will find appealing and illuminating.' - NATE Journal English Drama Media

'This collection consists of dynamic and approachable essays and has been designed to be used by both teachers and students of Children's Literature...This is a book that challenges the old whilst exploring the new. It is, I would suggest, an ideal book, either as an introduction to, or as a further exploration of, the field of Children's Literature, particularly as it has a companion volume. I would also suggest that those who study how to write for children would also benefit from this book.' - Vanessa Harbour, Journal of Children's Literature