1st Edition

The Routledge Companion to Children's Literature

Edited By David Rudd Copyright 2010
    336 Pages
    by Routledge

    336 Pages
    by Routledge

    The Routledge Companion to Children’s Literature is a vibrant and authoritative exploration of children’s literature in all its manifestations. It features a series of essays written by expert contributors who provide an illuminating examination of why children’s literature is the way it is. Topics covered include:

    • the history and development of children's literature
    • various theoretical approaches used to explore the texts, including narratological methods
    • questions of gender and sexuality along with issues of race and ethnicity
    • realism and fantasy as two prevailing modes of story-telling
    • picture books, comics and graphic novels as well as ‘young adult’ fiction and the ‘crossover’ novel
    • media adaptations and neglected areas of children’s literature.

    The Routledge Companion to Children’s Literature contains suggestions for further reading throughout plus a helpful timeline and a substantial glossary of key terms and names, both established and more cutting-edge. This is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to an increasingly complex and popular discipline.

    Editor’s Introduction. Part I- Essays on Children’s Literature 1. The Development of Children’s Literature David Rudd 2. `Criticism is the Theory of Literature´: Theory is the Criticism of Literature Roderick McGillis 3. Gender Studies Victoria Flanagan 4. Race, Ethnicity and Colonialism Clare Bradford 5. Narratology John Stephens 6. Realism Lucy Pearson and Kimberley Reynolds 7. Fantasy Karen Coats 8. Young Adult Fiction and the Crossover Phenomenon Rachel Falconer 9. Picturebooks, Comics and Graphic Novels Mel Gibson 10. Media Adaptations Margaret Mackay 11. Sidelines: Some Neglected Areas of Children’s Literature and Its Scholarship Evelyn Arizpe and Morag Styles with Abigail Rokison. Part II – Names and Terms. Part III - Timeline. Part IV - Resources. Bibliography.

    Biography

    David Rudd is Professor of Children's Literature at the University of Bolton, UK. He was on the awarding panel for the Children's Laureate 2007 and his books include A Communication Studies Approach to Children’s Literature (1992) and Enid Blyton and the Mystery of Children's Literature (2000).

    'A comprehensive exploration of children's literature that will be a valuable addition to any English teacher's bookshelf. Subjects include the history and development of children's books, theoretical approaches to texts, realism and fantasy, issues of gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, young-adult fiction, the crossover novel, and comics and graphic novels. It also features suggestions for further reading and a glossary of key terms and names.'

    Times Educational Supplement Magazine