Literature for Children : A Short Introduction Book

Most chapter concludes with “Summary,”  “Works Cited,” and “Recommended Readings.”

I. THE CONTEXTS OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

The Classical World.

The Middle Ages.

The World Renaissance.

The Eighteenth and Early Ninteenth Centuries.

The Victorians: The Golden Age.

The United States.

Between the Wars: 1920-1940.

From World War II to the Present.

Children's Literature from Around the World.

The Discovery of Childhood.

Language Acquisition.

Modern Theories of Child Development.

The Elements of Literature.

Literacy Criticism.

Literature-Based Learning.

Children's Literature and Film.

Children's Books and Censorship.

Cultural Diversity.

Social Diversity.

A Selected Bibliography of Culturally Diverse Children's Books.

II. THE KINDS OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE.

Mother Goose Books.

Wordless Picture Books.

Toy Books.

Alphabet Books.

Counting Books.

Concept Books.

Sharing Books with theVery Young.

A Selected Bibliography of Books for the Very Young.

Storytelling Elements.

The Conventions of Picture Book Art.

Design and Meaning in Picture Books.

Artistic Media.

Artistic Styles.

Appreciating the Picture Book.

Selected Bibliography of Picture Storybooks.

Definition of Folk Literature.

Types of Folk Literature.

Folktale Conventions.

Issues in Folk Literature.

Collectors, Retellers, and Adapters.

Selected Bibliography of Folk Literature, Myths, and Legends.

Definitions of Poetry.

Appendix: Children's Book Awards.