Children's Literature: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends

by Heather Montgomery (Editor), Nicola J. Watson (Editor)

Children’s Literature: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends provides students with high quality critical material on a selection of important classic and contemporary children’s books. From Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women to J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to Melvin Burgess’s Junk, each has been selected because they still find a favoured place on the bookshelves of today’s children and because they are widely studied on university courses. These case studies explore children’s literature across a variety of genres and ages, bringing together lively and accessible scholarly essays by leading scholars, some reprinted and others newly commissioned. The collection is supported by detailed introductory material, suggestions for further reading and a colour plate section reproducing covers and illustrations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens, Books About Books

424 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2009

Reviews

[Wondra Vanian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many of the essays in this one felt like filler - like, "We need an essay about Harry Potter... this one's not exactly relevant but it'll do."

[Michelle McLean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mixed bag of essays, some were quite hard-going, others were really interesting. Overall it’s a good companion to course EA300. My advice to any students about to embark of this course is to tab and highlight this book like your life depends on it. This will make your TMAs much easier to write.

[MrsB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Reader for my course. There are some interesting essays. Sometimes they are hard-going but some are fascinating.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Companion volume to Children's Literature: Approaches and Territories. This book features critical essays focusing on the set books. Depending upon which texts you are tackling for your essays it's not necessary to read the whole book cover to cover. Again a mixed bag in terms of readability.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for my Open University course 'Children's Literature'.
It contains some very good and insightful essays, as well as a few which were a little tough to get through.

[Kha]

it great book about childern literature

[Alid · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is part of EA300 Children's Literature module with the Open University. Parts of it were very interesting and parts of it I found to be like wading through very wordy treacle!