What is children’s literature

What is children’s literature?
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Books, stories, folklore, riddles, poems, etc
From birth through age 18?
Are there books for different age groups?
Discuss.
 “a significant truth expressed in appropriate
elements and memorable language” (Lukens,
pp. 9, 2007).
 Literature is more than a piece of writing that
clarifies or explains. It delights and reveals
(Anderson, 2006).


What differentiates between
children and adult literature
Children
 Simpler expression of ideas.
 Simple vocabulary
 Attention span
 Stories are told more directly with r/ship among
characters shown clearly.
 Children more open to experimenting with more
forms of literature than adults.
 Children find spontaneous pleasure in rhymes &
jokes, cartoons, comics, etc.
 Adults tend to stick to one type of literature.

“Read, read, read. Read
everything”- william
Faulkner


Different genres of children’s
literature
 A genre is a kind or type of literature that
has a common set of characteristics.
 A genre is a grouping of books with similar
style, form, or content. The same term is
used for movies, music, plays, TV shows,
artwork, etc.
 They often overlap, especially those of
Early childhood.


Genres of children’s literature
(according to Anderson, 2006)
Children’s Literature
 Concept books
 Alphabet books
 Counting books
 Pattern picture books
 Wordless picture books
Fiction
 Fantasy
 Animal fantasy
 Contemporary fiction

 Historical fiction
 Science fiction

Traditional Literature
 Myths
 Fables
 Folk songs
 Legends
 Tall tales
 Fairy tales
 Traditional rhymes
Biography & autobiography
Informational books
Poetry & verse.


Book format- another form of
classification
 Book format refers to the way a book is put
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together or looks.
Wordless picture books,

Easy-to-read books.
Illustrated books
Chapter books
Hardcover books
Paperback books
Grocery store books
Series books


History of Children’s literature
 Up until the 19th century books written for
children were entirely religious,
instructional, or for the improvement of
their morals and manners.
 What do you know about how children
were viewed prior to the inception of child
development as a discipline? The views
about children then influenced nature of lit.


History (cont’d)
 In 1865 Alice in Wonderland” was written,
the first book that was written for mere
enjoyment. & that marked the beginning of
children’s literature


Differences between children’s
books now and then
 More experimentations with genres- from teaching

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values to fantasy, fiction, etc
Blurring age boundaries- picture bks for everyone.
Changing topics, eg., technology, terrorism
Technology & commercialization, bks on audio and
videotapes.: eg. Harry Potter.
Increasing diversity melting pot vs salad bowl.
International literature.
Building on the past, looking into the future.
Question: should we change the style of books to meet
needs of American audience?


 Students to go to lib & categorize bks.
 Students to work in gps to talk about what
bks for which children.