What-is-children-s-literature-

1. What is children’s literature?
 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).

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Book format- another form of
classification
 Book format refers to the way a book is put
together or looks.
 Wordless picture books,
 Easy-to-read books.
 Illustrated books
 Chapter books
 Hardcover books
 Paperback books
 Grocery store books
 Series books

7. 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.

8. 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

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

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