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Crosscurrents of Children's Literature: An Anthology of Texts and Criticism
Studio : Oxford University Press, USA
by Oxford University Press, USA
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Released : 2006-10-06
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780195134933
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 1 review)
List Price : $79.95
Our Price : $37.50
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Product Description |
Does children's literature portray the authentic perspectives of children, or does it present the views of the adults who write, sell, and review the books? How does it demonstrate the ways in which perceptions of childhood have developed over the centuries? How are issues of censorship and freedom of speech brought to light in children's books?
Addressing these and many other issues, Crosscurrents of Children's Literature: An Anthology of Texts and Criticism is the only anthology of classic and contemporary readings in children's literature to combine primary works with related critical essays. Organized thematically around modern critical debates, the selections explore how children's literature integrates instruction and entertainment, oral and written traditions, realism and fantasy, words and pictures, classics and adaptations, and perspectives on childhood and adult life. Illuminating the rich diversity of children's literature studies, the book incorporates approaches from several different fields including psychology, education, history, cultural studies, and literary criticism. It spans a wide range of literary periods and genres, balancing contemporary and historical texts, excerpts and longer selections, traditional and nontraditional materials, and English and translated works. The volume includes Native American and African American writings and offers insights into a variety of cultural and ethnic traditions. It is enhanced by introductory essays, illustrations, an alternate table of contents organized by genre, a timeline, and a bibliography of critical works. An Instructor's Manual and a Website (http://crosscurrentsoup.org) provide additional helpful resources.
Examining how literary forms and genres, diverse influences, and evolving attitudes toward childhood have shaped the field of children's literature, Crosscurrents of Children's Literature: An Anthology of Texts and Criticism encourages students and other readers to challenge common assumptions about children, childhood, and children's books. |
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Crosscurrents of Children's Literature |
Stahl, J.D. Tina L. Hanlon and Elizabeth Keyser, ed. 2007. Crosscurrents of children's literature: An anthology of texts and criticism. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN#9780195134933.
Crosscurrents of children's literature is a strong collection of essays and criticism with supporting excerpts from primary sources bringing children's literature to the forefront of literary studies. Focusing upon current concerns and debates, the editors and contributing essayists explore and discuss the various traditions of literature through the ages: instruction, gender issues, values, entertainment, oral history, word, pictures, fantasy, realism, censorship and perspectives.
Each section of the anthology presents an introductory essay followed by primary sources of essays written by literary experts and children's authors. Within the individual essays are excerpts of children's literature to support the author's argument as well as stand alone short stories, poems, and excerpts from well-known literature such as Hansel and Gretel, Huckleberry Finn, and Charlotte's Web, to name a few. Each selection is used to provide examples of the focus of each particular section, and each section is then finalized with further recommended readings.
The first section of the anthology begins with a look at whether children's literature seeks to entertain or teach, pulling primary sources, or essays, from C. S. Lewis, Charles Perrault, Lewis Carroll, Gary Paulsen and more. The editors and essayists discuss whether children's literature is created as a desire to instruct or influence children while also seeking to entertain; looking at the historical timeline from cautionary tales to the more satirical cautionary tales found in much of today's children's literature. From the discussions of the first section, the authors pull together essays for the second section that begins to look at how children's literature is seen as either the subjection of children or the subversion of adult authority. Censorship comes to the forefront due in part to a perceived innocence of children by adults as well as the adult perspectives of suitability. The third section looks at the connection between the oral and written traditions in literature: at the cultural patterns of life and traditions that make up the foundations of children's literature as intertwined with purpose. The fourth section deals with the oft challenged realm of fantasy as well as being juxtaposed with realism. More importantly, the section looks at the historical time line of how the definition for both of these genres has changed, given time, events, traditions, and cultural changes. The subsequent sections deal with gender issues, text, illustrations, satires, spin-offs and adaptations, values, and censorship.
In each case the sections are packed with authoritative essays and supportive text, creating an anthology of literary note.
The text itself has access features that support a reader's search for more information with a strong selected bibliography on the history and criticism of children's literature, a timeline of children's literature, credits, and index. It is an excellent resource for a professional educator or collegiate student who is looking to further his or her understanding of the varied history and purposes for children's literature. The professional aspect of this collection of literary criticism is outstanding and truly a volume of work that needs to be a part of a professional collection within this field of study.
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