This book introduces students to the unique challenges of working with children's literature, updated for this new edition. Unlike the rigidly chronological approach of many introductions to children's literature, the genre-based approach of this volume ensures that all the principal genres are covered in detail. These include fables, fantasy, adventure stories, moral tales, family stories, school stories and children's poetry. This edition includes, additionally, coverage of illustrated and picture books. Grenby shows how these forms have evolved over three hundred years and explores the continuing popularity of these specific genres for children's books. It offers extensive coverage across genres, continents and periods. It has coverage of theory, including: definition, dual audience, canonicity, the relationship between text and image, 'childist criticism' and 'crossreading'. It links close readings of texts with the context of their original production and reception. It offers an extensive bibliography, including internet resources for rare and out-of-print primary texts.

About the Author
M. O. Grenby is Reader in Children's Literature in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.


Book Information
ISBN 9780748649020
Author M.O. Grenby
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Edinburgh University Press
Publisher Edinburgh University Press
Weight(grams) 356g