Description
The last thirty years have witnessed one of the most fertile periods in the history of children's books: the flowering of imaginative illustration and writing, the Harry Potter phenomenon, the rise of young adult and crossover fiction, and books that tackle extraordinarily difficult subjects. The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature provides an indispensable and fascinating reference guide to the world of children's literature. Its 3,500 entries cover every genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to children's hymns. Originally published in 1983, the Companion has been comprehensively revised and updated by Daniel Hahn. Over 900 new entries bring the book right up to date. A whole generation of new authors and illustrators are showcased, with books like Dogger, The Hunger Games, and Twilight making their first appearance. There are articles on developments such as manga, fan fiction, and non-print publishing, and there is additional information on prizes and prizewinners. This accessible A to Z is the first place to look for information about the authors, illustrators, printers, publishers, educationalists, and others who have influenced the development of children's literature, as well as the stories and characters at their centre. Written both to entertain and to instruct, the highly acclaimed Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is a reference work that no one interested in the world of children's books should be without.
About the Author
Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor, and translator, with some forty books to his name. With Leonie Flynn and Susan Reuben he has edited the award-winning Ultimate Book Guide series of reading guides for children and teenagers. He is on the board of a number of organizations that deal with literature and free speech.
Reviews
Review from previous edition a wonderful book ... deserves to become a classic * The Economist *
It is written with a lightness of touch exactly suited to its subject, and with an instinct for selecting the most human and interesting facts about children's books and their authors * Iona Opie *
invaluable ... it is hard to imagine a more needed or attractive companion * School Library Journal *
a substantial achievement * Times Literary Supplement *
a treasure chest which everyone seriously interested in children's literature will want to own * Children's Literature Association Quarterly *
a treasure trove of information on the stories behind the stories and the people behind the pen names * Folio Books *
Daniel Hahn's Oxford Companion adds up to a wonderful assemblage of past glories, present enchantments, intriguing rediscoveries, useful annotation, informed opinion and pointers to the future of a fascinating branch of English literature. * Irish Times, Patricia Craig *
rarely a day goes by without me consulting this fascinating, invaluable treasure. * Joy Court, Books for Keeps *
Anyone who wants to know more about the children's book world today will find this edition essential and one that will be dipped into time and time again. * Carousel, Chris Riddell *
Every public library should have one [and] it is an essential purchase for any self respecting school library or English Department genuinely interested in promoting reading for pleasure. * School Librarian, Joy Court *
the volume that Hahn has put together does a very good job in balancing the influential writers of the past with newer voices, and offering a real sense of how children's literature has grown over the years. * A Hermit's Progress, Victoria Addis 07/06/2015 *
a vast, rich yet contained network, in which new worlds can be discovered, and old worlds savoured afresh. * Times Literary Supplement, Philip Womack *
an erudite, passionate dictionary of children's literature that runs from Aesop to Harry Potter... excitingly up to date * Daily Telegraph, Simon Mason *
It remains an indispensable, comprehensive and readily comprehensible Companion for old hands and new, crafted with loving care. It is a distillation of knowledge of a depth and breadth that makes you boggle anew at what one book can do. * Guardian, Lucy Mangan *
a learned and totally addictive guide * Times, Alex O'Connell *
This is one reference work that no one interested in the world of children's books should be without. * Oxford Times, Jaine Blackman *
A tremendous achievement and a very worthy successor to the original. You should buy a copy. * Achuka, Michael Thorn *
perhaps best of all, Hahn has preserved the agreeably donnish atmosphere of the original version, with its long entries on obscure authors or titles all written with love as well as erudition... I would not therefore ever want to be without the Oxford Companion, not so much despite but because of its endearing eccentricities, with its second edition admirably following up the charm and achievements of the first. * Books for Keeps, Nicholas Tucker *
If you like children's books, there is no question about it; you need a copy of the second edition. * Bookwitch, Ann Giles *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198715542
Author Daniel Hahn
Format Paperback
Page Count 688
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 496g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 129mm * 41mm
About the Author
Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor, and translator, with some forty books to his name. With Leonie Flynn and Susan Reuben he has edited the award-winning Ultimate Book Guide series of reading guides for children and teenagers. He is on the board of a number of organizations that deal with literature and free speech.
Reviews
Review from previous edition a wonderful book ... deserves to become a classic * The Economist *
It is written with a lightness of touch exactly suited to its subject, and with an instinct for selecting the most human and interesting facts about children's books and their authors * Iona Opie *
invaluable ... it is hard to imagine a more needed or attractive companion * School Library Journal *
a substantial achievement * Times Literary Supplement *
a treasure chest which everyone seriously interested in children's literature will want to own * Children's Literature Association Quarterly *
a treasure trove of information on the stories behind the stories and the people behind the pen names * Folio Books *
Daniel Hahn's Oxford Companion adds up to a wonderful assemblage of past glories, present enchantments, intriguing rediscoveries, useful annotation, informed opinion and pointers to the future of a fascinating branch of English literature. * Irish Times, Patricia Craig *
rarely a day goes by without me consulting this fascinating, invaluable treasure. * Joy Court, Books for Keeps *
Anyone who wants to know more about the children's book world today will find this edition essential and one that will be dipped into time and time again. * Carousel, Chris Riddell *
Every public library should have one [and] it is an essential purchase for any self respecting school library or English Department genuinely interested in promoting reading for pleasure. * School Librarian, Joy Court *
the volume that Hahn has put together does a very good job in balancing the influential writers of the past with newer voices, and offering a real sense of how children's literature has grown over the years. * A Hermit's Progress, Victoria Addis 07/06/2015 *
a vast, rich yet contained network, in which new worlds can be discovered, and old worlds savoured afresh. * Times Literary Supplement, Philip Womack *
an erudite, passionate dictionary of children's literature that runs from Aesop to Harry Potter... excitingly up to date * Daily Telegraph, Simon Mason *
It remains an indispensable, comprehensive and readily comprehensible Companion for old hands and new, crafted with loving care. It is a distillation of knowledge of a depth and breadth that makes you boggle anew at what one book can do. * Guardian, Lucy Mangan *
a learned and totally addictive guide * Times, Alex O'Connell *
This is one reference work that no one interested in the world of children's books should be without. * Oxford Times, Jaine Blackman *
A tremendous achievement and a very worthy successor to the original. You should buy a copy. * Achuka, Michael Thorn *
perhaps best of all, Hahn has preserved the agreeably donnish atmosphere of the original version, with its long entries on obscure authors or titles all written with love as well as erudition... I would not therefore ever want to be without the Oxford Companion, not so much despite but because of its endearing eccentricities, with its second edition admirably following up the charm and achievements of the first. * Books for Keeps, Nicholas Tucker *
If you like children's books, there is no question about it; you need a copy of the second edition. * Bookwitch, Ann Giles *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198715542
Author Daniel Hahn
Format Paperback
Page Count 688
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 496g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 129mm * 41mm
