The study of childrens literature is not just about children and the books said to be for them; it is also about the societies and cultures from which the literature comes, and it is about the assumptions and ideas we hold about children and childhood. For adults, reading childrens literature is ultimately both an act of nostalgia and of self-examination. When we consider childrens literature, we must include ourselves in the equation: What kinds of readers are we? How do we relate to books and stories? To what degree should we impose our experience upon others? Reading childrens literature actively can lead to all kinds of remarkable (and sometimes unsettling) revelations about ourselves and our society.
from the Introduction
Considering Childrens Literature is a collection of previously published essays on a variety of topics that inform the study of childrens literature. Exploring issues such as censorship, the canon, the meanings of fairy tales, and the adaptation of childrens literature into film, the essays in this anthology are as diverse as they are illuminating.
Along with authors like Natalie Babbitt and Margaret Mahy, teachers, scholars, and publishers of childrens books are also contributors. Accessible and comprehensive, this book will appeal to anyone interested in childrens literature.
