The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature - by Karen Coats (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From Hans Christian Andersen, Dr Seuss and Lewis Carroll to Disney and the Harry Potter series, this is a comprehensive introduction to studying the infinitely varied worlds of literature for children and young adults. Exploring a diverse range of writing, The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature includes: - Chapters covering key genres from fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to picture books, graphic novels and fairy tales - A history of changing ideas of childhood and adolescence - Coverage of psychological, educational and literary theoretical approaches - Practical guidance on researching, reading and writing about children's and young adult literature - Explorations of children's and young adult film, TV and new media In addition, "Extending Your Study" sections at the end of each chapter provide advice on further reading, writing, discussion and online resources as well as case study responses from writers and teachers in the field. Accessibly written for both students new to the subject and experienced teachers, this is the most comprehensive single volume introduction to the study of writing for young people"--]cProvided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

From Maria Edgeworth, Dr Seuss and Lewis Carroll to Sherman Alexie, Sharon Flake, and Gene Luen Yang, this is a comprehensive introduction to studying the infinitely varied worlds of literature for children and young adults.

Exploring a diverse range of writing, The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature includes:

- Chapters covering key genres and forms from fiction, nonfiction, and poetry to picture books, graphic novels and fairy tales
- A history of changing ideas of childhood and adolescence
- Coverage of psychological, educational and literary theoretical approaches
- Practical guidance on researching, reading and writing about children's and young adult literature
- Explorations of children's and young adult film, TV and new media

In addition, "Extending Your Study+? sections at the end of each chapter provide advice on further reading, writing, discussion and online resources as well as case study responses from writers and teachers in the field. Accessibly written for both students new to the subject and experienced teachers, this is the most comprehensive single volume introduction to the study of writing for young people.

Review Quotes

Coats' clear, engaging prose, chapter organization, examples, and directions for further inquiry reflect her extensive knowledge of the field - from the history of children's and young adult literature to the challenges of theorizing and 'pinning down' a genre-her capacity for nuanced and surprising readings, and her respect for her readers' intellectual lives. This book represents a landmark in the organization and presentation of the field, for new and advanced scholars of children's and young adult literature.

This important book authoritatively addresses readers who take the study of youth literature seriously and offers guidance to enhance their understanding of that literature. Its sweep is impressive, its positive attitude is encouraging, and its dedication to the importance of its subject matter is striking. Comprehensive in scope, contemporary in content, and accessible in tone, it sheds welcome light on theoretical literary perspectives while simultaneously focusing on what child and adolescent readers need from their literature, both in print and in other media. This book combines a broad exploration of the place of such literature for young people in the wider world with an invitation to investigate the detailed pleasures and demands of close readings of particular texts. Coats's personal voice provides a friendly guide to her readers from the early stages of encountering children's books to their first entry into the academic world of children's literature scholarship
Margaret Mackey, Professor Emerita at the School of Library and Information Studies, University of Alberta, Canada, and author of One Child Reading: My Auto-Bibliography

About the Author

Karen Coats is Professor of English at Illinois State University, USA. She is author of Looking Glasses and Neverlands: Lacan, Desire, and Subjectivity in Children's Literature (2004), and co-editor, with Shelby A. Wolf, Patricia Enciso, and Christine A. Jenkins, of the Handbook of Research on Children's and Young Adult Literature (2010).