The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature

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 mediaIn 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.

“This thoughtfully organized, wide-ranging, and innovative book draws from cultural studies, literary studies, and child development studies in its consideration of diverse forms and genres ... Throughout the book, Karen cracks jokes, shares personal anecdotes, acknowledges questions she continues to with, and urges readers to disagree with and complicate the points that she makes. In short, she displays how pleasure, uncertainty, and exchange of knowledge are part and parcel of the practice of scholarship.”

This thoughtfully organized, wide-ranging, and innovative book draws from cultural studies, literary studies, and child development studies in its consideration of diverse forms and genres … Throughout the book, Karen cracks jokes, shares personal anecdotes, acknowledges questions she continues to with, and urges readers to disagree with and complicate the points that she makes. In short, she displays how pleasure, uncertainty, and exchange of knowledge are part and parcel of the practice of scholarship. -- Lara Saguisag The Lion and the Unicorn
Imagine sitting down with a brilliant friend whose scholarly expertise makes her an ideal guide through the history and context of children's and YA literature. She is thorough, reflective, and humorous. She steps into complex or troubled waters and never muddies issues or sounds churlish or superior. In short, she is a born teacher who also happens to be a terrific writer. Coats's readable The Bloomsbury Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature provides such an experience. In 12 accessible chapters, Coats (Illinois State Univ.) covers genres from folktale to novel to drama and forms such as graphic novels and picture books. She also takes on children's media and informational texts and provides new theoretical frameworks for examining the "in-betweens" of children's and YA lit. Coats demonstrates that everyone seeks patterns as part of learning, and she provides techniques and patterns of analysis for students new to the field. All these qualities—when joined by resources, chapter "talk backs," discussions of canon, multiculturalism, and sound advice for writing about literature (from close readings to conference papers)—make this book truly one of a kind. Summing Up: Highly recommended. CHOICE
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
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. -- Patricia Enciso, Ohio State University, USA

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).

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