e d, i t'.xo n> /. A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature RebeccaJ. Lukens "Professor Emerita, Miami University Oxford, Ohig Boston New York San Francisco Mexico City Montreal Toronto London Madrid Munich Paris Hong Kong Singapore Tokyo Cape Town Sydney
To the Instructor xi To the Student xvii Reading Aloud to Children xxi chapter 1 / Literature: What Is It? 3 Literature for Children 8 Summary 9 Notes 10 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 10 chapter 2 / Genre in Children's Literature 13 Realism 14 Realistic Stories 15 Animal Realism 16 Historical Realism 16 Sports Stories 17 Formula Fiction 18 Mysteries and Thrillers 18 Romantic Stories 19 Series Books 19 Fantasy 20 Fantastic Stories 20 High Fantasy 21 Science Fiction 22 Traditional Literature 24 Fables 24 Folktales 24 Myths 26 Legends and Hero Talcs 21 Folk Epics 27 Poetry 28
Informational Books 28 Across Genre Lines 29 Classics 29 Table 2.1: Genre in Children's Literature 30 Summary 35 Notes 35 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 36 chapter 3 / Picture Books 39 The Illustrative Klements of the Picture Book 41 Designing the Book 41 Picturing Figurative Language 44 Amplifying the Text 44 Changing the Story 46 The Literary Elements of the Picture Book 48 Character 49 Plot 50 Theme 54 Setting 56 Point of View 57 Style 58 Rhythm 59 Tone 60 Lasting Favorites 62 Wordless Picture Books 66 Summary 69 Notes 70 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 71 chapter 4 / Character 75 Revelation of Character 76 By Actions 77 By Speech 77 By Appearance 78 By Others' Comments 78 By Author's Comments 78 Unity of Character and Action 78 Types of Characters 81 Hat Characters 82 Round Characters 83 Change in Character 84 O Special Issues of Character in Children's Literature 89 Traditional Literature 90 Animal Realism 91
chapter 5 / Plot 97 Science Fiction 91 Classics 93 Summary 94 Notes 95 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 95 Types of Narrative Order 98 Chronological Order 98 Flashbacks 99 Types of Conflict 99 Person-Against-Self 100 Person-Against-Person 102 Person-Against-Society 105 Person-Against-Nature 104 Patterns of Action 106 Suspense 108 The Cliff-hanger 111 Foreshadowing 112 Sensationalism 114 The Climax 114 Denouement 116 Inevitability 11 7 Types of Plots 118 O Special Issues of Plot in Children's Literature 120 Coincidence 120 Sentimentality 121 Lack of Conflict 123 Summary 124 Notes 125 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 125 chapter 6 / Theme 129 Theme or I nifying Truth 129 Types of Themes 130 Explicit Theme 130 Implicit Theme 151 Multiple and Secondary Themes 1 55 O Special Issues of Theme in Children's Literature 155 Traditional Literature 155 Didacticism 137 Nonsense 159 Mature Themes in Children's Stories I 59
Summary 143 Notes 145 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 143 chapter 7 / Setting 147 Types of Settings 148 Integral Setting 149 Backdrop Setting 150 Setting in Charlotte's Web 151 Functions of Setting 153 Setting That Clarities Conflict 153 Setting as Antagonist 156 Setting That Illuminates Character 157 Setting and Mood 158 Setting as Symbol 159 O Special Issues of Setting in Children's Literature 160 Traditional Literature 161 Fantasy and Science Fiction 162 Summary 163 Notes 164 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 164 chapter 8 / Point of View 167 Types of Point of View 168 First-Person Point of View 168 Omniscient Point of View 172 Limited Omniscient Point of View 173 Objective (Dramatic) Point of View I 75 O Special Issues of Point of View in Children's Literature 176 Maturity of the Reader 177 Animal Realism 178 Fantasy 180 Stories of Various Cultures 181 Summary 182 Notes 182 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 183 chapter 9 / Style 185 Devices of Style 187 Connotation 187 Imagery 188 Figurative Language 189 Hyperbole 190 Understatement 191
Allusion 191 Symbol 192 Puns and Wordplay 192 Devices of Sound 195 Onomatopoeia 195 Alliteration 195 Assonance 193 Consonance 195 Rhythm 193 Special Issues of Style in Children's Literature 194 Trite Versus Fresh Style 194 Retellings and Translations 197 Stories of Other Periods and Places 199 High Fantasy 201 Summary 202 Notes 202 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 202 chapter 10 / Tone 205 Tone in Charlotte's Web 206 Humor 208 Parody 212 Differing Tastes in Tone 213 Tone Related to the Author's Choice of Materials 214 Special Issues of Tone in Children's Literature 218 Condescension 218 Sentimentality 220 Sensationalism 222 Didacticism 225 Changing Values 224 Variety of Tone 225 Summary 228 Notes 228 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 229 chapter 11 / From Rhyme to Poetry 231 Nursery Rhymes 251 Literary Elements 252 Style 252 Nonsense 255 Rhythm and Sound 256 Compactness and Surprise 256 Poetry 258 Prose and Poetrv 258
Verse and Poetry 240 Kinds of Poetry 242 Rhythm 243 Sound Patterns 246 Figurativeness 247 Compactness 252 Emotional Intensity 254 Negative Qualities in Poetry 256 Summary 258 Notes 258 Books Containing Poems Cited in This Chapter 259 chapter 12 / Biography 261 Biography Defined 261 The Writer's Obligations 262 Biography and Fiction 264 Tone and Style 265 Concepts and Didacticism 270 Summary 273 Notes 273 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 273 chapter 13 / Informational Books 277 Nonflction Defined 278 Wonder as Motivation 279 Informational Books 280 Organization and Scope 280 Narrative Form 283 Style 286 Illustration 289 Special Issues in Nonfiction in Children's Literature 290 Tone 290 Didacticism and Propaganda 293 Recent Publishing Trends 296 Summary 298 Notes 298 Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter 298 Appendix A: Children's Book Awards 301 Appendix B: Selected Children's Magazines 337 Appendix C: Selected Reviewing Media for Children's Books 339 Appendix D: Selected Websites about Children's Literature 341 Glossary of Literary Terms 343 Acknowledgments 347 Index 351