Early History of Childrens Literature Classic Childrens Text

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Early History of Children’s Literature Classic Children’s Text: Terms and Concepts Meghann Meeusen

Early History of Children’s Literature Classic Children’s Text: Terms and Concepts Meghann Meeusen

John Newbery Often credited with the “invention” of children’s literature; London bookseller and publisher

John Newbery Often credited with the “invention” of children’s literature; London bookseller and publisher who published A Little Pretty Pocket-Book in 1744 Ignited the children’s book industry Advertised and designed not only for instruction but pleasure (enjoy as well as learn from it” Newbery began to think about children and their parents as a distinct consumer group Namesake of the Newbery Award- given to the “most distinguished contribution to American literature for children”

Terms Crossover Texts: though written for adults, were read and enjoyed by children as

Terms Crossover Texts: though written for adults, were read and enjoyed by children as well (Gulliver’s Travels, Robinson Crusoe” Rational Moralists: writers inspired by Locke and Rousseau to emphasize moral instruction rather than specifically religious instruction, advocating the use of rational thought to reach moral conclusions Didactic: works of fiction, poetry, or drama designed to communicate a practical or moral lesson

Instruction or Pleasure? In what ways are all children’s books didactic? Why might this

Instruction or Pleasure? In what ways are all children’s books didactic? Why might this be? The Golden Age (mid 18 th century) More middle-class families could afford books for children Emphasize pleasure & creative expression in addition to instruction, new genres, more complex characters Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland “Classic” Children’s Literature like Jungle Book, Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Rabbit, Peter Pan, A Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables, Secret Garden, etc Children and adults were increasingly imagined as segregated and distinct audiences

Tensions That Define Children’s Literature Didacticism, Education, and Practicality: socializing children to behave or

Tensions That Define Children’s Literature Didacticism, Education, and Practicality: socializing children to behave or to think properly by providing models of good behavior Pleasure, Popularity, Profitability: commercial, money-making enterprise, works that are pleasurable and popular Aesthetics, Innovation, and Literariness: creative and artistic expression, works of literary merit, depth and significance

Awards Newbery Medal: the author of the most distinguished American novel Caldecott Medal: the

Awards Newbery Medal: the author of the most distinguished American novel Caldecott Medal: the artist of the most distinguished American picture book Pura Belpré Medal: a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal: he most distinguished beginning reader books published in the United States Robert F. Sibert Medal: most distinguished informational book Coretta Scott King Book Awards: outstanding African American authors/illustrators that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values Michael L. Printz Award: a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature

Reference This presentation is based in part on information in Reading Children's Literature: A

Reference This presentation is based in part on information in Reading Children's Literature: A Critical Introduction by Carrie Hintz and Eric Tribunella