The hidden adult : defining children's literature /
What exactly is a children's book? How is children's literature defined as a genre? A leading scholar presents close readings of six classic stories to answer these questions and offer a clear definition of children's writing as a distinct literary form. Perry Nodelman begins by consi...
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| Format: | Book |
| Language: | English |
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Baltimore :
Johns Hopkins University Press,
2008.
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| Online Access: | Table of contents only Contributor biographical information Publisher description |
| Summary: | What exactly is a children's book? How is children's literature defined as a genre? A leading scholar presents close readings of six classic stories to answer these questions and offer a clear definition of children's writing as a distinct literary form. Perry Nodelman begins by considering the plots, themes and structures of six works: "The Purple Jar," Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Doolittle, Henry Huggins, The Snowy Day and Plain City -- all written for young people of varying ages in different times and places -- to identify shared characteristics. He points out markers in each work that allow the adult reader to understand it as a children's story, shedding light on ingrained adult assumptions and revealing the ways in which adult knowledge and experience remain hidden in apparently simple and innocent texts. Nodelman then engages a wide range of views of children's literature from authors, literary critics, cultural theorists and specialists in education and information sciences. Through this informed dialogue, Nodelman develops a comprehensive theory of children's literature, exploring its commonalities and shared themes. The Hidden Adult is a focused and sophisticated analysis of children's literature and a major contribution to the theory and criticism of the genre. |
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| Physical Description: | x, 390 pages ; 24 cm. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN: | 9780801889790 (hardcover : alk. paper) 9780801889806 (pbk. : alk. paper) 0801889790 (hardcover : alk. paper) 0801889804 (pbk. : alk. paper) |