Books with title Criticism, theory, and children's literature

Children's literature is an expanding field of study, involving criticism, education, and psychology. This book argues that children's literature has an important role in the development of critical theory, especially in the areas of reader response and the effect of the imagined readership on the writing of the text itself. The book does not tackle the subject in the context of schools and movements in criticism, but seeks to develop ideas from basics, using the minimum of critical jargon.

Children's literature is an expanding field of study, involving criticism, education, and psychology. This book argues that children's literature has an important role in the development of critical theory, especially in the areas of reader response and the effect of the imagined readership on the writing of the text itself. The book does not tackle the subject in the context of schools and movements in criticism, but seeks to develop ideas from basics, using the minimum of critical jargon.

Practical criticism of three "classic" or soon-to-be-classic children's books - Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, E. B. White's Charlotte's Web, and Chris Van Allsburgh's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick - provides the substance of the Nimble Reader. McGillis employs these texts as well as others to explain the basic tenets and processes of criticism and to discuss criticism's usefulness in enhancing our understanding of children's literature. He skillfully balances theoretical discussions of various types of criticism - archetypal, psycho-analytical, political, structuralist, poststructuralist, reader response, and the New Criticism - with practical analysis of his primary texts and other works.With his engaging choice of texts, emphasis on practical criticism, and inclusion of bibliographies of both children's literature and works on literary theory and criticism, McGillis has succeeded in producing a dual-purpose volume: The Nimble Reader not only demonstrates a new approach to children's literature as a serious object of study but also represents one of the clearest presentations of literary theory published to date.

Publishing of books is a mark of growth of a particular society. The types and topics of books are a sure indicator of development of sensitivity in a given society. Books that sell ought to be brought out but books that express offstage concerns should also be given place. The present venture takes into consideration the twofold subject of children s literature and children in literature. It is of interest to those who wish to explore the recesses from where the adult behaviour emanates. It presents many less verbalized realities of childhood, its beauty, joy as well as challenges. Many papers bring out thinking of a society that shapes children and their world. Some papers take into stock the popular trends in children s literature. Overall the book Children and Literature is a tribute to the truly inspiring phenomenon of childhood.