A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature

by Lukens, Rebecca J.

• ISBN13: 9780205492183
• ISBN10: 0205492185
• Edition: 8th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-31
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Now in its Eighth Edition, this highly regarded book helps teachers, librarians, and other media specialists select quality childrenrs"s literature. Unlike an anthology, which includes only selected chapters and text summaries, A Critical Handbook of Childrenrs"s Literature uses examples of childrenrs"s books to explain critical principles and standards, as well as special issues in evaluating books for children. Taking readers through the definitions of literary terms such as plot, character, theme, setting, point of view, style, and tone, Rebecca Lukens provides sound criteria for assessing the merit of children's books. Throughout the book, Lukens addresses a variety of issues in childrenrs"s literature. Thoroughly updated with new examples of literature from all genres, A Critical Handbook of Childrenrs"s Literature continues to be the best resource available for helping anyone who works with children select the best childrenrs"s literature for the classroom, library, or home.

Table of Contents

To the Instructor	xi
To the Student	xvii
A Lifetime of Reading	xxiii
Literature: What Is It?	3	(10)
Literature for Children	9	(1)
Summary	10	(3)
Notes	10	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	10	(3)
Genre in Children's Literature	13	(26)
Realism	15	(3)
Realistic Stories	15	(1)
Animal Realism	16	(1)
Historical Realism	17	(1)
Sports Stories	18	(1)
Formula Fiction	18	(2)
Mysteries and Thrillers	18	(1)
Romantic Stories	19	(1)
Series Books	19	(1)
Fantasy	20	(3)
Fantastic Stories	20	(1)
High Fantasy	21	(1)
Science Fiction	22	(1)
Traditional Literature	23	(4)
Fables	24	(1)
Folktales	24	(2)
Myths	26	(1)
Legends and Hero Tales	27	(1)
Folk Epics	27	(1)
Poetry	27	(1)
Informational Books	28	(1)
Across Genre Lines	29	(1)
Classics	29	(1)
Table 2.1: Genre in Children's Literature	30	(5)
Summary	35	(4)
Notes	35	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	36	(3)
Picture Books	39	(36)
The Illustrative Elements of the Picture Book	41	(7)
Designing the Book	41	(3)
Picturing Figurative Language	44	(1)
Amplifying the Text	44	(1)
Changing the Story	45	(3)
The Literary Elements of the Picture Book	48	(14)
Character	49	(1)
Plot	50	(3)
Theme	53	(3)
Setting	56	(1)
Point of View	57	(1)
Style	58	(1)
Tone	59	(3)
Lasting Favorites	62	(4)
Wordless Picture Books	66	(3)
Summary	69	(6)
Notes	69	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	70	(5)
Character	75	(24)
Revelation of Character	76	(2)
By Actions	77	(1)
By Speech	77	(1)
By Appearance	78	(1)
By Others' Comments	78	(1)
By Author's Comments	78	(1)
Unity of Character and Action	78	(4)
Types of Characters	82	(3)
Flat Characters	82	(2)
Round Characters	84	(1)
Change in Character	85	(4)
Special Issues of Character in Children's Literature	89	(6)
Traditional Literature	90	(1)
Animal Realism	91	(1)
Science Fiction	92	(2)
Classics	94	(1)
Summary	95	(4)
Notes	96	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	96	(3)
Plot	99	(32)
Types of Narrative Order	100	(3)
Chronological Order	100	(1)
Variations in Narrative Order	100	(2)
Flashbacks	102	(1)
Types of Conflict	103	(6)
Person-Against-Self	103	(2)
Person-Against-Person	105	(1)
Person-Against-Society	106	(2)
Person-Against-Nature	108	(1)
Patterns of Action	109	(11)
Suspense	111	(3)
The Cliff-hanger	114	(1)
Foreshadowing	114	(2)
Sensationalism	116	(1)
The Climax	116	(2)
Denouement	118	(2)
Inevitability	120	(1)
Types of Plots	120	(2)
Special Issues of Plot in Children's Literature	122	(4)
Coincidence	122	(1)
Sentimentality	123	(3)
Lack of Conflict	126	(1)
Summary	126	(5)
Notes	127	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	127	(4)
Theme	131	(18)
Theme or Unifying Truth	131	(1)
Types of Themes	132	(4)
Explicit Theme	132	(1)
Implicit Theme	133	(2)
Multiple and Secondary Themes	135	(1)
Special Issues of Theme in Children's Literature	136	(10)
Traditional Literature	136	(2)
Didacticism	138	(3)
Nonsense	141	(1)
Mature Themes in Children's Stories	142	(4)
Summary	146	(3)
Notes	146	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	146	(3)
Setting	149	(20)
Types of Settings	150	(5)
Integral Setting	151	(1)
Backdrop Setting	152	(1)
Setting in Charlotte's Web	153	(2)
Functions of Setting	155	(7)
Setting That Clarifies Conflict	155	(2)
Setting as Antagonist	157	(1)
Setting That Illuminates Character	158	(2)
Setting and Mood	160	(1)
Setting as Symbol	161	(1)
Special Issues of Setting in Children's Literature	162	(3)
Traditional Literature	163	(1)
Fantasy and Science Fiction	164	(1)
Summary	165	(4)
Notes	166	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	166	(3)
Point of View	169	(20)
Types of Point of View	170	(10)
First-Person Point of View	170	(5)
Omniscient Point of View	175	(1)
Limited Omniscient Point of View	176	(2)
Objective (Dramatic) Point of View	178	(1)
Variations in Point of View	179	(1)
Special Issues of Point of View in Children's Literature	180	(5)
Maturity of the Reader	181	(1)
Animal Realism	181	(2)
Fantasy	183	(1)
Stories of Various Cultures	184	(1)
Summary	185	(4)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	185	(4)
Style	189	(22)
Devices of Style	191	(7)
Connotation	191	(1)
Imagery	192	(1)
Figurative Language	193	(1)
Hyperbole	194	(1)
Understatement	195	(1)
Allusion	196	(1)
Symbol	197	(1)
Puns and Wordplay	197	(1)
Devices of Sound	198	(2)
Onomatopoeia	198	(1)
Alliteration	198	(1)
Assonance	198	(1)
Consonance	198	(1)
Rhythm	199	(1)
Special Issues of Style in Children's Literature	200	(7)
Trite Versus Fresh Style	200	(2)
Retellings and Translations	202	(3)
Stories of Other Periods and Places	205	(2)
High Fantasy	207	(1)
Summary	207	(4)
Notes	207	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	208	(3)
Tone	211	(28)
Tone in Charlotte's Web	213	(1)
Humor	214	(5)
Parody	219	(1)
Differing Tastes in Tone	219	(2)
Tone Related to the Author's Choice of Materials	221	(4)
Special Issues of Tone in Children's Literature	225	(10)
Condescension	225	(1)
Sentimentality	226	(3)
Sensationalism	229	(1)
Didacticism	230	(1)
Changing Values	231	(1)
Variety of Tone	232	(3)
Summary	235	(4)
Notes	235	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	236	(3)
From Rhyme to Poetry	239	(32)
Nursery Rhymes	239	(4)
Literary Elements	240	(1)
Style	241	(2)
Nonsense	243	(3)
Rhythm and Sound	244	(1)
Compactness and Surprise	244	(2)
Poetry	246	(20)
Prose and Poetry	247	(1)
Verse and Poetry	248	(2)
Kinds of Poetry	250	(2)
Rhythm	252	(3)
Sound Patterns	255	(1)
Figurativeness	256	(5)
Compactness	261	(2)
Emotional Intensity	263	(1)
Negative Qualities in Poetry	264	(2)
Summary	266	(5)
Notes	267	(1)
Books Containing Poems Cited in This Chapter	267	(4)
Biography	271	(16)
Biography Defined	271	(13)
The Writer's Obligations	272	(3)
Biography and Fiction	275	(1)
Tone and Style	276	(4)
Concepts and Didacticism	280	(4)
Summary	284	(3)
Notes	284	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	285	(2)
Informational Books	287	(24)
Nonfiction Defined	288	(2)
Wonder as Motivation	289	(1)
Informational Books	290	(10)
Organization and Scope	290	(3)
Narrative Form	293	(3)
Style	296	(3)
Illustration	299	(1)
Special Issues in Nonfiction in Children's Literature	300	(7)
Tone	300	(4)
Didacticism and Propaganda	304	(2)
Publishing Trends	306	(1)
Summary	307	(4)
Notes	308	(1)
Recommended Books Cited in This Chapter	308	(3)
Appendix A: Children's Book Awards	311	(38)
Appendix B: Selected Children's Magazines	349	(2)
Appendix C: Selected Reviewing Media for Children's Books	351	(2)
Appendix D: Selected Websites about Children's Literature	353	(2)
Glossary of Literary Terms	355	(4)
Credits	359	(6)
Index	365