“The study of children’s literature is not just about children and the books said to be for them; it is also about the societies and cultures from which the literature comes, and it is about the assumptions and ideas we hold about children and childhood. For adults, reading children’s literature is ultimately both an act of nostalgia and of self-examination. When we consider children’s literature, we must include ourselves in the equation: What kinds of readers are we? How do we relate to books and stories? To what degree should we impose our experience upon others? Reading children’s literature actively can lead to all kinds of remarkable (and sometimes unsettling) revelations about ourselves and our society.”
— from the Introduction

Considering Children’s Literature is a collection of previously published essays on a variety of topics that inform the study of children’s literature. Exploring issues such as censorship, the canon, the meanings of fairy tales, and the adaptation of children’s literature into film, the essays in this anthology are as diverse as they are illuminating.

Along with authors like Natalie Babbitt and Margaret Mahy, teachers, scholars, and publishers of children’s books are also contributors. Accessible and comprehensive, this book will appeal to anyone interested in children’s literature.

Andrea Schwenke Wyile's profile page

Teya Rosenberg's profile page

Andrea Schwenke Wyile is Associate Professor of English at Acadia University.

Teya Rosenberg is Associate Professor of English at Texas State University-San Marcos.

“Considering Children’s Literature is a compilation of accessible—and often highly personal—explorations of children’s literature as literature. Placed together, they represent diverse opinions on several of the genres commonly explored within contemporary studies of children’s literature: the picture book, historical fiction, poetry, and folklore. Discussions of young adult literature, theatre, and film are also included. All in all, Considering Children’s Literature is a valuable anthology of critical opinions about children’s and young adult media that should engage its readers in provocative discussions about the place of children’s literature in today’s publishing houses, libraries, schools, and colleges.” — Jill May, Purdue University