| The Hidden Adult: Defining Children's Literature Contributor(s): Nodelman, Perry (Author) |
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ISBN: 0801889790 ISBN-13: 9780801889790 Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press OUR PRICE: $75.05 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: September 2008 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Literary Criticism | Children's & Young Adult Literature - Literary Criticism | Semiotics & Theory - Literary Criticism | English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh |
| Dewey: 028.55 |
| LCCN: 2007049673 |
| Physical Information: 1.2" H x 6.2" W x 9.2" (1.55 lbs) 408 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: 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. |
Contributor Bio(s): Nodelman, Perry: - Perry Nodelman is professor emeritus of English at the University of Winnipeg and author of The Pleasure of Children's Literature and Words About Pictures: The Narrative Art of Children's Picture Books. Professor Nodelman is also an accomplished author of children's books such as Behaving Bradley. |