Children’s Literature in a Global Perspective

Children’s Literature in a Global Perspective covers the development of children’s literature from ABC-books, primers and traditional fairy tales to Disney and Harry Potter. A broad range of genres and examples of children’s literature in different media are taken up. But where traditional children’s literature courses have one cultural and linguistic focus, such as the English-American tradition or the Swedish tradition, the main concern here is to give a global perspective. The course combines two approaches to children’s literature – the critical and pedagogical. Examples of important critical and theoretical perspectives are provided, and the major problems pertaining to the genre and history of children’s literature are covered. At the same time the course is teacher-oriented – stimulating pedagogical reflection and a creative approach to the study and teaching of children’s books.

The course is particularly designed for teacher trainees, but it will also prove stimulating to librarian students and to undergraduates in English and comparative literature, as well to anyone interested in the study of childhood and children’s literature and culture.