This encyclopedia offers comprehensive coverage of children's literature from a multitude of perspectives. Substantial essays cover a range of genres, critical and theoretical approaches, historical and institutional contexts, readerships and national traditions. Rather than a monolithic editorial view, the work encourages a number of critical approaches, ensuring that every facet of a complex and growing subject is treated critically and in depth. The work is divided into five sections: theory and critical approaches - including politics, ideology, psychoanalytical criticism, linguistics and feminism; types and genres - including folk tales, animal stories, religious writing, fantasy, science-fiction, adventure stories, poetry, drama, comics, picture books, historical fiction and school stories; the context of children's literature - including publishing, journals, libraries, prizes, media, design, translation and censorship; and applications of children's literature - such as teaching, literacy, librarianship, courses, therapy, teenagers and the handicapped.
