Children’s literature studies: general Books

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Book SynopsisA love letter to the joys of childhood reading from Wonderland to Narnia.When Lucy Mangan was little, stories were everything. They opened up new worlds and cast light on all the complexities she encountered in this one.She was whisked away to Narnia - and Kirrin Island - and Wonderland. She ventured down rabbit holes and womble burrows into midnight gardens and chocolate factories. She wandered the countryside with Milly-Molly-Mandy, and played by the tracks with the Railway Children. With Charlotte's Web she discovered Death and with Judy Blume it was Boys. No wonder she only left the house for her weekly trip to the library or to spend her pocket money on amassing her own at home.In Bookworm, Lucy revisits her childhood reading with wit, love and gratitude. She relives our best-beloved books, their extraordinary creators, and looks at the thousand subtle ways they shape our lives. She also disinters a few forgotten treasures to inspire the next generation of bookworms and set them on their way.Lucy brings the favourite characters of our collective childhoods back to life - prompting endless re-readings, rediscoveries, and, inevitably, fierce debate - and brilliantly uses them to tell her own story, that of a born, and unrepentant, bookworm.'Passionate, witty, informed, and gloriously opinionated' Jacqueline Wilson author of The Story of Tracy Beaker Trade ReviewI felt like this was written just for me, and I think everyone will feel this wayTHE most wonderful, funny, clever, charming, evocative book. * India Knight *A book for people who love books, by a person who loves books. Bookworms unite (or just sit in our separate corners and read!) * Stylist *A delicously nostalgic treat that will make you want to pull out all those old favourites again * Good Housekeeping *Artfully evokes that particular magic of reading as a child… Deliciously unrepentant, Mangan’s Bookworm makes a timely case not just for how vital reading is, but also for rereading books as a child, and how reading remains consoling, fortifying and, sometimes, magical. * The Sunday Times *A wonderful romp through the pages of childhood, illuminated by wisdom, humour and enthusiasm. * Bernard Cornwell *What Mangan does brilliantly is express the experience of reading and articulate the emotional connections we make with stories. She understands how books become entwined in our lives and help us make sense of the world. You don’t need to have enjoyed the same books as she has to recognise the pure, life-affirming joy of reading that Bookworm celebrates so eloquently. * The Observer *Lucy Mangan has enough comic energy to power the National Grid... We need this new memoir about her childhood of being a bookworm. It's enchanting. * The Spectator *To read Lucy Mangan’s memoir of growing up bookish is to be taken back to a time in life when reading wasn’t merely a gentle pleasure or mild obligation but an activity as essential as breathing. * Guardian *Anyone who has ever preferred books to life will recognise Lucy Mangan as a kindred spirit. Her moving, funny, honest and superbly-written memoir about how childhood reading shapes our personalities, memories and chances could not be more timely or more needed in an age of library closures, embattled Humanities teaching and Philistinism. * Amanda Craig *Lucy Mangan's passionate, amusing and nostalgic reflection upon her favourite children’s books deserves to become as much of a classic as the novels she revisits. * Sunday Express *A witty and thorough history of reading for children from the 17th century to the present day. Fiercely unsentimental and often funny, it's a memoir that will strike a ringing chord with anyone who spent most of their childhood glued to a book. * Irish Times *Deft, warm and beautifully balanced. Made me smile. Made me glow. Made me think again and again. * Jason Hazeley, co-author of the adult Ladybird series *Funny, nostalgic and super-interesting… Warm, witty and a must-read for every bookworm. * The Sun *The Guardian columnist has composed an enthusiastic love letter to childhood reading, and the classic books that have shaped many young lives, as well as providing a resource and guide on how to build a children’s library * Guardian *Funny and engaging. -- Sue Barraclough * Irish News *Bookworm is for anyone who longed to be on Kirrin Island with the Famous Five, slip through a back of a wardrobe into Narnia or will always think fondly of the penis named Ralph in Judy Blume’s Forever * Red Magazine *A warm, witty story about stories and the way they shape us. -- Lucy Brookes * CultureWhisper *Lucy Mangan’s passionate, amusing and nostalgic reflection upon her favourite children’s books deserves to become as much of a classic as the novels she revisits. -- Charlotte Heathcote * Sunday Express *Enchanting. -- Ysenda Maxton Graham * Spectator *Joyful and heart-warming. * Muddy Stilettos *Entertaining and hugely engaging… An entirely inspiring read. -- Eithne Farry * Sunday Express *… like a heated but enjoyable discussion with a best friend bookworm. -- Jacqueline Wilson * The Week *A love letter to the books we all read as children. -- Mike Gayle * Metro *[W]ise and witty… all the time Mangan has the ability to be ceaselessly and apparently effortlessly funny * Books For Keeps *If you're a book lover of any form then you will almost certainly get something from this book… you will look fondly back on the books of your childhood too -- Paul Cheney * Nudge *In Lucy Mangan’s Bookworm…childhood books are brought vividly to life, as are the remembered pleasures of first encountering them -- Harriet Baker * Times Literary Supplement *Lucy Mangan's funny, warm Bookworm is personal and universal in the way that the very best books are -- Aliya White * Den of Geek, **Books of the Year** *Beautifully narrated, Bookworm brings the favourite characters of our collective childhoods back to life and brilliantly uses them to tell her own story * Psychologies *An enchanting, nostalgic, comfort read * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis''Oh grandmama, what great big teeth you have!''Charles Perrault''s versions gave classic status to the humble fairy tale, and it is in his telling that the stories of Little Red Riding-Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and the rest have been passed down from the seventeenth century to the present day. Perrault''s tales were enjoyed in the salons of Louis XIV as much as they were loved in the nursery, and it is their wit, humour, and lively detail that capture the imagination of adult and child alike. They transmute into vivid fantasies the hidden fears and conflicts by which children are affected: fears of abandonment, or worse, conflicts with siblings and parents, and the trials of growing up. In addition to the familiar stories, this edition also includes the three verse tales - the troubling account of patient Griselda, the comic Three Silly Wishes, and the notorious Donkey-Skin. This new translation by Christopher Betts captures the tone and flavour of Perrault''s world, and the dTrade ReviewBett's new edition positions Perrault in relation to the many other tales in circulation before and after, offering helpful comparisions. * Margaret ReynoldsThe Times *Bett's new translation of the tales is subtle and clever. * Margaret Reynolds, The Times *Table of ContentsThe History of Griselda ; Three Silly Wishes ; Donkey-Skin ; The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood ; Little Red Riding-Hood ; Bluebeard ; Puss in Boots ; The Fairies ; Cinderella ; Ricky the Tuft ; Hop o'my Thumb

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Book SynopsisA sensitive and gently humorous look at a little boy's imaginings of where his Grandpa goes after he dies.Trade Review'The illustrations are wonderful, and the book has a brilliantly creative approach to its subject' - Absolutely Mama

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Book SynopsisBruno Bettelheim was Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago from 1944 to 1973. He died in 1990.

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Book Synopsis''A landmark, bringing together a lifetime''s work on Lewis Carroll by writer and mathematician Martin Gardner. He dazzles on Carroll''s puzzles and games of logic and entertains on everything from Alice''s influence on the Beat poet Jack Kerouac to howmercury in hat linings turned hatters mad...it is unsurpassed'' - Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times ''The indispensable guide to a classic of English literature...no one who has ever wondered about the meaning of ''Jabberwocky'' should fail to include on their Christmas list'' - Robert McCrum, ObserverTrade Review'A landmark, bringing together a lifetime's work on Lewis Carroll by writer and mathematician Martin Gardner. He dazzles on Carroll's puzzles and games of logic and entertains on everything from Alice's influence on the Beat poet Jack Kerouac to how mercury in hat linings turned hatters mad...it is unsurpassed' - Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times 'The indispensable guide to a classic of English literature...no one who has ever wondered about the meaning of 'Jabberwocky' should fail to include on their Christmas list' - Robert McCrum, Observer

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Book SynopsisUsing the figure of the monster as an interpretive lens across a wide range of fiction, this book shows how young adult fiction contributes to the cultural conversation by offering new ways of thinking about climate change and definitions of citizenship.Trade ReviewA rich exploration of YA literature as a category of books. * , School Library Journal *offers some provocative nuggets * , Kirkus Reviews *The Necessity of Young Adult Fiction is a strong introduction to some of the most pressing issues in contemporary YA speculative fiction. It is balanced, carefully argued, and unafraid to deal with difficult topics. * Michelle Deininger, International Journal of Young Adult Literature *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Children of the Book 2: Loving the Monsters 3: Making Bridges 4: Reading Harry Potter in Abu Dhabi Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAn adaptation of Austen's famous novels, plus her rarely published novella Love and Friendship. A perfect introduction to the works of Jane Austen and classic literature for ages 7+.

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Book Synopsis''We pretended we had each a large island inhabited by people 6 miles high.''In their collaborative early writings the Brontës created and peopled the most extraordinary fantasy worlds, whose geography and history they elaborated in numerous stories, poems, and plays. Together they invented characters based on heroes and writers such as Wellington, Napoleon, Scott, and Byron, whose feuds, alliances, and love affairs weave an intricate web of social and political intrigue in imaginary colonial lands in Africa and the Pacific Ocean. The writings of Glass Town, Angria, and Gondal are youthful experiments in imitation and parody, wild romance and realistic recording; they demonstrate the playful literary world that provided a ''myth kitty'' for their early - and later - work.In this generous selection the writings of Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell are presented together for the first time. The Introduction explores the rich imaginative lives of the Brontës, and the tension between thTrade ReviewIn short, no student of the Bronte¤ s and indeed Victorian literature should be without Christine Alexanders edition. * William Baker, Years Work in English Studies *Extraordinary... Christine Alexander's imaginative and meticulous editing makes the juvenilia accessible for the first time. * Samantha Ellis, Times Literary Supplement *A fascinating piece of juvenilia. * Colin Waters, Sunday Herald *

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe two 'Alice' books are masterpieces of carefree nonsense for children and also embody layers of satire and allusion and mathematical, linguistic, and philosophical jokes. This new edition explores their complex status and the many interpretations of them, taking account of the most recent research and critical opinion.Trade ReviewOUP's edition makes a decent fist of contextualising and explaining a book that appeals to adults and children. * Colin Waters, Sunday Herald *

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Book SynopsisJenny Uglow narrates the story of Walter Crane, an intriguing and most prolific figure not only in illustration, but in political culture more broadly. Uglow expertly weaves a fascinating study of how Crane's art and politics developed from his childhood love of Pre-Raphaelite painting to the influences of Morris and William Blake on the journals, books, banners, pamphlets and postcards he went on to create as he forged a new style for the international socialist movement. Comprising a staggering range of visual material, Crane's images became a symbolic code that leapt over linguistic boundaries. This book is a brilliant record of an artist who blended styles and influences like no one before him.

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Book SynopsisBestselling historian Robert Lacey brings together 82 of our most beloved nursery rhymes in this collection inspired by the original drawings of Claud Lovat Fraser, vividly updated by artist Ben Coppin. Robert writes on the magic of nursery rhymes, the meaning of their not-so-childish nonsense and the history behind them.

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Book SynopsisAuthor and activist Lydia Maria Child was a foundational figure in the development of American literature in the early nineteenth century. After her debut novel Hobomok (1824) challenged readers with its representation of interracial marriage, she continued to blaze literary trails for the rest of her life, developing a loyal readership as she confronted the most pressing issues in American life. She wrote novels, poems and short stories, composed housekeeping and parenting manuals, edited abolitionist newspapers and narratives -- most notably Harriet Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861). Less well-known is that she almost single-handedly invented a new American literature for children. For decades, and particularly during her time at the helm of ground-breaking children's magazine The Juvenile Miscellany (1826-1834), Child was a constant companion for young readers across the world. For the first time, this anthology brings together a career-spanning collection of Child's writing for children which demonstrates the extraordinary richness and range of her vital work in this field. As she shaped the idea of what children's literature could be and do, Child trusted her young readers to understand difficult questions of social and racial justice, explorations of natural and national history, sentimental domestic sketches, and much more besides. Contemporary readers can now rediscover the delight that the arrival of a new issue of The Juvenile Miscellany brought to the world while grappling critically with the ongoing resonance of these questions in the twenty-first century.Table of ContentsContents: Introduction Hilary Emmett, Thomas Ruys Smith, students from the Department of American Studies at the University of East Anglia. Preface: "Address to the Young", Juvenile Miscellany (September 1826) Indigenous Peoples: "Indians Outwitted" from Evenings in New England (1824) "Indian Tribes" from Evenings in New England (1824) "Adventure in the Woods" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September 1826) "Adventures of a Bell" from The Juvenile Miscellany (March 1827) "Pol Sosef, The Indian Artist" from The Juvenile Miscellany (January and February 1831) "Mary Howard" from The Girls' Own Book (1833) Race, Slavery and Abolition "The Little Master and His Little Slave" from Evenings in New England (1824) "The St. Domingo Orphans" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September and October 1830) "Jumbo and Zairee" from The Juvenile Miscellany (January and February 1831) "Life in the Desert" from The Juvenile Miscellany (May and June 1831) "The Little White Lamb and the Little Black Lamb" from The Juvenile Miscellany (March and April 1833) "William Peterson, The Brave and Good Boy" from The Juvenile Miscellany (March and April 1834) "Mary French and Susan Easton" from The Juvenile Miscellany (May and June 1834) History and Revolution "History" from Evenings in New England (1824) "Fabled Correspondence between Forefathers' Rock and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" from Evenings in New England (1824) "The Young Hero" from Evenings in New England (1824) "The Little Rebels" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September 1826) "Benjamin Franklin" from The Juvenile Miscellany (March 1827) "Conversation Between a Little Boy of Olden Times, and a Boston Boy of 1827" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September 1827) "The Little Greek Girl" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September 1827) "American History" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September 1828, January 1829, March 1829, May 1829, July 1829, September 1829) The Natural World "Trees" from Evenings in New England (1824) "The Adventures of a Dandelion" from Evenings in New England (1824) "Coral Reefs" and "Wonders of the Deep" from The Juvenile Miscellany (November 1826, January 1827) "Birds" from The Juvenile Miscellany (May 1827) "Insects" from The Juvenile Miscellany (July 1827) "The Squirrel" from Flowers for Children (1854 [1844]) "Aunt Maria's Swallows: A True Story" from Flowers for Children (1854 [1847]) "Secrets of Nature" from A New Flower for Children (1856) Work, Wealth and Poverty "Conversation on Wealth" from Evenings in New England (1824) "The Young Bookseller" from Evenings in New England (1824) "Louisa Preston" from The Juvenile Miscellany (March 1828) "The Fairy: A Fable" from The Juvenile Miscellany (September 1829) "The Industrious Family" from The Juvenile Miscellany (July and August 1831) "Sophia Morton" from Tales For Youth (1832) "The Christ-Child and the Poor Children" from Flowers for Children (1854 [1844]). "Rosy O'Ryan" from A New Flower for Children (1856) Coda: "Farewell" from Evenings in New England (1824)

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Book SynopsisFitzsimonsâs eye-opening biography brings new light to the life and works of famed literary icon E. Nesbit, in whom pragmatism and idealism, tradition and modernity worked side-by-side to create a remarkable writer and woman.Trade Review'A terrific book' Neil Gaiman'A very well-researched biography' Kate Atkinson'Excellent' Irish Times'Readable and thorough' Guardian'Eleanor Fitzsimons' painstaking research gives us a new insight into the bizarre Bohemian life of the groundbreaking children's author E. Nesbit. It's a fantastic read' Jacqueline Wilson'Absolutely superb!' Hilary McKay, author of Costa Book award-winning The Skylarks War'In this long-overdue new biography, Eleanor Fitzsimons gives us a nuanced yet compelling portrait of E. Nesbit's many-facetted personality, life and works, as well as of the politically and culturally vibrant milieu in which she lived' Fiona Sampson, author of In Search of Mary Shelley'What a stirring and unexpected story Eleanor Fitzsimons tells and what a subject she has found. I can't think of a single writer who doesn't owe something to Edith Nesbit's glorious books for children. The extraordinary woman who wrote them proves to be every bit as brave, funny and imaginative as her own intrepid characters' Miranda Seymour, author of In Byron's Wake'One of the greatest children's writers, and an acknowledged much loved influence on Joan Aiken E. Nesbit is celebrated in this wonderful new biography by Eleanor Fitzsimons' Lizza Aiken'An exceptional biography about an absolutely fascinating individual' Adam Roberts, Vice-President of the H.G. Wells Society'A fascinating, thoughtfully organized, thoroughly researched, often surprising biography' Kirkus Review'Fitzsimons delivers a sprightly and highly readable life of a writer who deserves even wider recognition' Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisChildren′s literature is a powerful resource that can inspire a young reader’s lifetime love of reading, but how can you ensure that your literacy teaching uses this rich creative world to its fullest? This book gives pre-service primary teachers an in-depth guide to each major type of children′s book, examining the form, structure and approach of each. From fairy tales and non-fiction to picture books and digital texts, learn what qualities underpin outstanding children′s literature and how you can use this to inspire rewarding learning experiences in your classroom. Key features: Each chapter is full of key book recommendations to help you select excellent age-appropriate texts for your learners An international focus across English-language publishing, covering key books from Australian, US and UK authors A special focus on Australian indigenous children′s literature Busting popular myths about children′s literature to give you a deeper understanding of the form Evaluation criteria for every genre, helping you to recognise the qualities of high quality books This is essential reading for anyone training to teach in primary schools and qualified teachers looking to improve their professional knowledge. Matthew Zbaracki is State Head of Victoria in the National School of Education at ACU, Melbourne.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Children’s Literature Chapter 2: Beginning Books Chapter 3: Picture Books Chapter 4: Transitional Novels Chapter 5: Poetry Chapter 6: Non-fiction Chapter 7: Fantasy Chapter 8: Realistic Fiction Chapter 9: Historical Fiction Chapter 10: Indigenous Literature Chapter 11: Digital Texts Chapter 12: Humour Chapter 13: Future Leanings

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Book SynopsisChildren''s literature takes many forms - works adapted for children in antiquity, picture books and pop-ups - and now includes the latest online games and eBooks. This vast and amorphous subject is both intimately related to other areas of literary and cultural investigation but also has its own set of concerns, issues and challenges. From familiar authors including Beatrix Potter and Roald Dahl, classic books such as Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and The Secret Garden, to modern works including Harry Potter and the Twilight series, thisVery Short Introduction provides an overview of the history of children''s literature as it has developed in English, whilst at the same time introducing key debates, developments, and figures in the field.Raising questions about what shape the future of literature for children should take, and exploring the crossover with adult fiction, Reynolds shows that writing for children - whether on page or screen - has participated in shaping and directing ideas about culture, society and childhood.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction: What is children's literature? ; 1. An outline history of publishing for children ; 2. Why and how are children's books studied? ; 3. Transforming the texts of childhood ; 4. Genres and generations - and the case of the family story ; 5. Visions of the future ; 6. Ethical debates in children's literature ; Afterword ; References ; Further reading ; Index

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisChildren''s picturebooks are the very first book we encounter and play a major role in introducing us to both art and language. But what does it take to create a successful picturebook for children?Children''s Picturebooks, Second Edition is the revised edition of a bestselling title that carries invaluable insight into a highly productive, dynamic sector of the publishing world. Featuring interviews with leading illustrators and publishers from across the world, it remains essential reading for students and aspiring children''s book illustrators and writers.Aimed at arts and literature students as well as aspiring children''s book illustrators and writers. This book covers everything from the change in children''s picturebooks over time to a breakdown of the children''s publishing industry including, the editorial process, approaching publishers and literary agents and the printing process.With 15 new case studies from well-known illustrators like Jon Klassen, Oliver Jeffers and Beatrice Alemagna and publishers such as Puffin Picture Books, Thames and Hudson and Enchanted Lion Books, this revised edition also includes a brand new chapter devoted to non-fiction, especially the rise of both narrative non-fiction and big books.

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Book SynopsisLearn how to create effective illustrations to match children's stories for different age groups. The art of illustration for children has a long and rich tradition, and for generations has been loved by countless readers. Illustrating Children's Books shows you how to create beautiful artwork for children, examines the approaches taken by advanced-level students and leading artists and describes how their ideas evolve from start to finish through step-by-step sketches. - Identify the techniques used by successful children's illustrators and get advice on how to tackle fantasy, fairy tale, realism and nature drawings - Learn tips on working in a wide variety of media and receive professional advice on illustrating for different age groups and types of publication - Discover how to interpret and enrich the text, build consistent character identities, and create vibrant settings that will stir readers' imaginations - Find out how to create storyboards and layouts, work to brief, and present your work professionally - Explore specific examples such as picture books for little ones, storybooks for older children and educational books, with the final chapters devoted to design and typography and the business of getting publishedTrade ReviewFollow Martin Salisbury's tips and instructions and, if you have the aptitude, you could find yourself producing pictures good enough for printing. * Writing Magazine *Table of ContentsA Brief History Drawing Media, Materials, and Techniques Character Development The Picture Book Illustration for Older Children Non-fiction Illustration Design and Typography Getting Published Glossary Resources Index and Credits

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Book Synopsis''Once upon a time in mid-winter, when the snowflakes were falling from the sky like down, a queen was sitting and sewing at a window ...''The tales gathered by the Grimm brothers are at once familiar, fantastic, homely, and frightening. They seem to belong to no time, or to some distant feudal age of fairytale imagining. Grand palaces, humble cottages, and the forest full of menace are their settings; and they are peopled by kings and princesses, witches and robbers, millers and golden birds, stepmothers and talking frogs.Regarded from their inception both as uncosy nursery stories and as raw material for the folklorist the tales were in fact compositions, collected from literate tellers and shaped into a distinctive kind of literature. This new translation mirrors the apparent artlessness of the Grimms, and fully represents the range of less well-known fables, morality tales, and comic stories as well as the classic tales. It takes the stories back to their roots in German RomanticisTrade ReviewThe book that afforded me deepest pleasure is 'Selected Tales' by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (trans Joyce Crick). What a joy to meet Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel and Ashypet again in these sparkling new versions. * Paul Bailey, The Independent *terrific new edition...forcefully translated and brilliantly analysed, by Joyce Crick. * The Independent *Joyce Crick, a fine scholar of German literature, has set out here to rescue Grimm's Tales both from children and folklorists and to help us see it as a major work of literature... she has done a magnificent job, and both she and OUP are to be congratulated. * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThe Water-Babies is an extraordinary children's book that combines fantasy, satire, social comment, and evolutionary theory to create a fairy tale like no other. This attractive new edition reprints the original complete text and illustrations with a lively introduction and notes that reveal the full richness of Kingsley's exuberant story.Trade ReviewThis new OUP edition has splendid notes, which should guide you through the abstruse references if you want them too. Theres also a learned introduction for those who like a bit of background information. * Harriet Devine, Shiny New Books *

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Book SynopsisStep-by-step essay plans to help achieve higher grades in the closedbook AQA English Literature examination. With hints and tipsto plan and structure 'great answers' this title will help studentsto see how a great answer meets the required Assessment Objectivesand to perfect their own technique.

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Book SynopsisIn the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals. Acclaimed critic and author Rosen collects more than 40 of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume.Trade Review"As plain-language, kid-friendly introductions to socialist politics, [the Workers’ Tales stories] are at once intriguing historical artifacts and, in a few cases, striking allegories that remain pertinent now, even on the other side of the Atlantic."---J.C. Pan, The Atlantic"A thought-provoking anthology. . . . These tales . . . are fascinating to read, both to see how they fit into the fairy tale genre and to see which messages still ring true today."---Catherine Ramsdell, PopMatters"[Workers’ Tales] entries remain powerful in their ethical simplicity—conveying with force the moral urgency of the socialist critique and its continued relevance to the problem of societies that remain systemically unequal."---Luke Savage, Jacobin"[An] important collection."---Jon Klaemint Hofgaard, Peace News"Throughout, the tales in this collection exemplify themes and ideas related to work and the class system. . . . [A] beautiful volume." * Arab News *"[A] timely yet time-honored evocation of the enduring issues of inequality, injustice, and exploitation."---Simon Poole, Journal of Folklore Research"[T]his book will make you think, and it will make you want to share it with your friends so you can discuss it."---Tahlia Merrill Kirk, Once Upon a Blog"[An] excellent and charming anthology. . . . This is a fascinating introduction to a relatively unexplored area, and allthe more welcome for it."---Paul Cowdell, Folklore"These tales provide considerable insight into the life course, relationships, job experiences, and housing conditions of many people in the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century British working class."---Stephen H. Norwood, European Legacy

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Book SynopsisFairy tales shape our cultures and enrich our imaginations; their narrative stability and cultural durability are incontestable.

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Book SynopsisAfter the success of How Did Long John Silver Lose His Leg?, Dennis Butts and Peter Hunt take their forensic lenses to more mysteries that have troubled readers of children''s books over the centuries. Their questions range from the historical to the philosophical, some of which are puzzling, some of which are controversial:- Why does it seem there are no Nursery Rhymes before 1744?- Why did God start to die in children''s books long before Nietzsche noticed it?- Why are the schoolgirls at Enid Blyton''s St Clare''s so horrible?- Why are there so many dead parents littering children''s books?- Why does C.S. Lewis annoy so many people?The book also explains why an elephant captures Adolph Hitler, who was Biggles''s great love, and whose side G.A. Henty was on in the American civil war, and delivers a plethora of erudite, entertaining answers to questions that you may not have thought of asking. And notably, of course, it reveals why William George Bunter, the Fat Owl of the Remove, was Trade Review"Once again Dennis and Peter take us on an often unexpected but entertaining journey through the world of children's authors, books, stories, and rhymes that we all know and love, but with their unique line of questioning and analysis. This long-awaited sequel is an essential gem of a publication for anyone with an interest in children's literature or who, like me, had a bookish childhood." Nigel Gossop, founder of The Westerman Yarns There is much to enjoy in this varied and stimulating little book, much to ponder, and much to argue about. -Robert Kirkpatrick,Childrens books History Society, Newsletter N1235 December2019 This Book is a provocative and fun way to think about children's books: Dennis Butts and Peter Hunt's new book, "Why Was Billy Bunter Never Really Expelled" Published by #lutterworthbooks -@MichaelRosenYes Michael Rosen Twitter Butts and Hunt provide succint and entertaining responses to a series of questions related to children's literature. Mark I. West, Children's Literature Association, pp80-81, 2020 The authors' wit and passion for the play of thought in these extemporaneous essays do not compromise their scholarly merit. They are captivaing to read, a true firework of erudition - instruction and delight at their best Jutta Reusch, BookBird Journal, Vol 28 no.2, 2020 Why Was Bill Bunter Never Really Expelled is a readable, thought-provoking, enlightening, valuable and learned collection without a wiff of theory. Jean Webb, International Research Society for Children's LiteratureTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1. Should Children Read Fairy Tales? / Dennis Butts 2. What Makes a Children's Classic? / Peter Hunt 3. Why Were there no Nursery Rhymes before 1744? / Dennis Butts 4. Who Wrote Little Goody Two-Shoes? / Dennis Butts 5. What (and Where) Are the Secret, Lost Books of Childhood - and Why Do They Matter? / Peter Hunt 6. The Curious History of Three Bears . . . and a Lamb / Dennis Butts 7. Charles Kingsley: Christian Socialist, Evangelical Storyteller, or Sexual Sadist? / Dennis Butts 8. Who Was the Real William Brighty Rands? / Dennis Butts 9. Why Are there so many Dead Parents in Children's Books? / Peter Hunt 10. Was Lorna Doone really Married? / Dennis Butts 11. Whatever Happened to God in Children's Books? / Peter Hunt 12. Whose Side Was Henty really on in the American Civil War? / Dennis Butts 13. What Do Children's Books Do about Christmas? / Peter Hunt 14. Is Little Lord Fauntleroy a Children's Story - and Does the Subplot Work? / Dennis Butts 15. Why Was Billy Bunter never really Expelled from Greyfriars School? / Dennis Butts 16. Why on Earth Are there Children's Books about War? / Peter Hunt 17. Biggles: Tough Guy or Romantic Hero? / Dennis Butts 18. Why Is there Nobody Nice at St Clare's? / Peter Hunt 19. Were there Two Flutes? Time Present and Time Past at Green Knowe / Dennis Butts 20. Why Does C.S. Lewis Annoy so many People? / Peter Hunt 21. What Happened Next? The Problem of Sequels / Dennis Butts 22. To See Ourselves ... What Image of the British Do Children's Books Give the World? / Peter Hunt 23. Why Is there no such Thing as Children's Poetry? / Peter Hunt 24. Which Are the Best 100 Children's Books? / Dennis Butts 25. And Which Is the Best? The Carnegie Medal and other Awards / Peter Hunt 26. A Mystery Solved: How Adults Read Children's Books / Peter Hunt Notes Index

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Book SynopsisRediscovers the lost meaning of fairy tales and shows how they can have a profound influence on the developing mind of a child.Table of Contents1. The Inner Meaning of Fairy Tales 2. The Destiny of Primal Wisdom 3. Snippets of Knowledge 4. Helpful Beings 5. Secrets of the Seasons 6. "The Juniper Tree" 7. Brothers and Sisters 8. Becoming Human 9. The Cosmic Mystery of the Twelve 10. Animals as Humanity's Helpers 11. Enchantment and Release 12. The Powers of Darkness 13. The Michael Mystery 14. The Mystical Wedding 15. The Virgin Sophia 16. Observations on Some Motifs: Educational points of view The mystery of the horse Bearskin Trades in the fairy tale Fairy tales of nixies The mystery of winter The apple The heavenly twins The ravens The trinity of the soul's powers Thumbling The white snake Hats and caps The mystery of "fourteen years" Forces which have been held back The kingdom of the dead The hidden picture 17. Fairy Tales Around the World: Russian fairy talesFairy tales from Grisons Fairy tales from Gascony Nordic fairy tales African fairy tales The Celtic heritage of wisdom

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Book SynopsisStep-by-step essay plans to help achieve higher grades in the closedbook AQA English Literature examination. With hints and tipsto plan and structure 'great answers' this title will help studentsto see how a great answer meets the required Assessment Objectivesand to perfect their own technique.

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Book SynopsisThe Adventures of Pinocchio: Mischievous puppet dreams of becoming real boy, learns lessons, becomes wise and good. Will he achieve dream and will Geppetto become rich? Read to find out.

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Book SynopsisPerrault's fairy tales in a scintillating translation, including the less familiar verse tales and with illustrations by Gustave Doré. The introduction explores the imaginative power of the stories and the many interpretations to which they have been subject.Trade ReviewPerrault's tales capture the myth and magic of the fairy tale ... It is extraordinary to revisit stories so familiar from childhood and see within their bounds savagery, deceit and dire warnings about predators and even puberty. The hidden symbolism of Perrault's tales is explained in the erudite introduction by Christopher Betts, who has translated the 1697 edition, the only complete translation in both verse and prose. The fairy tale is a rite of passage. Read yours aloud, share it with a small or re-read these tales and wonder at the depth that Disney never did. * The Field *Betts gives the stories the sense of humour ... The Gustave Doré illustrations in the Oxford editions add to the baroque feel of the thing as well. These are fairy tales that are as much a pleasure to read now as they were to be told once upon a time ago. * Desperate Reader *This Oxford University Press treatment of Perrault's fairy tales is a lovely edition for the discerning collector who likes pretty books that contain intellectual insight and commentary along with meticulously translated prose and verse. It may also be a nice edition for bedtime stories. * Allen Stroud, Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation *Bett's new edition positions Perrault in relation to the many other tales in circulation before and after, offering helpful comparisions. * Margaret ReynoldsThe Times *Bett's new translation of the tales is subtle and clever. * Margaret Reynolds, The Times *Table of ContentsIntroduction Tales in Verse Preface The History of Griselda Three Silly Wishes Donkey-Skin Stories or Tales of Bygone Times, With Their Morals The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood Little Red Riding-Hood Bluebeard Puss in Boots The Fairies Cinderella Ricky the Tuft Hop o' my Thumb

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Book SynopsisThe Wind in the Willows has its origins in the bedtime stories that Kenneth Grahame told to his son Alastair and then continued in letters (now held in the Bodleian Library) while he was on holiday. But the book developed into something much more sophisticated than this, as Peter Hunt shows. He identifies the colleagues and friends on whom Grahame is thought to have based the characters of Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad, and explores the literary genres of boating, caravanning and motoring books on which the author drew. He also recounts the extraordinary correspondence surrounding the book’s first publication and the influence of two determined women – Elspeth Grahame and publisher’s agent Constance Smedley – who helped turn the book into the classic for children we know and love today, when it was almost entirely intended for adults. Generously illustrated with original drawings, fan letters (including one from President Roosevelt) and archival material, this book explores the mysteries surrounding one of the most successful works of children’s literature ever published.Trade Review'How did a famous book come to be written by a man with no interest in it and how did it become a children's classic when it was almost entirely intended for adults? This splendid book gives the answers to both these curious conundrums.' * This England Magazine *'This lovingly-illustrated book is full of archival material and explores the mysteries surrounding one of the most successful works of children's literature.' * Countryside Magazine *'Well laid out and thoroughly readable book … Read this book for the tale of how 'The Wind in the Willows' took shape is equally as fascinating.' * The Field *'An elegant, attractively-tactile, visually-enhancing volume that should fly off bookshop shelves with the speed of Toad behind the wheel of his "shiny new motor-car, of great size, painted a bright red".' * Children's Books History Society *'If you have never read Kenneth Grahame's fantastic children's book, before you do please read this. … The timeless illustrations and their real locational inspirations all give a super insight into the creation of this wonderful tale. As Toad would say of this charming volume: "Poop! Poop!"' * Let's Talk! 'Books of the Month' *

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Book Synopsis'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland' and 'Through the Looking-Glass' are two of the most famous, translated and quoted books in the world. But how did a casual tale told by Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), an eccentric Oxford mathematician, to Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean of Christ Church, grow into such a phenomenon? Peter Hunt cuts away the psychological speculation that has grown up around the ‘Alice’ books and traces the sources of their multi-layered in-jokes and political, literary and philosophical satire. He first places the books in the history of children’s literature – how they relate to the other giants of the period, such as Charles Kingsley – and explores the local and personal references that the real Alice would have understood. Equally fascinating is the rich texture of fragments of everything from the ‘sensation’ novel to Darwinian theory – not to mention Dodgson’s personal feelings – that he wove into the books as they developed. Richly illustrated with manuscripts, portraits, Sir John Tenniel’s original line drawings and contemporary photographs, this is a fresh look at two remarkable stories, which takes us on a guided tour from the treacle wells of Victorian Oxford through an astonishing world of politics, philosophy, humour – and nightmare.Trade Review"This attractive and ingeniously illustrated little volume. . .will add much enjoyment to reading and thinking about this remarkable book." * Kimberley Reynolds, Newcastle University *Table of ContentsContentsCharles and Lewis: ‘With a name like yours, you might be any shape, almost.’Prelude: ‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ 1 Two Men and Three Girls in a Boat2 Before Alice3 What Alice Knew4 Outside Charles Dodgson 5 Inside Charles Dodgson 6 From Oxford to the WorldNotesBibliographyPicture CreditsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe tales gathered by the Grimm brothers are familiar, fantastic, and frightening. This selection includes fables, morality, comic stories, and their best known 'fairy' tales, as well as variant stories that were deemed unsuitable for children.Trade ReviewThe book that afforded me deepest pleasure is 'Selected Tales' by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (trans Joyce Crick). What a joy to meet Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel and Ashypet again in these sparkling new versions. * Paul Bailey, The Independent *terrific new edition...forcefully translated and brilliantly analysed, by Joyce Crick. * The Independent *Joyce Crick, a fine scholar of German literature, has set out here to rescue Grimm's Tales both from children and folklorists and to help us see it as a major work of literature... she has done a magnificent job, and both she and OUP are to be congratulated. * TLS *As always the OWC have treated the stories with respect and the translator, Joyce Crick, has done an excellent job of using standard modern English, making the stories easily approachable and enjoyable, while still retaining the sense of antiquity which gives them part of their charm. * FictionFan *Definitely a collection aimed at adults and students, but with all the pleasure of story telling flourishes which make it a joy to read. I'm delighted with this edition. * Desperate Reader *

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Book SynopsisAccessible and engaging, this methods textbook provides a roadmap for improving reading instruction. Leland, Lewison, and Harste explain why certain ineffective or debunked literacy techniques prevail in the classroom, identify the problematic assumptions that underly these popular myths, and offer better alternatives for literacy teaching. Grounded in a mantra that promotes critical thinking and agencyâEnjoy! Dig Deeply! Take Action!âthis book presents a clear framework, methods, and easy applications for designing and implementing effective literacy instruction.Numerous teaching strategies, classroom examples, teacher vignettes, and recommendations for using childrenâs and adolescent literature found in this book make it an ideal text for preservice teachers in elementary and middle school reading, and English language arts methods courses as well as a practical resource for professional in-service workshops and teachers.Key features include: Instructional engagements for supporting students as they read picture books, chapter books, and news articles, and interact with social media and participate in the arts and everyday life; Voices from the field that challenge mythical thinking and offer realworld examples of what effective reading and language arts instruction looks like in practice; Owl statements that alert readers to key ideas for use when planning reading and language arts instruction. Table of ContentsDedication Preface Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Disrupting Commonplace Knowledge 3. Classroom Practices that Help Students Disrupt Commonplace Knowledge 4. Interrogating Multiple Perspectives 5. Classroom Practices that Help Readers Interrogate Multiple Perspectives 6. Focusing on Sociopolitical Issues 7. Classroom Practices that Help Students Focus on Sociopolitical Issues 8. Taking Action to Promote Social Justice 9. Classroom Practices that Support Taking Social Action About the Authors Bibliography of Children’s and Adolescent Literature Bibliography of Professional Publications Index

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Pulitzer Prize for BiographyTrade Review"Matteson…tells his story so clearly and attractively that no previous acquaintance with the remarkable Alcott clan and their various, equally remarkable friends is needed to relish their world as he re-creates it. Vividly, affectingly, Matteson describes one family’s struggle to live their lives with meaning, without taint or exploitation." -- Philip McFarland - Boston Globe"A double biography is a difficult thing to bring off but Matteson does it beautifully, giving a vivid but delicate account of two complicated characters inextricably entwined." -- Rosemary Hill - The Guardian"A splendid new dual biography…Compassionate and compelling." -- Daniel Dyer - San Diego Union-Tribune"One of the pleasures of the book is to be taken back to a time and place of intellectual and moral grandeur…In producing such a rounded, detailed and compelling portrait of Louisa, [her father] Bronson, their family and their times, Matteson has provided us with a valuable context for appreciating that enduring masterpiece Little Women." -- Martin Rubin - Los Angeles Times"Matteson’s engrossing biography of the Alcotts achieves a rare fusion of intellectual precision and emotional empathy." -- Madeleine B. Stern, author of Louisa May Alcott"Matteson’s portrait of Bronson and Louisa is painted on a large canvas, capturing an era when ideals and practice collided as never before in the history of the American nation." -- Megan Marshall, author of The Peabody Sisters"Matteson tells the odd, fascinating story of the über idealistic Bronson Alcott and the impact of his life decisions on his daughter, beloved children’s book authoress Louisa May Alcott…Particularly for those unfamiliar with the Alcott story, this is a journey of much interest." -- Christian Science Monitor"In Eden’s Outcasts John Matteson represents father and daughter as fallible, fascinating, and lovable people who in the dramatic interplay of their lives came to accept and appreciate themselves and each other. Against the backdrop of Transcendentalism, Abolitionism, and the Civil War, peopled by the leading lights of their times, theirs is a family romance full of incident and surprise, told by Matteson with skill, erudition, and insight." -- Harriett Reisen, author and codirector of The Louisa May Alcott Project

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Book SynopsisThis volume examines Mary Poppins as a 1960s film reflecting and invested in its radically changing times, a largely but not unmitigatedly antiestablishment musical resonant with conditions and issues powerfully affecting baby boomers.Among the explosion of baby boomer films that rocked the 1960s, the most stirring early work was likely Mary Poppins. This 1964 film captivated young audiences, earning top-grossing ticket sales, multiple Oscars, and landmark status as a cultural phenomenon. The book illuminates Mary Poppins as a musical teeming with preoccupations of American youth in the early-to-mid-1960s, including antiestablishment desires, anxieties, and pleasures. Reading against the dominant grain, this book deciphers Mary Poppins as a mid-century reflection that spans the generation gap, dysfunctional nuclear family, youth unrest, activism including feminist advocacy, counterculturalism, capitalist imperialism, race relation

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