Qualities of Childrens Literature

1
Qualities of Childrens Literature

• Tommy Pile
• February 16, 2006
• Creative Writing
• http//www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/genres.ht
  ml

2
Definition of Childrens Literature

• Childrens literature means books that are picked
  by children and books that are considered
  appropriate for children (Wikapedia)
• Books that are writing specifically for children
  (Wikapedia)

3
Not Intended for Adults

• The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid
  Tales by Jon Scieszka was more popular among
  adults, yet was written for children. (Wikapedia)
• All the pretty horses by Cormac McCarthy is an
  adult book with a child protagonist. (Wikapedia)

4
Not Intended for Children

• Mark Twains The Prince Pauper, or Huckleberry
  Finn were originally written for adults, yet are
  now considered childrens books (Wikapedia)
• To Kill a Mockingbird was not supposed to be a
  childrens book, but is now considered to be
  one(Wikapedia)

5
Picture Books

• Pictures books are books where the picture is as
  important as the text (Glaister et. Al)
• Often times, childrens books are also considered
  picture books (Glaister et. Al)

6
Picture Books Continued

• Graphic Alphabet by David Pelletier is an example
  of a picture book
• Picture books are also referred to as stories
  without words, picture books, nursery rhymes,
  stories in rhyme, alphabet books, counting books
  (Glaister et. Al)

7
Illustrated Story Books

• Closely resemble picture books
• The text can be by itself
• Illustrations are not as important as text
• Illustrations complement the text
• Around 48 pages long
• (Glaister et. Al)

8
Poetry Books

• Consist of rhyming, free verse, and concrete
  verse
• Arranged in a beautiful fashion
• Appeals to feelings and minds of reader
• (Glaister et. Al)

9
Poetry Books Continued

• Poetry books have many different types including
  haiku, free verse, concrete poetry, visual
  poetry, narrative poetry, limericks, and ballads
  (Glaister et. Al)
• In Flanders Fields by Linda Granfield is an
  example of a poetry book (Glaister et. Al)

10
Traditional Childrens Literature

• Originated from oral literature, passed down from
  generation to generation
• Often start as Once upon a time
• Different versions to the same story (Glaister
  et. Al)

11
Traditional Childrens Literature Continued

• Also referred to as fairy tales, folk tales,
  Mother Goose rhymes, legends, myths, proverbs,
  epics, and fables (Glaister et. Al)
• Examples of traditional childrens literature is
  The Three Little Pigs, Hasel and Gretel, and The
  Three Little Bears. (Glaister et. Al)

12
Fractured Fairy Tales (Glaister et. Al)

• Traditional tales, told a little bit differently
• Subdivisions consist of science fiction, modern
  fantasy, and fantasy (Glaister et. Al)
• Stories are sometimes off the wall (Glaister et.
  Al)

13
Modern Fantasy

• Stories involving magic or quests and adventures
  (Glaister et. Al)
• Sometimes creates an alternate universe, that may
  have different features other than our universe
  (Glaister et. Al)
• Sub-genres include animal fantasy, quest
  fantasy, machine fantasy, toy and doll fantasy,
  time fantasy, comic fantasy, high fantasy, and
  other world fantasy (Glaister et. Al)

14
Science Fiction

• Covers things that might happen in the future
  (Glaister et. Al)
• Somewhat realistic features(Glaister, et. al)
• Fantasy and science fiction are sometimes
  blurred and show characteristics of both genres
  (Glaister, et. al)

15
Fractured Fairy Tales Continued (Glaister, et.
al)

• Popular titles include Tuck Everlasting by
  Natalie Babbitt, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White,
  and Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

16
Contemporary Realistic Fiction

• Stories involve bad and good situations of today
• Character overcomes obstacles that makes them
  grow as a person
• It "extends children's horizons by broadening
  their interests, allowing them to experience new
  adventures and showing them different ways to
  view and deal with conflicts in their own lives"
  (Through the eyes of a child (2003), p. 363)

17
Contemporary Realistic Fiction Continued

• Contemporary Realistic Fiction is sometimes
  referred to as humorous stories, school stories,
  mystery stories, survival stories, and sports
  stories (Glaister, et. al)
• Popular titles in this genre include Shiloh by
  Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, and Bridge to Terabithia
  by Katherine Paterson (Glaister, et. al)

18
Historical Fiction and Biography

• Fiction stories set in a time before the present
  (Historical Fiction) (Glaister, et. al)
• Story written about a persons life from someone
  else's point of view (Biography) (Glaister, et.
  al)
• Biography can be broken down into these different
  categories biographical fiction, fictionalized
  biography, authentic biography and autobiography
  (Glaister, et. al)

19
Historical Fiction and Biography Continued

• Popular titles of these genres include The Diary
  of a Young Girl by Anne Frank and Little by
  Little by Jean Little (Glaister, et. al)
• These genres can also be called place fiction,
  time fiction, and war stories (Glaister, et.
  al)

20
Informational Books

• AKA. Non-fiction
• Books consist of accurate and clear facts stating
  something informative (Glaister, et. al)
• These books avoid stereotypes and generalizations
  (Glaister, et. al)

21
Informational Books Continued

• These books are often called photo
  documentaries, narrative texts, how-to books,
  question and answer books, activity books, and
  life-cycle books (Glaister, et. al)
• Eyewitness book series are popular
• Slides 5-21 are from (Glaister, et. al)

22
Award Winners

• The John Newberry Medal is given to one author
  each year with the overall best book
• The Randolph Caldecott Medal is given to one
  author each year with the best illustrations in a
  particular book
• The Robert F. Sibert Award is given to the best
  informational book author

23
Award Winners Continued

• Coretta Scott King Award is given to the authors
  and illustrators who are of African descent that
  "promote an understanding and appreciation of the
  'American Dream.' "

24
Bibliography (Works Cited)

• Glastier, Bill. "Our Favourite Children's and
  Young Adult Authors (Arranged by Genre)."
  Curriculum Labratory. Aug 2003. 17 Feb. 2006
  lthttp//www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/genres.h
  tmlgt.
• "2005 ALA Awards." Kid's Reads. 17 Feb. 2006
  lthttp//www.kidsreads.com/features/2005-ala.aspgt.
  
• "Children's literature." Wikiapedia. Wikiapedia.
  17 Feb. 2006 lt"Children's Literature." Wikapedia.
  Wikipedia. 17 Feb. 2006 .gt.