A selected list of research materials & readings for the study of children's literature
Resources for LIT 2330
Children's Literature Librarian
Russell Reece
She/They
Contact:
State College of Florida
Bradenton Campus
Building 3
Bradenton Campus
Building 3
941-752-5411
Subjects: Career
Where to search...
To find books in print, e-books, & more:
Use our "Quick Search" to access the Library's catalog. Use the filters to narrow down your options.
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To find literature criticism, primary and secondary sources:
Use our recommended DATABASES:
- Gale Literary Sources This link opens in a new window
Search literary criticisms for the world's most written about works. Also includes some biographies and primary resources helpful for literature research. Research poetry, find poems, analyze short stories, find a short story, fiction, drama and theater works. Funded by SCF Group License.
- Bloom's Literature (Infobase) This link opens in a new window
Bloom’s Literature contains critical essays on thousands of writers and works, synopses, essay topics, print and audio author interviews, as well as performance videos. Funded by SCF Group License.
- Literature Resource Center (Gale) This link opens in a new window
Find up-to-date biographical information, overviews, full-text literary criticism and reviews on nearly 130,000 writers in all disciplines, from all time periods and from around the world. Funded by FLVC.
- Literary Reference Center Plus (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window
Full text database of materials from reference works, eBooks, and literary journals. Includes plot summaries, synopses and work overviews, literary criticism, author biographies and more. Funded by FLVC.
- JSTOR This link opens in a new window
Archive of core journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Over 700 titles available. Funded by FLVC.
Selected Works
Classics (British & Anglo-American Children's Literature):
The Norton Anthology of Children's Literature by ISBN: 9780393975383A collection of fairy tales, picture books, nursery rhymes, fantasy, alphabets, chapbooks, and comics published in English since 1659, representing 170 authors and illustrators, and including more than ninety complete works and excerpts from others.
Fairy Tales by ISBN: 9780713996418A new selection of 30 tales to mark the 200 year anniversary of Andersen's birth in 2005. Tiina Nunnally's sparkling translation captures the rawness and immediacy of Andersen's style, for the first time enabling English readers to be as startled and amazed as his original readers were, and revealing the unique inventiveness of Andersen's genius.
The Complete Fairy Tales by ISBN: 9780199236831Charles 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.
The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by ISBN: 0394709306The stories of magic and myth gathered by the Brothers Grimm have become part of the way children-and adults-learn about the vagaries of the real world. Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow-White, H nsel and Gretel, Little Red-Cap (Little Red Riding Hood), and Briar-Rose (Sleeping Beauty) are only a few of the more than two hundred enchanting characters included in this volume.
The Complete Fables by ISBN: 0140446494A slave who represented his masters in court and negotiations, Aesop relied on allegorical animal stories, collected here in The Complete Fables, to convey his key points. In a series of pithy, amusing vignettes, Aesop created a vivid cast of characters to demonstrate different aspects of human nature.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by ISBN: 9780141192468In the magical world of Wonderland and the back-to-front Looking-Glass kingdom, order is turned upside-down- a baby turns into a pig; time is abandoned at a tea-party; and a chaotic game of chess makes a 7-year-old a Queen.
The Jungle Book by ISBN: 9781402743405Unabridged. Parts 1 and 2. Not only does this attractive volume feature the beloved tales of Mowgli, the "man cub" raised by wolves, and Rikki Tikki Tavi, but also the lesser-known but wonderful stories of Toomai, the boy who gets to see elephants dance; Quiquern, who saves his Eskimo people from starvation; and Kotick, the white seal.
Little Women by ISBN: 0141192410Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth - four "little women" enduring hardships and enjoying adventures in Civil War New England The charming story of the March sisters, Little Women has been adored by generations. Readers have rooted for Laurie in his pursuit of Jo's hand, cried over little Beth's death, and dreamed of traveling through Europe with old Aunt March and Amy. Future writers have found inspiration in Jo's devotion to her writing.
The Complete Adventures of Peter Pan by ISBN: 9781781393611This book is an omnibus edition consisting of the three novels about Peter Pan, "The Little White Bird" is a novel for adults in which the character first appeared, and then "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" and "Peter and Wendy", both of which come fully illustrated in black and white.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by ISBN: 9781402725043After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas. All the beloved characters are here, along with the splendid Emerald City and the heartwarming motto: "There's no place like home."
The Secret Garden by ISBN: 9781402714597Born in India, the unattractive and willful Mary Lennox has remained in the care of servants for as long as she can remember. But the girl's life changes when her mother and father die and she travels to Yorkshire to live with her uncle. Dark, dreary Misselthwaite Manor seems full of mysteries, including a very special garden, locked tight for 10 years.
The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe by ISBN: 9780590254762Chronicles of Narnia, Book 1. Four English school children find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.
Criticism:
The Oxford companion to fairy tales by ISBN: 0191004162Covers writers, illustrators, works, characters, countries, and related topics such as film, television, art, the oral tradition, advertising, feminism, and much more.
The Uses of Enchantment by ISBN: 0394497716The great child psychologist gives us a moving revelation of the enormous and irreplaceable value of fairy tales - how they educate, support and liberate the emotions of children.
Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion by ISBN: 9780415610254The fairy tale is arguably one of the most important cultural and social influences on children's lives. But until the first publication of Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion, little attention had been paid to the ways in which the writers and collectors of tales used traditional forms and genres in order to shape children's lives ¿ their behavior, values, and relationship to society.
Why Fairy Tales Stick by ISBN: 9780415977807In his latest book, fairy tales expert Jack Zipes explores the question of why some fairy tales "work" and others don't, why the fairy tale is uniquely capable of getting under the skin of culture and staying there. Why, in other words, fairy tales "stick."
The Irresistible Fairy Tale by ISBN: 9780691159553In this book, renowned fairy-tale expert Jack Zipes presents a provocative new theory about why fairy tales were created and retold--and why they became such an indelible and infinitely adaptable part of cultures around the world. Drawing on cognitive science, evolutionary theory, anthropology, psychology, literary theory, and other fields, Zipes presents a nuanced argument about how fairy tales originated in ancient oral cultures, how they evolved through the rise of literary culture and print, and how, in our own time, they continue to change through their adaptation in an ever-growing variety of media.
Keywords for Children's Literature by ISBN: 0814758894The study of children's literature and culture has been experiencing a renaissance, with vital new work proliferating across many areas of interest. Mapping this vibrant scholarship, Keywords for Children's Literature presents 49 original essays on the essential terms and concepts of the field.
Children's Literature: A reader's history from Aesop to Harry Potter by ISBN: 9780226473024Ever since children have learned to read, there has been children's literature. Children's Literature charts the makings of the Western literary imagination from Aesop's fables to Mother Goose, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to Peter Pan, from Where the Wild Things Are to Harry Potter. The only single-volume work to capture the rich and diverse history of children's literature in its full panorama, this extraordinary book reveals why J. R. R. Tolkien, Dr. Seuss, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Beatrix Potter, and many others, despite their divergent styles and subject matter, have all resonated with generations of readers.
Contemporary Children's Literature (Modern classics)
Goodnight Moon by ISBN: 9780060207052In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.
Where the Wild Things Are by ISBN: 9780060254926Maurice Sendak's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. A must for every child's bookshelf. This iconic story has inspired a movie, an opera, and the imagination of generations.
The Snowy Day by ISBN: 0670654000The magic and wonder of winter's first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat's Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child's bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by ISBN: 9780142410318Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside. And the winners are: Augustus Gloop, an enormously fat boy whose hobby is eating; Veruca Salt, a spoiled-rotten brat whose parents are wrapped around her little finger; Violet Beauregarde, a dim-witted gum-chewer with the fastest jaws around; Mike Teavee, a toy pistol-toting gangster-in-training who is obsessed with television; and Charlie Bucket, Our Hero, a boy who is honest and kind, brave and true, and good and ready for the wildest time of his life!
Because of Winn-Dixie by ISBN: 9780763607760An unforgettable first novel about coming of age one sweet summer--and learning to love what you have. The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket--and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie.
Matilda by ISBN: 9780142410370Matilda is a sweet, exceptional young girl, but her parents think she's just a nuisance. She expects school to be different but there she has to face Miss Trunchbull, a kid-hating terror of a headmistress. When Matilda is attacked by the Trunchbull she suddenly discovers she has a remarkable power with which to fight back.
His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass (Book 1) by ISBN: 9780679879244Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world. Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors?
The Hobbit by ISBN: 9780618968633J.R.R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition: "If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger.
- Dr. SeussLink to all available books at SCF Libraries
- Harry PotterLink to complete series