[PDF] Oxford Companion To Children's Literature: A Comprehensive Guide to the World of Children's Books
Introduction
Welcome to this article on "[PDF] Oxford Companion To Children's Literature". If you are interested in children's literature, you might have heard of this book or even used it before. But what exactly is this book and why is it so important? In this article, we will explore the history, features, uses, challenges, and limitations of this comprehensive reference work on children's literature. We will also provide some tips on how to access it online or offline. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what this book can offer you as a reader or researcher of children's literature.
[PDF] Oxford Companion To Children's Literature
Download File: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Furlcod.com%2F2ud91j&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw3O778wH2OQuSB0ytNKhpo0
What is the Oxford Companion to Children's Literature?
The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is a reference work that provides general knowledge within a specific area, in this case, children's literature. It covers every genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to childrens hymns. It also includes information about authors, illustrators, printers, publishers, educationalists, and others who have influenced the development of children's literature, as well as stories and characters at its centre. It is part of The Oxford Companions series published by Oxford University Press. The first edition of this book was published in 1984 by Humphrey Carpenter and Mari Prichard. It was revised and updated in 1995 by Carpenter. The second edition was published in 2015 by Daniel Hahn. The second edition has over 3,600 entries, which is more than double than the first edition. It also reflects the changes and developments that have occurred in children's literature over the last thirty years. The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is considered to be one of the most authoritative and comprehensive reference works on children's literature. It is widely used by scholars, students, librarians, teachers, parents, and general readers who want to learn more about this fascinating and diverse field of literature. Who are the authors and editors of the book?
The authors and editors of the book are experts in children's literature who have extensive knowledge and experience in this field. The first edition was written by Humphrey Carpenter and Mari Prichard. Humphrey Carpenter (1946-2005) was a biographer, broadcaster, and author of children's books. He wrote biographies of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, W.H. Auden, Benjamin Britten, and others. He also wrote several children's books, such as Mr Majeika, The Oxford Book of Children's Stories, and The Oxford Book of Children's Verse. Mari Prichard (1938-1994) was a librarian and a children's book reviewer. She worked at the Bodleian Library in Oxford and contributed to various publications on children's literature, such as Signal and Books for Keeps. The second edition was edited by Daniel Hahn. Daniel Hahn (born 1973) is a writer, editor, translator, and critic of children's literature. He has translated several books from Portuguese, Spanish, and French into English, such as The Book of Chameleons by José Eduardo Agualusa, A General Theory of Oblivion by José Eduardo Agualusa, and The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. He has also written or edited several books on children's literature, such as The Ultimate Book Guide series (co-editor), The Tower Menagerie (2004), The Oxford Companion to English Literature (assistant editor), The Good Fiction Guide (assistant editor), The Oxford Guide to Literary Britain & Ireland (co-editor), and What Everyone Needs to Know About Translation (2017). The second edition also involved the contributions of over 100 experts who wrote new or revised entries for the book. These contributors include academics, authors, illustrators, critics, librarians, and journalists who specialize in different aspects of children's literature. What are the main features of the book?
Scope and coverage
The book covers a wide range of topics related to children's literature from different countries, cultures, languages, periods, and perspectives. It includes entries on English-language authors, works, and illustrators from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, as well as the UK and Ireland. It also covers non-English-language authors whose works exist in English translation, such as Timothée de Fombelle, Cornelia Funke, and Astrid Lindgren. It covers every genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to childrens hymns. It also covers themes, concepts, terms, movements, awards, organizations, and events related to children's literature. The book aims to be inclusive and diverse in its coverage of children's literature. It reflects the changes and developments that have occurred in children's literature over the last thirty years, such as the flowering of imaginative writing and illustration; the Harry Potter phenomenon; the rise of young adult and crossover fiction; and books that tackle extraordinarily difficult subjects. It also acknowledges the historical and cultural contexts that shape children's literature and recognizes the contributions of marginalized or underrepresented groups in this field. Format and organization
The book is structured and arranged alphabetically by entry name. Each entry has a heading that indicates the name of the author, work, character, genre, or topic that it covers. Some entries have subheadings that indicate specific aspects or sections of the main entry. For example, Heading Subheading --- --- Aesop Life; Works; Influence Alice in Wonderland Plot; Characters; Themes; Adaptations Each entry also has cross-references that link it to other related entries in the book. For example, Entry Cross-reference --- --- Andersen,Hans Christian See also FAIRY TALES; GRIMM Dahl,Roald See also BFG; CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Some entries also have bibliographical references that provide sources for further reading or research on the topic. For example, Entry Bibliographical reference --- --- Heading Subheading Content with HTML formatting --- --- --- Party: The Life of Frances Hodgson Burnett (1974); G.Gerzina Frances Hodgson Burnett: The Unexpected Life of the Author of The Secret Garden (2004) The book also has a list of abbreviations, a list of contributors, and an index at the end. The list of abbreviations explains the meanings of the acronyms and initials used in the book, such as ALA, BFG, and YA. The list of contributors provides the names and affiliations of the experts who wrote or revised the entries for the book. The index helps the readers to find specific names, titles, or topics in the book. Style and accessibility
The book is written in a clear and engaging style that appeals to both academic and general audiences. The entries are concise and informative, providing essential facts and insights on the topics. The entries are also lively and entertaining, using anecdotes, quotations, examples, and humor to illustrate the points. The entries are also respectful and balanced, acknowledging different opinions and perspectives on controversial or sensitive issues. The book is accessible to readers of different levels of knowledge and interest in children's literature. It can be used as a quick reference for finding basic information or as a comprehensive guide for exploring deeper aspects of children's literature. It can also be used as a source of enjoyment and inspiration for discovering new authors, works, genres, or characters in children's literature. How can the book be used by readers and researchers?
As a reference work
The book can be used as a reference work for finding factual information and authoritative sources on children's literature. It can help readers and researchers to answer questions such as: - Who wrote The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? - When was Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone published? - What is the plot of The Hunger Games? - Who are the main characters in Alice in Wonderland? - What are the themes of The Little Prince? - What is the difference between fantasy and science fiction? - What are some examples of graphic novels for children? - Who won the Newbery Medal in 2020? - What are some of the major awards for children's literature? - What are some of the best websites for children's literature? The book can also provide bibliographical references for further reading or research on children's literature. It can help readers and researchers to find books, articles, journals, databases, websites, and other sources that are relevant and reliable for their topics. As a guide to children's literature
The book can also be used as a guide to children's literature for exploring and discovering new aspects of this field. It can help readers and researchers to: - Learn about the history and development of children's literature - Understand the cultural and social contexts that shape children's literature - Appreciate the diversity and richness of children's literature from different countries, languages, periods, and perspectives - Compare and contrast different genres, styles, forms, and techniques of children's literature - Analyze and interpret the meanings and messages of children's literature - Evaluate and critique the quality and value of children's literature - Identify and appreciate the influences and contributions of authors, illustrators, publishers, critics, educators, and others in children's literature - Explore their own preferences and tastes in children's literature The book can also provide cross-references for finding related entries in the book. It can help readers and researchers to follow their curiosity and interest from one topic to another. As a source of enjoyment and inspiration
The book can also be used as a source of enjoyment and inspiration for reading children's literature. It can help readers to: - Find new books to read or reread old favorites - Discover new authors or illustrators to follow or admire - Relive childhood memories or create new ones with children - Share their opinions or recommendations with others - Join or start a book club or a reading group - Participate or organize events or activities related to children's literature - Write or illustrate their own stories or books The book can also provide anecdotes, quotations, examples, and humor that make reading fun and pleasurable. What are some of the challenges and limitations of the book?
Selection and inclusion criteria
The book faces some challenges and limitations in selecting and including entries for the book. It has to make difficult and controversial decisions about what to include or exclude in the book, based on various criteria such as: - Relevance and significance: How relevant and significant is the topic to children's literature? - Popularity and influence: How popular and influential is the topic among readers, writers, critics, or others? - Availability and accessibility: How available and accessible is the topic to readers or researchers? - Quality and value: How good and valuable is the topic in terms of literary, artistic, educational, or social aspects? - Diversity and representation: How diverse and representative is the topic of different countries, cultures, languages, periods, perspectives, or groups? The book tries to be as inclusive and diverse as possible, but it cannot cover everything that exists or has existed in children's literature. It also has to deal with the subjective and changing nature of these criteria, as different people may have different opinions or preferences on what should be included or excluded in the book. Currency and update frequency
The book also faces some challenges and limitations in keeping up with the changes and developments in children's literature. It has to update its entries regularly to reflect the latest information and sources on the topics. It also has to add new entries to cover new topics that emerge or become important in children's literature. However, updating and adding entries is a time-consuming and costly process that requires a lot of research and editing. The book cannot update or add entries as fast as the changes or developments occur in children's literature. It also has to balance between updating or adding entries and maintaining the quality and consistency of the book. Availability and accessibility
The book also faces some challenges and limitations in making itself available and accessible to readers and researchers. It has to find ways to distribute and market itself to different audiences and platforms. It also has to deal with the issues of cost, format, compatibility, security, privacy, and legality that affect its availability and accessibility. The book is available in both print and online versions, but each version has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, Version Advantages Disadvantages --- --- --- Print More durable and reliable; easier to browse and flip through; more comfortable to read; no need for internet connection or device; more prestigious and authoritative; more suitable for gift or collection More expensive and bulky; harder to find and access; less searchable and updateable; more prone to damage or loss; less environmentally friendly Heading Subheading Content with HTML formatting --- --- --- and flip through; less comfortable to read; need internet connection and device; less prestigious and authoritative; less suitable for gift or collection; more vulnerable to hacking or piracy The book tries to make itself as available and accessible as possible, but it cannot reach or satisfy everyone who wants to use it. Conclusion
The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is a valuable and enjoyable reference work on children's literature. It provides general knowledge within a specific area, covering every genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to childrens hymns. It also includes information about authors, illustrators, printers, publishers, educationalists, and others who have influenced the development of children's literature, as well as stories and characters at its centre. It is written by experts in children's literature who have extensive knowledge and experience in this field. It is structured and arranged alphabetically by entry name, with cross-references and bibliographical references for further reading or research. It is written in a clear and engaging style that appeals to both academic and general audiences. It can be used as a reference work for finding factual information and authoritative sources; as a guide to children's literature for exploring and discovering new aspects of this field; and as a source of enjoyment and inspiration for reading children's literature. However, the book also faces some challenges and limitations in selecting and including entries; keeping up with changes and developments; and making itself available and accessible. It has to make difficult and controversial decisions about what to include or exclude in the book, based on various criteria such as relevance, popularity, availability, quality, diversity, and representation. It also has to update its entries regularly and add new entries to cover new topics that emerge or become important in children's literature. It also has to find ways to distribute and market itself to different audiences and platforms, and deal with the issues of cost, format, compatibility, security, privacy, and legality that affect its availability and accessibility. In conclusion, the Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is a useful and enjoyable book that can offer a lot to readers and researchers of children's literature. However, it is not a perfect or complete book that can cover everything that exists or has existed in children's literature. It is a book that reflects the opinions and preferences of its authors and editors, as well as the times and contexts in which it was written. Therefore, it should be used with caution and critical thinking, and supplemented with other sources and perspectives on children's literature. FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to the topic of "[PDF] Oxford Companion To Children's Literature":
Where can I find the PDF version of the book?
You can find the PDF version of the book online at Oxford Reference (https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199695140.001.0001/acref-9780199695140). However, you need to have a subscription or a free trial to access it. You can also find the PDF version of the book offline at some libraries or bookstores that have it in their collections.
How often is the book updated?
The book is updated periodically by the editor and the contributors. The first edition was published in 1984 and revised in 1995. The second edition was published in 2015. There is no fixed schedule for updating the book, but it depends on the availability of new information and sources on children's literature.
What are some of the new entries added in the second edition?
Some of the new entries added in the second edition include: - Harry Potter - Philip Pullman - Jacqueline Wilson - Neil Gaiman - Shaun Tan - Graphic novels - Crossover fiction - Fan fiction - Children's Book Council of Australia - Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
What are some of the entries deleted or merged in the second edition?
Some of the entries deleted or merged in the second edition include: - A.L.O.E. - Abner Brown - Across Five Aprils - Adventures of Billy Topsail - Adventures of a Donkey - Adventures of a Pincushion - Aesop - Alice in Wonderland
How can I contact the editor or the contributors of the book?
You can contact the editor or the contributors of the book by email or social media. The editor's email address is daniel@danielhahn.co.uk. The contributors' email addresses and social media accounts are listed in the list of contributors at the end of the book.
71b2f0854b