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Understanding Children's Books
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Understanding Children's Books
A Guide for Education Professionals

Edited by:


June 2008 | 144 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Children's books play a vital role in education, and this book helps you to choose books that have the most to offer young children. Each chapter reflects on a different theme or genre and their role in educational settings, and recommends ten 'must reads' within each one.

The themes covered include:

- books for babies

- literature for the very young

- narrative fiction

- books in translation

- poetry

- picture books

- graphic texts.

Early years professionals, childcare professionals and teachers working from nursery to Key Stage 3 will find this book a fascinating and useful resource.

Prue Goodwin
Introduction To Children's Books
Liz Attenborough
Books For Babies
Margaret Perkins
Literature For The Very Young
Vivienne Smith
Learning To Read Or Be A Reader
Prue Goodwin
Books For Young Independent Readers
Catriona Nicholson
Narrative Fiction
Gillian Lathey
Books In Translation
Nikki Gamble
Non-Fiction In Literary Form
Michael Lockwood
Poetry
Mel Gibson
Picture Books

'[This] text brings together a wide range of experienced professionals. Their insight into each aspect of children's books offers clarity and reflects a commitment to research. Within one text a range of interesting aspects are explored and the reader will find themselves considering again their views on children's books' - Literacy

'Without being the least difficult to read, this book forms a solid bedrock for students and for teachers seeking to inform themselves about the nature of books we are urging our children to read' - Carousel

'This is a high quality collection of writings on the understanding of children's books which deserves to be read by the widest constituency of educational professionals including undergraduate and postgraduate students on ITT courses' - English Drama Media

'Any adult with either the slightest interest in, or the smallest responsibility for, the upbringing of a child will find great value here...It is clearly written, carefully structured and laid out for speedy access to a rich diversity of topics' - www.thinkingclassroom.co.uk

'Prue Goodwin has collected together an interesting and varied selection of articles by different experts about books written for children. The writing is clear and fluent, without pomposity or jargon....It makes stimulating and interesting reading' - Speaking English

`With practical and thoughtful contributions from leaders in the field, this collection reminds us of the pleasures and satisfactions found in the rich and varied world of children's books, comics, traditional tales and information texts and the importance of sharing these delights with young readers' - Eve Bearne, Faculty of Education, Cambridge University


This is an exceptionally useful text for those who believe that teaching children to read involves more than technical skill in phonics. It provides useful definitions of genres in clear, concise ways and would definitely provide those teaching literacy with the confidence to simultaneously teach literature.

Mrs Branwen Bingle
Institute of Education, Worcester University
September 6, 2012

a useful support text for lecturers and for students interested in pursuing this area in their own research

Ms Jill Wallis
Department of Education, Bedfordshire University
August 28, 2012

This is a good book but it is pitched at the wrong level for this course.

Mr Gerard Ryan
Business School, Staffordshire University
August 21, 2012

This text provides a really accessible and informative route into understanding children's literature for both the experienced reader and those without in-depth prior knowledge. There are also useful suggestions of children's books made, to help broaden understanding about different texts.

Ms Mary Bennett
Department of Education, Newman University College
April 11, 2012

This is an essential book for both PGCE students for classroom preparation and sunbject specialism but also for Children's LIterature module to Undegarduates.

Jo Bowers
Cardiff School of Education, Cardiff Metropolitan University
March 9, 2012

Another esssential texts for trainee teachere to develop their subject knowledge of children's Literature texts. I use this when preparing for the subject specialism day.

Jo Bowers
Cardiff School of Education, Cardiff Metropolitan University
March 9, 2012

This was not what I thought it was however it was an interesting read if you are interested in childrens books. It is just not relevent to my course

Mrs Noelle Wilson
Childhood Studies, Hull College
July 14, 2011

Presented in very clear chapters and each chapter is very readable with clear headings. I like the recommendations for futher reading and websites. This makes this a very useful book for student teachers.

Jill Dunn
Initial Teacher Education (post-Prim.), Stranmillis University College
March 29, 2011

A very good accompaniment to our existing texts. The analysis of individual texts (for example in chapter 4) is very useful for students to begin to understand how to analyse texts closely. The importance of the joy of books and reading for young children is evident throughout.

Dr Sally Neaum
SSSL, University of Teesside
October 28, 2010

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


For instructors

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ISBN: 9781847870322
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