English 184: Children's Literature

This course is an introduction to exciting literature written for young children and young adults in a variety of genres--picture books, literature from the oral tradition, poetry, non-fiction, fiction, and historical fiction. The course objectives are:

1. to experience again, or for the first time, some of the most memorable and significant examples of children's literature
2. to develop a critical sense of both the large body of children's literature and of specific works
3. to understand the special needs of the various audiences within the fields of children's literature
4. to understand and assess the latest trends in children's book publishing.

Required texts: Donna E. Norton, Through the Eyes of a Child; Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland; E.B. White, Charlotte's Web; Scott O'Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins; J. D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye, among others. Students will also have the chance to write a work of their own for children.

Requirements include a mid-term, a final, and a research paper following MLA guidelines.

Related Links:

• The Children's Literature Web Guide
• Parentsplace