Understanding Children's Books
A Guide for Education Professionals
- Prue Goodwin - Lecturer in Literacy and Children's Books
The themes covered include:
- Books for babies
- Literature for the very young
- Narrative fiction
- Books in translation
- Poetry
- Picture books
- Graphic texts
'[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.
a useful support text for lecturers and for students interested in pursuing this area in their own research
This is a good book but it is pitched at the wrong level for this course.
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.
This is an essential book for both PGCE students for classroom preparation and sunbject specialism but also for Children's LIterature module to Undegarduates.
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.
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
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.
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.
