The essential guide to children's books and their creators

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Where to find it

Information & Library Science Library — Reference

Call Number
PS490 .E85 2002
Status
Available

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Summary

Upon publication, Children's Books and Their Creators, Anita Silvey's comprehensive survey of contemporary children's literature, was called "an invaluable reference . . . [and] a wonderful resource" (Christian Science Monitor) and garnered unanimous praise from librarians, educators, and specialists interested in the world of writing for children.
Now The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators assembles the best of that volume in one handy, affordable reference, geared specifically to parents, educators, and students. This new volume introduces readers to the wealth of children's literature by focusing on the essentials -- the best books for children, the ones that inform, impress, and, most important, excite young readers. Updated to include newcomers such as J. K. Rowling and Lemony Snicket and tocover the very latest on publishing and educational trends, this edition features more than 475 entries on the best-loved children's authors and illustrators, numerous essays on social and historical issues, thirty personal glimpses into craft by well-known writers, illustrators, and critics, and invaluable reading lists by category.
The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators summarizes the canon of contemporary children's literature, in a practical guide essential for anyone choosing a book for or working with children.

Contents

  • Introduction p. ix
  • Getting Started: A Basic Reading List p. xi
  • Entries p. 1
  • Notes on the Contributors p. 499
  • Illustration Credits p. 504
  • Index p. 505

Sample chapter

Introduction"Only the rarest kind of best in anything is good enough for the young." -Walter de la Mare Life is a banquet-and most of us starve. This adage applies particularly to readers of childrens books. Despite the wealth, the complexity, and the beauty of childrens books, so few people have the time, or the resources, to experience the full richness offered. The Essential Guide to Childrens Books and Their Creators brings the banquet to everyone. For more than thirty years, first as editor of Horn Book Magazine, then as a publisher of childrens books, I have lectured extensively in the United States and Canada about our most important childrens books. Often when seeking basic information, I found myself searching through a dozen reference volumes. Gradually I formed an image of the reference book on childrens literature that I frequently reached for but could not find. Such a book, I believed, would concentrate on the literature created for American children over the past fifty years, treat its subjects broadly, offer thoughtful evaluations, contain a wide range of critical perspectives, and allow childrens book authors and artists to speak for themselves. With these objectives in mind, I conceived Childrens Books and Their Creators, published in 1995. After using Childrens Books and Their Creators for a few years, I became aware of certain limitations. Because of the size of the volume, I could not adopt it for my college courses. Although extensively covering the history of childrens books, it became more outdated with the passing years. Then Susan Canavan of Houghton Mifflin suggested I revise the book for a paperback volume, and I welcomed the opportunity. The Essential Guide to Childrens Books and Their Creators, alphabetically arranged, contains three types of entries: biographies about the creators; overviews of history, issues, and genres; and "Voices of the Creators," written by thirty of our finest authors and illustrators. Focusing primarily on contemporary American authors and illustrators, I selected about 375 entries from the 1995 text for this volume. When necessary, I updated certain entries with new information and titles. These essays represent our classic childrens literature, the canon of childrens books, which continue to be read in the twenty-first century. Although not the only books of merit published, these books motivate children to read. They include captivating stories, compelling characters, and imaginative use of language. They appeal to a wide and diverse audience of children. Because childhood is so brief, we need to expose our children to the best of our literary heritage in their childhood years. That remains the finest-and most poignant- gift we could ever give to the young. The 1990s proved a particularly exciting time in childrens book creation. Thanks to Harry Potter, childrens books became front-page news, and some talented writers and illustrators demonstrated their best Excerpted from The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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