ISL TASK | WEEK 1:

Choose a definition for Childrens Literature and justify your choice.

DEFINITIONS FOR CHILDRENS LITERATURE

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childrens_literature
Books intentionally written for children.
Books chosen for children.
2. http://www.uleth.ca/edu/currlab/handouts/genre s.html
Both fiction and non-fiction books, written especially for children 0-12 years old.
3. http://www.faqs.org/childhood/Ch- Co/Children-s-Literature.html
comprises texts that have been written specifically for children and those texts that
children have selected to read on their own
intended primarily for children but it is more accurate to view such texts as having
dual audiences of children and adults.
The body of written works and accompanying illustrations produced in order to
entertain or instruct young people.
4. Anderson,N.A. (2002). Elementary childrens literature: the basics for teachers and
parents (2nd ed). USA: Pearson Education,Inc
The only limitations, then, that seem binding on literature for children are those that
appropriately reflect the emotions and experiences of children today.
Childrens books are books that have the childs eye at the centre.
The uniqueness of childrens literature, then, lies in the audience that it addresses.
Authors of childrens books are circumscribed only by the experiences of childhood
The author who can bring these experiences imagination and insight and
communicate them to children is writing childrens literature.
5. Carol Lynch-Brown, Carl M.Tomlinson. (2005). Essentials of Children Literature:
Learning about Children and Their Literature (5th ed). USA: Pearson
Education,Inc.
Childrens literature is good quality trade books for children from birth to adolescence,
covering topics of relevance and interests to children of those ages, through prose and
poetry, fiction and nonfiction. (p. 3)
12 is a bench
mark to the
children to
enter the
different
phase

children's
literature are
suitable for
primary
school
children

JUSTIF
ICATIO
N

simple
sentences

children love
to see
illustrations
illustration is
to attract
them to read

DEFINITION

Childrens literature is the good-quality written work with the purpose of entertainment
and information intended primarily for children from birth to adolescence, covering
topics of relevance and interests to children that appropriately reflect the experiences
and the realms of childhood, through prose and poetry, fiction and nonfiction.

JUSTIFICATION

good quality
the personal and academic values to children
moral values and insight into human condition

With the purpose of entertainment and information

enjoyed by children
messages within the text

intended primarily for children from birth to adolescence

to address, entertain and delight children of those ages
may have dual audiences of children and adults

covering topics of relevance and interests to children

about the experiences of childhood that are good or bad, set in the past, present or
future
be relevant and common to children today
the source of literature is life itself
enjoying birthday parties, losing a tooth for the first time, getting a new pet
topics like Mummies and Dinosaurs

appropriately reflect the experiences and the realms of childhood

limited by childrens experience and understanding
the emotional and psychological responses should be inside the realms of childhood
told in a forthright, humorous, or suspenseful manner
much is known, but little is explained

through prose and poetry, fiction and nonfiction

purely entertaining, with no instructional purpose like textbook
myths, fairly tales, lullabies, fables, folk songs