Children's Literature

Characteristics of Children's Literature

1. Simple and straight forward.
This does not necessarily mean that the vocabulary needs to be overly simplistic or that style should be choppy or flat.

2. Focuses on action to maintain interest.

Thoughts, other character's actions and external events are included in the narration.

3. Has characters that are children.

Includes childhood events, actions and happenings. The story could not happen if there weren't children.

4. Expresses a child's point of view. . !s optimistic.

There is always hope, foreshadowing and other elements to pick up spirits periodically.

". #ends toward fantas$ and accepts fanciful ideas without ma%or concern for realit$.
Wishful thinking is common.

&. #here is a tone of %o$ and innocence associated with children' agricultural life' closeness to nature and un(uestiona)l$ relia)le friends.
The pastoral idyll.

*. +iews an un,id$llic world from the viewpoint of innocence.

Can have it both ways. our cake and eat it too. !angerous world yet naive innocent children can roam through it. !angers of the world out there and the comforts of home. "row up and remain young. Complex yet simple.

-. !s didactic .designed or intended to teach/.

Traditionally, children's literature has been seen as attempting to educate children. # common universal theme is that home is boring, but it is a better place to be than the dangerous world outside.

10. #ends to )e repetitious.

$ften emphasi%es what is important, repetition is a common elements of folk tales and the oral tradition, as well as literary purposes by repeating words, phrases, situations and patterns.

11. 1ontrasts extremes.

the ideal and the practical the ideal family and the orphan home vs. away & wilderness communal concern vs. self'concern good vs. evil

#dapted from( )erry *odelman. The )leasures of Children's +iterature. ,st ed. +ongman, ,--.

5 Common Themes in Children's Literature

Snugness Smallness Scariness 2ightness 3liveness

/five themes recur in classic and popular works of Children's +iterature0 1and2 looked at in a different way, 1they2 can be seen as feelings or sensations prevalent in childhood/

#dapted from( 3erry "riswold. 4eeling +ike a 5id. .667

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4o $ou agree with 5odelman that these characteristics of children's literature are common6 4o $ou thin7 8riswold's common themes are accurate6 Explain )$ ma7ing reference to $our favorite )oo7 as a child. 4o the characteristics help distinguish children's literature from adult literature6 Explain.

Discussion

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