The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature Synopsis
The last thirty years have witnessed one of the most fertile periods in the history of children's books: the flowering of imaginative illustration and writing, the Harry Potter phenomenon, the rise of young adult and crossover fiction, and books that tackle extraordinarily difficult subjects. The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature provides an indispensable and fascinating reference guide to the world of children's literature. Its 3,500 entries cover every genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to children's hymns. Originally published in 1983, the Companion has been comprehensively revised and updated by Daniel Hahn. Over 900 new entries bring the book right up to date and there is additional information on prizes and prizewinners.
Reviews from previous edition: A wonderful book ... deserves to become a classic. The Economist
It is written with a lightness of touch exactly suited to its subject, and with an instinct for selecting the most human and interesting facts about children's books and their authors Iona Opie
Invaluable ... it is hard to imagine a more needed or attractive companion School Library Journal
A substantial achievement Times Literary Supplement
A treasure chest which everyone seriously interested in children's literature will want to own Children's Literature Association Quarterly
A treasure trove of information on the stories behind the stories and the people behind the pen names Folio Books
Author
About Daniel Hahn
Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor, and translator, with some forty books to his name. With Leonie Flynn and Susan Reuben he has edited the award-winning Ultimate Book Guide series of reading guides for children and teenagers. He is on the board of a number of organizations that deal with literature and free speech.