Critical Handbook of Children's Literature, A, 9th edition

• The critical methods used in examining literature are discussed to show readers how to select appropriate children’s books. 
• Extensive examples of literature written by authors from a variety of cultures are included. 
• Material on reading aloud to children emphasises its importance as a key element in children’s reading. 
• Examples from all genres of children’s literature are included throughout. 
• Discussions of special concerns and problems that may arise when evaluating any piece of literature are included at the end of each chapter. 
• References to Charlotte’s Web appear throughout to help readers understand critical distinctions by using the context of a familiar, much-loved book. 
• Appendices include lists of award-winning titles, children’s magazines, and publications that review children’s literature, plus a list of suggested Web sites about children’s literature.

·         NEW! Chapter 2, Issues and Fundamental Change in Children’s Literature, shares research on effects ofthe digital age on children’s books, ways children interact with wordless picturebooks, graphic and verse novels, blended genres and postmodern picturebooks.

·         NEW! Inquiry Points in every chapter engage and motivate readers to examine important concepts, clarify literary understandings, and become actively involved with critically examining children’s books.

·         NEW! Textsets of children’s books, frequently annotated and grouped by theme, topic, genre, or perspective, are included in every chapter.  These sets of related books deepen readers’ understandings of the chapter content and help them learn how to construct text sets for their own professional needs.

·         NEW! Chapter 3 on Picturebooks has been revised to reflect important research into changes in the picturebook format.  More picturebook examples have been included in each chapter.

·         NEW! While the heart and soul of this widely popular book has been maintained, this edition includes significant updating of content and style, reflecting the new authorship.

·         NEW! Style and Tone have been combined into one chapter (9) showing how the elements of style and tone are rarely separate entities.

·         NEW! Chapter 14, Literature and Readers, discusses the benefits of interactions between books and readers.  It expands the section, “A Lifetime of Reading” to include creating communities of readers by reading aloud, using textsets, and encouraging talk between readers.

·         NEW! An updated introductory section, “To the Reader,” presents a more in-depth discussion of the underlying theory, beliefs about literature, and the structure of the book.

·         NEW! Many more current, culturally varied, and just-published children’s books are discussed throughout each chapter; a bibliography of the recommended children’s books appears at the end of each chapter.