UNB Libraries' Guide to Children's Literature

Click on individual resources to access them directly online or click on the accompanying "+" to learn more.

Key Resources

• Literature Criticism Online [+]
  Provides Online access to the content of the following reference works on literature: Twentieth-century literary criticism, Nineteenth-century literature criticism, Literature criticism 1400-1800, Shakespeare criticism, Contemporary literary criticism, and Children's literature review.

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• Oxford Companion to Children's Literature, The [HIL-REF PN1008.5 .C37 1999] [+]

  Dig into almost 2,000 entries in this bulging resource, where Anne of Green Gables rubs elbows with the Lord of the Rings, Mother Goose with Punch and Judy, Hans Christian Andersen with Christina Rossetti, and Maurice Sendak with Kate Greenaway. It's thorough -- and indispensable for teachers, librarians, and parents. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature [HIL-REF PN1008.5 .O94 2006 (4 vols.)] [+]

  Contains brief entries on genres, issues and individual authors.

• Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, The [HIL-REF PN1008.5 .C66 2001] [+]

  This reprint from 2001 lists 97 topics and 1200 entries on authors and illustrators of literature for children and young adults around the world over a period of 150 years, mainly in the English language. Author and illustrator listings include date and place of birth and death, biographical information, critical considerations of their works, achievements, awards, and bibliographies. Indexed topics in the encyclopedia range from genres to books as films, Disney, censorship, specific awards, and young adult literature. Cullinan is a writer and editor, and Person is a children's librarian. Annotation #169;2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com) Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• Canadian Children's Books: A Critical Guide to Authors and Illustrators [HIL-REF PS8081 .S75 2000] [+]

  This book provides teachers, librarians, and other educators, parents and relatives, and students with a comprehensive and detailed examination of Canadian children's books. Each of the 133 entries on authors and illustrators presents factual and critical information along multiple dimensions. In addition to authors and illustrators of historical and contemporary importance in the English mainstream, creators of ethnic, Aboriginal, and French-Canadian origin also are included. There are representatives of regions--the North, the East, the West, and the rest between--and of all genres: retold folktales and myths, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, sports, wilderness adventure, animal epic, chapter books, picture books, poetry, stories for reluctant readers. Appendices list the winners of the major English-Canadian children's book awards and sources for further reading. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• Children's Literature: Critical Concepts in Literary and Cultural Studies [HIL-REF PN1009 .A1 C455 2006 (4 vols.)] [+]

  Edited by Peter Hunt. A compedium of theoretical articles on key issues in children's literature.

• A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature [HIL-REF PN1009 .A1 L84 2007] [+]

  Contains chapters which describe and define the key elements that comprise children's literature such as plot, theme, and character.

Additional Resources

• Twentieth-Century Children's Writers [HIL-REF PN1009 .A1 T9 1995] [+]

  New edition of a hefty volume featuring alphabetically arranged entries for approximately 800 English-language children's book writers and briefer entries for about 60 foreign-language authors. Entries include the authors' vital statistics, publications for children and for adults, a statement by the author about his or her work and inspiration, and a signed contributed essay of 500-1,000 words. A number of authors considered primarily writers for young adults who were included in previous editions of this work can now be found in a companion volume Twentieth-Century Young Adult Writers, first published in 1994. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• Children's Books, Awards & Prizes: Includes Prizes and Awards for Young Adult Books [HIL-REF PN1009 .A1 C418 1996] [+]

  Covers 213 awards and prizes in four sections: United States awards selected by adults; United States awards selected by young readers; Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and United Kingdom awards; and selected international and multinational awards. Entries contain the author, illustrator, title, and publisher of recipients from the time the award or prize was initiated through 1996. Classified lists of the awards appear at the front of the book and are followed with lists by award type. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• Children's Literature: A Guide to Information Sources [HIL-REF PN1009 .A1 D46 1998] [+]

  A bibliography of bibliographies and other information sources written for both laypeople and professionals. Sources include references to fiction and nonfiction children's books, materials relevant to children with special needs and talents, multicultural literature, core periodicals and multimedia reviews, and nonprint media. There are also entries on biographies of authors and illustrators, indexes to various literary genres for children, centers for children's literature, and professional journals. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• Children's Literature, a Guide to the Criticism [HIL-REF PN1009 .A1 H46] [+]
• Children's Literature [HIL-REF PR 990 .H85 2001] [+]

  An historical examination of the last two centuries of children's literature in English is followed by sections on 38 writers (from Louisa May Alcott and Lewis Carroll to J.K. Rowling); 32 major works or series; and 13 topics (including fantasy, colonialism, and literacy). The historical section is historicist--Hunt (English, Cardiff U.) is concerned with children's literature against the backdrop of its own time, as well as the times of subsequent audiences. Yet, Hunt remarks, children's literature often has a long shelf life which "can be seen as the result of deliberate acts of commercial conservatism." Entries on writers are critico- literary, not biographical; and entries on works are short, addressing some combination of critical history, literary history, and Hunt's own commentary. The many and short treatments make this a reference to consult on the way to more in-depth study. A many-faceted chronology is a valuable feature. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• International Companion Encyclopedia of Children's Literature [HIL-REF PN1008.5 .I57 1996] [+]

  Eighty-six essays from around the world discuss various aspects of children's literature. Divided into five parts, they examine theory and critical approaches (definition, history, ideology, linguistics, styles); types and genres (from fairy tales and religious texts to science fiction and children's magazines); the context of children's literature (design, publishing, reviewing, censorship, prizes, translations, alternative media, libraries); applications (literacy, teaching, librarianship, bibliotherapy, publishing); and the development of children's literature in countries other than the US. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

• Something About the Author [HIL-REF PN497 .S66 vols. 1-6] [+]
• Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English, The [HIL-REF PR990 .C36 2001] [+]

  Alphabetised reference work on children's books from King Alfred to J. K. Rowling.

Click on individual resources to access them directly online or click on the accompanying "+" to learn more.

Key Resources

• Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD) [+]
  The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database contains a listing of over 900,000 children's books. Full-text reviews from a wide range of Children's literature journals are included from 1993 onwards. Major international awards, honours, and prizes are listed as well.

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• Literature Criticism Online [+]
  Provides Online access to the content of the following reference works on literature: Twentieth-century literary criticism, Nineteenth-century literature criticism, Literature criticism 1400-1800, Shakespeare criticism, Contemporary literary criticism, and Children's literature review.

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• ERIC - EBSCO [+]
  ERIC is a "bibliographic database that contains education-related documents and journal articles." The EBSCO interface also provides some full text linking.

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• Modern Language Association (MLA) Bibliography [+]
  MLA International Bibliography is a "fundamental research tool for the humanities, covers international scholarly materials on language, literature, linguistics, and folklore."

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) Reference [+]
  Canadian Business and Current Affairs (CBCA) Fulltext Reference "provides in depth access to a wide diversity of Canadian periodicals, ranging from academic titles to special interest publications to general magazines. The academic titles include the most prominent journals from the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and professions. Other magazines focus on opinion, public policy, children/youth, lifestyles, arts and culture, health, regional concerns, etc."
  
  NOTE: In certain instances ProQuest has decided to omit particular 'articles' from full-text access due to copyright restrictions or because the item has not met their criteria for being an 'article' (ie. too short, a letter, not attributed to an author, etc.).

  16 simultaneous users.

• Canadian Periodical Index (CPI.Q) [+]
  Indexes over 400 Canadian periodicals (English and French) with full-text and reports from 165 periodicals.

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• Book Review Digest Plus [+]
  Book Review Digest Plus indexes reviews of current fiction and non-fiction, and provides review excerpts as well as a number of full text reviews. Includes Book Review Digest Retrospective, covering books reviews from 1905-1982.

  Unlimited simultaneous users.

• Children's literature abstracts [HIL-REFAB PN1009 .A1 C5147 no. 5 1974 - no. 106/107 1999] [+]