Reading Children’s Literature offers insights into the major discussions and debates currently animating the field of children’s literature. Informed by recent scholarship and interest in cultural studies and critical theory, it is a compact core text that introduces students to the historical contexts, genres, and issues of children’s literature. A beautifully designed and illustrated supplement to individual literary works assigned, it also provides apparatus that makes it a complete resource for working with children’s literature during and after the course.

The second edition includes a new chapter on children’s literature and popular culture (including film, television, and merchandising) and has been updated throughout to reflect recent scholarship and new offerings in children’s media.

Carrie Hintz is an assistant professor in the Department of English at Queen's College, City University of New York.

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“I am not a fan of textbooks. I make an exception, however, for Reading Children’s Literature, which I assign every time I teach a children’s literature course. More importantly, my students are also fans: the book allows them to join important conversations in the field from the very beginning. The introduction addresses common dismissive attitudes about children’s literature, provides tools for becoming a careful critical reader, and sets up key terms. I highly recommend this book to any instructor of children’s literature.” — Meghan Sweeney, University of North Carolina Wilmington

“My deep dismay when Reading Children’s Literature went out of print increases my delight at what the new edition of the textbook has to offer. This second edition includes new material on popular culture and children’s literature, racism and racialization in children’s literature, and sustained attention to dis/ability in children’s literature. I cannot wait to dive into this text with students!” — Mary Juzwik, Michigan State University

“There’s much to like about this book. Throughout, there is an awareness of difficult issues unique to children’s literature, such as audience and selection, as well as issues like race, ability, and gender. The writing is accessible and informed by theory, but not mired in it. The new edition includes a new chapter on children’s literature and popular culture that provides language for analyzing film and television.” — Rhonda Brock-Servais, Longwood University

“Carrie Hintz and Eric Tribunella have updated this text by adding brand new content and by building on compelling existing material from the first edition. With new features like review questions and a brand new glossary of the whole book, this new edition will be sure to please those who are already familiar with the first edition as well as those who are reading this textbook for the very first time.” — Lance Weldy, Francis Marion University