Highlights
Complete Works—the Best Value for Students
The Norton Anthology of Children’s Literature includes over 40 longer works in their entirety, from The New England Primer to Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses (one of 9 poetry collections whose texts are included complete); from Mildred Taylor’s prize-winning novel of an African American childhood, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, to David Macaulay’s picture book BAAA. See the entire list of complete longer works on the Contents page. In addition to these longer works, over 40 complete shorter works are also included, providing instructors even greater choice and flexibility.
To fill out course offerings in the novel, the anthology can be ordered with Norton Critical Editions of children’s classics such as Little Women or Alice in Wonderland at the low supplemental cost of $3 net. See the Packages & Promotions page for details.
The Visual Tradition
Giving full representation to the central role of images in children’s literature, this visually striking anthology includes over 400 images, with 60 in full color. These images range from facsimiles of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century alphabets, primers, and chapbooks—many heretofore available only in rare book collections—to selections from nineteenth- and twentieth-century comics and picture books.
Unprecedented Attention to Historical Contexts
The Norton Anthology of Children’s Literature breaks new ground in its attention to the pivotal roles played by religion, domestic culture, education philosophy and policy, literacy, publishing, and perceptions of race, class, and gender, among other topics, in shaping children’s literature and childhood itself. Section introductions, headnotes, a historical timeline, and special "Texts and Contexts" sections reflect recent research in these topics.
Likewise, the anthology pays deserved attention to historically important genres and forms such as alphabets, chapbooks and primers, and readers, as well as often-neglected ones such as comics and science fiction.
Flexible and Teachable Organization
To give instructors flexible teaching clusters within the chronological flow of the volume, The Norton Anthology of Children’s Literature is organized by form and genre, with works arranged chronologically within each section. Each section includes a "core" text or texts—frequently taught works that are included complete—supported by "satellite" texts—shorter or excerpted works that can be taught as complements or counterpoints. This structure encourages students to draw connections among forms and genres as they developed over time.
Helpful Editorial Apparatus
This undergraduate-friendly anthology provides section introductions and author headnotes that are concise yet thorough; annotations that are explanatory, not interpretive; and bibliographies selected for student readers. A timeline of children’s literature places the works in cultural and literary context.
Instructor Course Guide and Student Web site
See the eMedia & Ancillaries page for information about resources available to adopters without charge.
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