THE HIDDEN ADULT PB

What exactly is a childrens book? How is childrens literature defined as a genre? A leading scholar presents close readings of six classic stories to answer these questions and offer a clear definition of childrens writing as a distinct literary form. Perry Nodelman begins by considering the plots, themes, and structures of six works: The Purple Jar, Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Doolittle, Henry Huggins, The Snowy Day, and Plain City-all written for young people of varying ages in different times and places-to identify shared characteristics. He points out markers in each work that allow the adult reader to understand it as a childrens story, shedding light on ingrained adult assumptions and revealing the ways in which adult knowledge and experience remain hidden in apparently simple and innocent texts. Nodelman then engages a wide range of views of childrens literature from authors, literary critics, cultural theorists, and specialists in education and information sciences. Through this informed dialogue, Nodelman develops a comprehensive theory of childrens literature, exploring its commonalities and shared themes. The Hidden Adult is a focused and sophisticated analysis of childrens literature and a major contribution to the theory and criticism of the genre.