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Jump to navigationJump to searchThe Oxford Companion to Children's Literature by Daniel Hahn (view source)
Revision as of 12:15, 5 April 2015
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When I was a child, some sixty and more years ago, there were not many books for children or, indeed, much money to buy what was available. Forty years ago, when my daughter was a child there were more and the libraries were relatively well stocked. But in the last thirty years children's books have flourished. I'm no great fan of [[J K Rowling's Harry Potter Books in Chronological Order|Harry Potter]] but even the most hardened cynic would have to admit that the wizard has brought a lot of children to reading - and to enjoying it too. In the same period we've seen books tackling ''difficult'' subjects become mainstream and the rise of young adult fiction. From near-famine we've moved to feast, but what we need now is guidance.
Step in ''The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature''. The book was originally published in 1983 but has been completely updated and revised by Daniel Hahn, no mean writer himself, and chair of the Society of Authors. Every genre is covered along with the big-name books of recent years. There are over 3,500 entries covering authors, illustrators and characters. English language authors are covered extensively - and that's not just the United Kingdom, but also the Unuted States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. Non-English language authors who have been translated into English also feature. I was delighted to see [[:Category:Timothee de FrombelleFombelle|Timothee de FrombelleFombelle]], [[:Category:Astrid Lindgren|Astrid Lindgren]] and [[:Category:Cornelia Funke|Cornelia Funke]] for starters.
Some prizes are covered, but not all. ''The Guardian'' Children's Fiction Prize is in there (with the winners listed in the Appendix - where you'll find the other major awards listed, with their winners). There's no listing for the Waterstones Prize, but that has probably yet to achieve the critical acclaim of the other prizes which are listed.
