Children's Literature (ENGL3007)
School of Humanities and Social Science - University of Newcastle
Semester 2 / 2010

Texts

y separately published work icon Do Not Go Around the Edges : Poems Daisy Utemorrah , Broome : Magabala Books , 1990 Z232069 1990 selected work poetry autobiography children's (taught in 3 units) Contains poems and the life story of Daisy Utemorrah at Kunmunya Mission and her later work as a kindergarten teacher, writer and linguist.
y separately published work icon Caterpillar and Butterfly Ambelin Kwaymullina , Ambelin Kwaymullina (illustrator), Fremantle : Fremantle Press , 2009 Z1641181 2009 single work picture book children's (taught in 1 units) 'There was once a caterpillar who lived all alone. Everything around Caterpillar seemed large and strange, and she felt frightened of the world. Trapped and lonely in a prison of her own making, Caterpillar is crippled by her fears. Unless she can find the strength to overcome them, she will never learn to truly live.' (Source: Fremantle Press website)
y separately published work icon Seven Little Australians Ethel Turner , London Melbourne : Ward, Lock and Bowden , 1894 Z863667 1894 single work children's fiction children's (taught in 25 units)

'Without doubt Judy was the worst of the seven, probably because she was the cleverest.'

'Her father, Captain Woolcot, found his vivacious, cheeky daughter impossible – but seven children were really too much for him and most of the time they ran wild at their rambling riverside home, Misrule.

'Step inside and meet them all – dreamy Meg, and Pip, daring Judy, naughty Bunty, Nell, Baby and the youngest, 'the General'. Come and share in their lives, their laughter and their tears.' (From the publisher's website.)
y separately published work icon My Girragundji Meme McDonald , Boori Pryor , St Leonards : Allen and Unwin , 1998 Z834922 1998 single work children's fiction children's humour (taught in 8 units) 'Alive with humour, this is the vivid story of a boy growing up between two worlds. With Girragundji, the little green tree frog, he finds the courage to face the Hairyman, the bullies at school, and also learns the lessons of manhood that his father teaches him. A young boy growing up in a large family and caught between Koori and white worlds, finds his attachment to a little tree frog gives him the courage to face his fears.' Source: Libraries Australia.
y separately published work icon Ziba Came on a Boat Liz Lofthouse , Robert Ingpen (illustrator), Camberwell : Penguin , 2007 Z1380909 2007 single work picture book children's (taught in 2 units) 'A picture book about a little (Afghan) girl whose family has lost everything and their brave journey across the sea to make a new life.' (Source: QUT Library Catalogue)
y separately published work icon The Rabbits John Marsden , Shaun Tan (illustrator), Port Melbourne : Lothian , 1998 Z139449 1998 single work picture book children's (taught in 11 units)

"The rabbits came many grandparents ago.

They build houses, made roads, had children.

They cut down trees.

A whole continent of rabbits..." (back cover)

An allegorical story using rabbits, an introduced species, to represent the arrival of Europeans in Australia and the subsequent widespread environmental destruction.
Yang, Gene Luen!$! Pien, Lark. American Born Chinese. Roaring Brook Press, 2006!$!!$!!$!
Where the Wild Things are!$!Sendak, Maurice!$!Random House, 2000!$!!$!
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas!$!Boyne, John!$!Random House, 2006!$!!$!
Jingle Dancer!$!Cynthia Leitich Smith!$! !$!!$!
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain!$!Sis, Peter!$!Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007!$!!$!
James and the Giant Peach!$!Dahl, Roald!$!Penguin, 2007!$!!$!

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts

Description

This course provides a representative survey of children's literature. Topics investigated will include the nature and social context of children's literature, the relationship between text and illustration, the presentation of social issues in writing for children, the role of imagination and fantasy, and the representation of Australian childhood.

Objectives

On successfully completing the course, students will be able to demonstrate an awareness of the range of current children's literature and to engage in informed discussion of:

- fundamental linguistic and literary properties of literature written for children

- the inter-relationship of text and illustration in "picture books"

- the presentation of cultural variation, human relationships and social tensions in forms accessible to children

- the role of fantasy and imagination in children's literature

Content

The course will cover a range of topics relating to current children's literature, including:

- Social and cognitive contexts of children's literature: fantasy and realism; constructions of the child; innocence and experience; censorship; entertainment and education

- The role of illustrations in children's books

- Themes in current children's literature: growing up in Australia; multicultural backgrounds; humour and imagination; human relationships; social issues

Assessment

*Two take-home assignments, equivalent to 1500 words each (2 @ 30%) = 60%

*Essay of 2000 words = 40%

Other Details

Offered in: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004
Levels: Undergraduate
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