The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature [Hardcover]

Humphrey Carpenter (Author), Mari Prichard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0192115820 | ISBN-13: 978-0192115829 | Publication Date: July 19, 1984 | Edition: 1St Edition

Now in new covers, The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature brings together all aspects of this appealing and wide-ranging subject. It's 2,000 entries range from the early romances and legends enjoyed by children (although not composed for them) to cartoons, fairy stories, comic strips, radio, and television. It includes works from Britain, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as works translated into English. The plots of major works are summarized, and full and fascinating details are included about authors, illustrators, fictional characters, genres, and important aspects of children's play and learning. Remember...* Thomas the Tank Engine *The Eagle *Emil and the Detectives * William * The Would-be-Goods * Charlie and the Chocalate Factory * The Secret Garden This book is intended for parents, teachers, librarians; general readers with nostalgic interest in the literature of childhood; anyone concerned with children's educational and imaginative development.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Humphrey Carpenter's books include biographies of J. R. R. Tolkien, W. H. Auden, C. S. Lewis, Ezra Pound, and Benjamin Britten. He is the author of the popular Mr Majeika series of stories for children. Mari Prichard has worked as a broadcaster and teacher, and is now a local government education officer. She and Humphrey Carpenter were married in 1973 and have two daughters. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 602 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1St Edition edition (July 19, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192115820
• ISBN-13: 978-0192115829
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,459,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Well Written Reference Work, mostly., February 21, 2001

By 

Will Swinson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature (Oxford Companions Ncs) (Paperback)

This is a good book for fan's of Children's Literature, and it is definitely worth having, but it is not the absolute best. While reading this book keep in my mind that Carpenter puts in a great deal of his own opinion, and not what is neccesarily the general opinion in literary circles. (On a side note, it is my opinion that Carpenter's biography of Tolkien, a seperate book, is the difinitive Tolkien Bio and a must for all Tolkien fans.) But as I said in the title it is a well written work and worth having. So, if your favorite authors include C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Madeleine L'Engle, Beatrix Potter, E. Nesbit, George MacDonald and many more besides I would advise getting this book. For this same subject I also highly reccomend The Encylopedia of Fantasy and The Encylopedia of Sciene Fiction.