Poetry's Playground: The Culture of Contemporary American Children's Poetry (Landscapes of Childhood) [Paperback]

Joseph T.; Jr. Thomas (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 081433296X | ISBN-13: 978-0814332962 | Publication Date: February 27, 2007 | Edition: annotated edition

While the study of children s poetry has always had a place in the realm of children s literature, scholars have not typically considered it in relation to the larger scope of contemporary poetry. In this volume, Joseph T. Thomas, Jr., explores the playground of children s poetry within the world of contemporary adult poetic discourse, bringing the complex social relations of play and games, cliques and fashions, and drama and humor in children s poetry to light for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Joseph Thomas s Poetry s Playground places children s poetry in larger conversations with canonical adult poetry, with playground poetry restoring it to its rightful place in American poetry. In a methodology that deftly mixes formalist criticism with rigorously contextual analysis, Thomas maps traditions of contemporary children s poetry, while examining the institutional forces that shape literary canons. Close-reading obscenity-laden schoolyard chants alongside acknowledged masters like Robert Frost and Randall Jarrell, Thomas practices what he preaches he wants to show us the joy in taking all poetry seriously. --Philip Nel, associate professor of English and director of the program in children s literature, Kansas State University and author of Dr. Seuss: American Icon

Joseph Thomas s joyful new map of contemporary American children s verse combines serious linguistic play with intellectual pleasure. Poetry s Playground is an important, engagingly written contribution to the critical discussion of children s poetry as poetry. --Lissa Paul, professor of education, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, and an associate general editor of The Norton Anthology of Children s Literature

About the Author

Joseph T. Thomas, Jr. is assistant professor of English at California State University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Wayne State Univ Pr; annotated edition edition (February 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081433296X
• ISBN-13: 978-0814332962
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,172,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Query, July 29, 2007

By 

Joseph T. Thomas, Jr. (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Poetry's Playground: The Culture of Contemporary American Children's Poetry (Landscapes of Childhood) (Paperback)

If you have any comments about the book, or are working on new research in the area of children's poetry (especially contemporary U.S. children's poetry), feel free to contact me at San Diego State University's English department, where I start teaching this fall. Also, you may be interested in my book of poetry, Strong Measures, from Los Angeles's Make Now Press.