Exploring Children?s Literature: Teaching the Language and Reading of Fiction

What do teachers need to know about children′s literature? This book is based on the belief that deep subject knowledge of language and literature provides a foundation for effective teaching and learning. It provides a comprehensive guide to the range of genres and characteristic features of English language fiction written for children. Exploring Children′s Literature will help readers to:

• Develop their understanding of literature within social, cultural and political reading practices
• Extend their knowledge of language features and conventions of different genres
• Develop skills in analytical and critical reading

The case study material, investigative activities and practical exercises promote an active approach to learning.

Knowledge about language is embedded in the context of reading and responding to literature and the authors use extensive exemplification to explain concepts and terminology.

The authors focus on the range of fiction texts incorporated in the National Curriculum for England and the National Literacy Strategy, but also provides examples from world literature written in English, including American and Australian fiction. Examples from work in translation are also included.

Exploring Children′s Literature provides a good foundation for the knowledge and understanding of English required in ITT. It is designed to be used addresses the requirements of the primary core curriculum for ITT English. It is designed to be used:

• To support distance- learning
• As an aid to self-study
• As a course text.

Nikki Gamble is Director of Just Imagine, an organisation which seeks to promote literacy using high-quality children’s literature. Formerly a university lecturer and teacher, Nikki has worked in education for 40 years. She continues to work in schools on research and development projects. Nikki is co-author of the awards winning Guiding Readers: layers of meaning (UKLA Academic Book of the Year 2017).