What exactly is a children’s book? How is children’s literature defined as a genre? A leading scholar presents close readings of six classic stories to answer these questions and offer a clear definition of children’s writing as a distinct literary form. Perry Nodelman begins by considering the plots, themes, and structures of six works: "The Purple Jar," Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Doolittle, Henry Huggins, The Snowy Day, and Plain City—all written for young people of varying ages in different times and places—to identify shared characteristics. He points out markers in each work that allow the adult reader to understand it as a children’s story, shedding light on ingrained adult assumptions and revealing the ways in which adult knowledge and experience remain hidden in apparently simple and innocent texts. Nodelman then engages a wide range of views of children's literature from authors, literary critics, cultural theorists, and specialists in education and information sciences. Through this informed dialogue, Nodelman develops a comprehensive theory of children's literature, exploring its commonalities and shared themes. The Hidden Adult is a focused and sophisticated analysis of children’s literature and a major contribution to the theory and criticism of the genre.
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Perry Nodelman
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The Hidden Adult
by Perry Nodelman
Books Like The Hidden Adult
If you're looking for books similar to The Hidden Adult, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
A classic children's novel that exemplifies the complexity of writing for young readers. The story follows Alice's surreal journey through a fantastical world that challenges conventional narrative structures. Carroll's work plays with language, logic, and imagination in ways that reveal deeper meanings. It demonstrates the sophisticated literary techniques that can exist in children's literature. A key text that Nodelman himself discusses in his critical analysis.
Peter Pan
J.M. Barrie
A seminal work in children's literature that explores themes of childhood, imagination, and growing up. The story of Peter Pan reveals complex psychological and social dynamics beneath a seemingly simple narrative. Barrie's text challenges traditional assumptions about children's understanding of the world. It presents a multilayered story that speaks to both children and adults. A perfect example of the hidden complexity Nodelman discusses in children's literature.
Pinocchio
Carlo Collodi
A classic tale that explores childhood, morality, and personal transformation. The story follows Pinocchio's journey from a wooden puppet to a real boy, revealing complex psychological and moral lessons. Collodi's narrative challenges simplistic views of childhood innocence. It demonstrates how children's literature can communicate sophisticated ideas through seemingly simple stories. A text that exemplifies the hidden complexity Nodelman discusses.
The Uses of Enchantment
Bruno Bettelheim
A groundbreaking psychological analysis of fairy tales and their significance for children's development. Bettelheim explores how stories help children understand complex emotional and psychological experiences. The book reveals the deep symbolic meanings hidden in seemingly simple narratives. It provides insights into how children interpret and process literary texts. A complementary work to Nodelman's critical approach to children's literature.
The Child in Time
Ian McEwan
A novel that explores the complex psychological landscape of childhood and memory. McEwan delves into the subjective experience of childhood through a narrative that blends reality and imagination. The book reveals the profound emotional complexity of childhood experiences. It challenges conventional representations of children in literature. A fictional work that resonates with Nodelman's analytical approach.
Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Centrum to Child
Seth Lerer
A comprehensive exploration of children's literature from medieval times to the present. Lerer examines how children's books reflect cultural changes and societal attitudes. The book provides deep insights into the evolution of writing for young readers. It analyzes the historical and literary significance of children's texts across different eras. A scholarly work that complements Nodelman's critical approach to understanding children's literature.
The Secrets of Storytelling
Peter Rubin
An exploration of narrative techniques and their psychological impact on readers. Rubin examines how stories communicate complex ideas through seemingly simple structures. The book reveals the sophisticated mechanisms of storytelling across different genres. It provides insights into how narratives engage readers of all ages. A work that resonates with Nodelman's interest in hidden meanings.
The Art of Children's Literature
John Stephens
A comprehensive exploration of literary techniques in children's writing. Stephens examines how children's literature uses narrative strategies to communicate complex ideas. The book provides critical perspectives on genre, style, and audience. It reveals the sophisticated literary mechanisms in texts written for young readers. A scholarly work that aligns with Nodelman's analytical approach.
The Child's Unconscious Mind
Selby Wolfe
A psychological exploration of children's cognitive and emotional experiences. Wolfe examines how children process and interpret complex information through literature. The book reveals the sophisticated mental mechanisms of childhood. It provides insights into how children understand narrative structures and symbolic meanings. A work that resonates with Nodelman's interest in hidden aspects of children's literature.
Children's Literature: Approaches and Territories
Janet Maybin
An academic examination of children's literature as a complex cultural phenomenon. The book explores theoretical frameworks for understanding how children's texts are created and interpreted. It offers critical perspectives on genre, audience, and literary techniques. Maybin provides interdisciplinary insights into children's writing and reading experiences. A scholarly work that resonates with Nodelman's analytical approach.
Reading Children's Books
Peter Hunt
A critical examination of how children's books are read, interpreted, and understood. Hunt explores the complex relationship between text, reader, and context in children's literature. The book challenges simplistic views of children's reading experiences. It provides theoretical frameworks for understanding how children engage with texts. A scholarly work that complements Nodelman's critical approach.
Childhood and Children's Literature
Peter Hollindale
A critical analysis of how children's literature constructs and represents childhood. Hollindale explores the complex relationship between texts, social contexts, and childhood experiences. The book examines how literary works shape understanding of childhood and children's perspectives. It provides theoretical frameworks for interpreting children's literature. A scholarly work that complements Nodelman's critical approach.
Childhood and Postcolonial Literature
Roderick McGillis
An examination of children's literature in postcolonial contexts. McGillis explores how children's texts reflect and challenge cultural power dynamics. The book provides critical perspectives on representation and cultural identity. It reveals the complex ways children's literature engages with social and historical contexts. A scholarly work that complements Nodelman's critical approach.
Children's Literature: A Very Short Introduction
Kimberley Reynolds
A concise but comprehensive overview of children's literature as a distinct genre. Reynolds explores the historical, cultural, and literary dimensions of writing for young readers. The book examines how children's literature reflects and shapes social attitudes. It provides a critical perspective on the development of children's writing across different periods. A succinct companion to Nodelman's more in-depth analysis.
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