Feeling Like a Kid: Childhood and Children's Literature / Edition 1

by Jerry Griswold

Overview

A lively and illustrated inquiry of how children's literature reflects the curious mind of a child—now available in paperback.

Outstanding Academic Title for 2007, Choice Magazine

In this engaging book, Jerry Griswold examines the unique qualities of childhood experience and their reappearance as frequent themes in children's literature. Surveying dozens of classic and popular works for the young—from Heidi and The Wizard of Oz to Beatrix Potter and Harry Potter—Griswold demonstrates how great children's writers succeed because of their uncanny ability to remember what it feels like to be a kid: playing under tables, shivering in bed on a scary night, arranging miniature worlds with toys, zooming around as caped superheroes, and listening to dolls talk.

Feeling Like a Kid boldly and honestly identifies the ways in which the young think and see the world in a manner different from that of adults. Written by a leading scholar, prize-winning author, and frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times, this extensively illustrated book will fascinate general readers as well as all those who study childhood and children's literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801885174
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	12/01/2006
Edition description:	20
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.68(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jerry Griswold was the director of the National Center for the Study of Children's Literature and a professor of English and comparative literature at San Diego State University. He was the author of several books and more than two hundred published articles.

What People are Saying About This

Beverly Lyons Clark

Griswold is witty and wise in Feeling Like a Kid. He ranges widely over the field of children's literature and offers telling insights.

From the Publisher

Griswold clearly knows how to 'feel like a kid,' and his analysis of why certain classics have appealed to thousands of children over the years is original and convincing.
—Alison Lurie, Pulitzer Prize–winning novelist and critic

Griswold is witty and wise in Feeling Like a Kid. He ranges widely over the field of children's literature and offers telling insights.
—Beverly Lyons Clark, author of Kiddie Lit

Alison Lurie

"Griswold clearly knows how to 'feel like a kid,' and his analysis of why certain classics have appealed to thousands of children over the years is original and convincing."

Editorial Reviews

Insightful and engaging work of original scholarship . . . so lively and so engagingly written that it will appeal to and engage the imaginations of all readers who have even a passing interest in the literature of childhood.
—Booklist

Written in the crisp, bright manner of a yet-to-be-disillusioned graduate student happening upon an exciting new subject for the first time, combined with the sage irony and impeccable background of a full-fledged academic expert.
—Rain Taxi

Each chapter sheds light on childhood in general; taken as a whole the book effectively contrasts how children and adults experience the world in different ways.
—Baltimore Magazine

A delight both to read and to hold in one's hand, this is a splendid book with beautiful binding, end papers, paper, cover, and typeface, and 30 illustrations reproduced in lavish color . . . Essential. All adult lovers and students of children's literature.
—Choice

What is striking at first sight . . . is the beautiful production of the book as an artifact.
—Karin Lesnik-Oberstein, American Book Review

This is one of the most beautifully produced books on children's literature I have ever seen . . . it certainly raises a number of provocative issues in a delightful way.
—David Rudd, International Research Society for Children's Literature

Beautifully illustrated.
—Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature

A visually sumptuous book, stunningly appointed and lovely to behold, one that is well-designed for its intended reading audience: the general public.
—Roberta Seelinger Trites, Children's Literature Association Quarterly

From the Publisher

Written in the crisp, bright manner of a yet-to-be-disillusioned graduate student happening upon an exciting new subject for the first time, combined with the sage irony and impeccable background of a full-fledged academic expert.

Rain Taxi

Insightful and engaging work of original scholarship . . . so lively and so engagingly written that it will appeal to and engage the imaginations of all readers who have even a passing interest in the literature of childhood.

Booklist

A visually sumptuous book, stunningly appointed and lovely to behold, one that is well-designed for its intended reading audience: the general public.

Children's Literature Association Quarterly - Roberta Seelinger Trites

Beautifully illustrated.

Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature

This is one of the most beautifully produced books on children's literature I have ever seen . . . it certainly raises a number of provocative issues in a delightful way.

International Research Society for Children's Literature - David Rudd

"A delight both to read and to hold in one's hand, this is a splendid book with beautiful binding, end papers, paper, cover, and typeface, and 30 illustrations reproduced in lavish color... Essential. All adult lovers and students of children's literature."

Choice

"Insightful and engaging work of original scholarship... so lively and so engagingly written that it will appeal to and engage the imaginations of all readers who have even a passing interest in the literature of childhood."

Booklist

What is striking at first sight... is the beautiful production of the book as an artifact.

— Karin Lesnik-Oberstein

American Book Review

What is striking at first sight . . . is the beautiful production of the book as an artifact.

American Book Review - Karin Lesnik-Oberstein

Each chapter sheds light on childhood in general; taken as a whole the book effectively contrasts how children and adults experience the world in different ways.

Baltimore Magazine