Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1990-1994: Books of Recognized Merit

(Hardback)

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Description

Written for librarians, teachers, and researchers, this is the second five-year supplement to the authors' Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1960-1984 (Greenwood, 1986). Its 567 entries cover 189 award-winning children's books by 136 authors published from 1990 to 1994. Included are concise critical reviews of novels, biographical profiles of authors, and descriptions of memorable characters. An appendix lists books by the awards they have won, and an extensive index allows complete access to the wealth of material contained within this reference work. Included are alphabetically arranged entries for those works that critics have singled out to receive awards or have placed on citation lists during the five years covered by the volume. The reference also contains biographical entries for leading authors of children's fiction, with entries focusing on how the author's life relates to children's literature and to particular works in this dictionary. The volume provides a list of awards, along with an appendix classifying individual works by the awards they have won. An extensive index provides full access to the wealth of information in this book.

Reviews

This is an impressive reference work.... The authors' objective, critical insight into each work sets this apart from standard plot-summary reference guides. The writing is clear and direct...It is a welcome and useful critical guide to quality fiction for young adults.-Catholic LIbrary World
This scholarly yet user-friendly reference volume is a treasure for librarians, teachers, and students....it presents nearly 600 detailed entries for titles, authors, main characers, and settings for 189 outstanding children's books....Title entries are beautifully written, each offering such detailed commentary on plot, theme, significant scenes, and literary value, that it stands alone as an insightful review of the work. Author entries focus on the authors' feeling for their craft and for the novels included in this volume. These profiles are much richer than those found in general biographical sources....Extensive index cross-references provide access to such elements as genre, subject matter, and time period, making the index a valuable tool for book selection and reader's advisory....the book is an impressive, well-researched resource that testifies to the authors' expertise and love for their work....Recommended.-The Book Report
This Dictionary...promises to be an invaluable guide to research for advocates, educators and students of literature for young adults.... Highly recommended for academic, public and school libraries or media centers.-Voya
"This is an impressive reference work.... The authors' objective, critical insight into each work sets this apart from standard plot-summary reference guides. The writing is clear and direct...It is a welcome and useful critical guide to quality fiction for young adults."-Catholic LIbrary World
"This Dictionary...promises to be an invaluable guide to research for advocates, educators and students of literature for young adults.... Highly recommended for academic, public and school libraries or media centers."-Voya
"This scholarly yet user-friendly reference volume is a treasure for librarians, teachers, and students....it presents nearly 600 detailed entries for titles, authors, main characers, and settings for 189 outstanding children's books....Title entries are beautifully written, each offering such detailed commentary on plot, theme, significant scenes, and literary value, that it stands alone as an insightful review of the work. Author entries focus on the authors' feeling for their craft and for the novels included in this volume. These profiles are much richer than those found in general biographical sources....Extensive index cross-references provide access to such elements as genre, subject matter, and time period, making the index a valuable tool for book selection and reader's advisory....the book is an impressive, well-researched resource that testifies to the authors' expertise and love for their work....Recommended."-The Book Report

Author Bio

ALETHEA K. HELBIG is Professor of English Language and Literature at Eastern Michigan University. A former president of the Children's Literature Association, she has published more than one hundred articles in professional journals such as Children's Literature, and The Children's Literature Association Quarterly and reference books such as American Women Writers, Writers for Children, and Masterplots. AGNES REGAN PERKINS is Professor Emeritus of English Language and Literature at Eastern Michigan University. She has published numerous articles in journals and reference books, including A Tolkien Compass, Unicorn, Children's Literature, The Children's Literature Association Quarterly, Writers for Children, and Masterplots. She is co-compiler of the poetry anthologies New Coats and Strange Harbors (with Helen Hill), Straight on Till Morning, and Dusk to Dawn (both with Hill and Alethea Helbig). Books written by Helbig and Perkins include: This Land Is Our Land: A Guide to Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults (1994), Dictionary of Children's Fiction from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and Selected African Countries (1992), and Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1985-1989 (1993), all published by Greenwood Press.