Dictionary of Children's Fiction from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and Selected African Countries: Books of Recognized Merit

(Hardback)

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Designed for librarians, teachers, and researchers who work with children's literature, this volume offers comprehensive coverage of a broad spectrum of award-winning fiction worthy of closer attention by scholars and further exposure to youngsters. Its 726 entries deal with the "other" English literature, comprising 263 works of fiction by 164 authors from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and selected African nations that publish books for young people in English. Books chosen for inclusion have been recognized as outstanding by library associations and award committees of various institutions, including "Horn Book" magazine, the Children's Book Trust of India, the Children's Literature Association of Nigeria, and other sources identified through the Centre for Children's Books at the National Book League in London, the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), and "Children's Books: Awards and Prizes", published by the Children's Book Council, Inc. Particular awards and citations are noted with the book entries, and a list of more than 40 with the awarding institution, is provided in the front of the volume. Entries on books include bibliography data and identify the relevant subgenre of fiction; they describe the setting in time and place, offer a plot summary, identify characters, and provide a critical assessment. The biographical entries for authors note other writings, the book's place in the body of work, an assessment of artistry and critical recognition, and influences and sources of ideas. Additional entries deal with outstanding characters, memorable settings, and key motifs. All entries are mutually cross-referenced, and an extensive index will guide the researcher to particular subjects, including illustrators, as well as broad subjects, such as books written in the first person, settings by period, genres, and themes.

Reviews

"A companion volume to the coauthors' Dictionary of American Children's Fiction 1859-1959 [RBB Mr 15 86], Dictionary of American Children's Fiction 1960-1984 [RBB Mr 15 87], and Dictionary of British Children's Fiction [RBB N 15 89], this work treats 263 books by 164 twentieth-century authors from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and selected African countries that publish books for young people in English. Helbig is professor of English language and literature at Eastern Michigan University, and Perkins is professor emerita at the same institution. The 726 alphabetically arranged entries cover such elements as titles, authors, characters, settings, and special motifs. In addition to bibliographic information, title entries contain a plot summary, a brief critical evaluation, names of sequels, and awards and citations. When a book has a different title in an American edition, the fullest entry appears under the original title with a cross-reference from the American one. Author entries consist of date and place of birth (and death), education and vocational background, major contributions to children's literature, significant factors of the author's life that might have bearing on the work, and titles that won awards. Character entries "include physical and personality traits for important, memorable, or particularly unusual characters." Books chosen for inclusion are those that have been recognized as outstanding by associations and award committees (e.g., Canadian Library Association, Children's Book Trust of India, Children's Literature Association of Nigeria, International Board on Books for Young People, New Zealand Government Publishing Awards). Because fiction ishighlighted and not illustrations, stories in picture-book form are not included. At the back of the volume are a list of books and authors by country and a list of books classified by awards. The index contains all items for which there are entries, plus major characters for whom there are no separate entries, specific place settings, settings by period, authors' pseudonyms, and genres. This volume offers comprehensive coverage and should be of value to researchers, librarians, and teachers who work with children's literature."-Booklist
A companion volume to the coauthors' Dictionary of American Children's Fiction 1859-1959 [RBB Mr 15 86], Dictionary of American Children's Fiction 1960-1984 [RBB Mr 15 87], and Dictionary of British Children's Fiction [RBB N 15 89], this work treats 263 books by 164 twentieth-century authors from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and selected African countries that publish books for young people in English. Helbig is professor of English language and literature at Eastern Michigan University, and Perkins is professor emerita at the same institution. The 726 alphabetically arranged entries cover such elements as titles, authors, characters, settings, and special motifs. In addition to bibliographic information, title entries contain a plot summary, a brief critical evaluation, names of sequels, and awards and citations. When a book has a different title in an American edition, the fullest entry appears under the original title with a cross-reference from the American one. Author entries consist of date and place of birth (and death), education and vocational background, major contributions to children's literature, significant factors of the author's life that might have bearing on the work, and titles that won awards. Character entries "include physical and personality traits for important, memorable, or particularly unusual characters." Books chosen for inclusion are those that have been recognized as outstanding by associations and award committees (e.g., Canadian Library Association, Children's Book Trust of India, Children's Literature Association of Nigeria, International Board on Books for Young People, New Zealand Government Publishing Awards). Because fiction ishighlighted and not illustrations, stories in picture-book form are not included. At the back of the volume are a list of books and authors by country and a list of books classified by awards. The index contains all items for which there are entries, plus major characters for whom there are no separate entries, specific place settings, settings by period, authors' pseudonyms, and genres. This volume offers comprehensive coverage and should be of value to researchers, librarians, and teachers who work with children's literature.-Booklist
Highly recommended for all children's literature collections.-Choice
"Highly recommended for all children's literature collections."-Choice

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 over one hundred articles in professional journals, such as Children's Literature and The Children's Literature Association Quarterly. She has also contributed to 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, Children's Literature Association Quarterly, Writers for Children, and Masterplots. She has also co-compiled three poetry anthologies, two of them with Helbig. Helbig and Perkins are co-authors of Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1859-1959, Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1960-1984, and Dictionary of British Children's Fiction, 2 vols. (Greenwood Press, 1985, 1986, and 1989, respectively).