Asserts that apprehension of the unknown or incomprehensible that calls forth children's creative imagination, rather than comprehension or understanding, is why children enjoy poetry. (AEA)

Examines a classic text, Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses," within the context of several of Stevenson's own essays. Suggests that unlike many children's books, it was an experiment and one that Stevenson, for various reasons, including his premature death, was never able to adapt for future use. (RS)

Children's poetry no longer connotes holidays, nonsense, moral dicta, or the what's, why's, and how's of life, connotations that have frequently stereotyped poetry as sissy, baby, or boring stuff. Children's poems of the seventies suggest that any simple subject has become the province of a poem, including such topics as mud, oil slicks, sharks,…

Describes a study of the poetry preferences of 15 classes of primary school children. (DD)

Analyzes the special qualities of a number of books (especially Walter de la Mare's "Come Hither") that have delighted the author as a child and as an adult. Pinpoints three qualities: a "tough" story, precise language, and creative imagery. (GT)

This bibliography lists articles, dissertations, and books released from 1889 through 1974 that deal with children's reading interests. The publications address such topics as children's preferences in reading textbooks and in recreational reading, the reading preferences of children in various age groups, children's poetry preferences, and…

Suggests that if it is the duty of education to help children develop their powers of language and their knowledge of literature, then it is also its duty to see that poetry is presented to children, for in poetry, language is seen at its best and strongest. (HOD)

Concerned with books which enrich and preserve a child's wonder and faith, this publication explores the fanciful literature which communicates with the "inner child." Chapters include (1) "The Writers of These Books," (who have a childlike quality about themselves which sets them apart from their fellow writers); (2) "How These Books Are Written"…

Designed to appeal to children who are entering the world of poetry for the first time, this collection combines the traditional with the contemporary. It could be used equally well at home or in the book corner of a primary classroom. The collection includes poems by such classic children's writers as A. A. Milne, Ogden Nash, Christina Rosetti,…

There has been a remarkable amount of production and publication of children's poetry since the 1960s. One of the early, popular anthologies of children's poetry was "Miracles" (Simon & Shuster, 1966), with poems from English-speaking countries revealing how imaginative children could be and their use of metaphors. "The Me Nobody Knows: Children's…

This paper argues that the best way to teach reading to children is through literature that reflects children's own language and what they consider relevant. Only those materials written in a language very similar to that which the child hears and uses himself, the author argues, will serve as the best teaching devices. Since the language of…

Exploring the range and diversity of humorous literature for children, this book attempts to remedy the past neglect of children's humorous books by taking humor seriously. The first five chapters of the book discuss what children find funny and at what age, different kinds of humor found in children's literature, passages of humorous tone in…

Conceived as a twentieth anniversary tribute to the Reading Is Fundamental Program, this book contains a varied collection of stories, poems, and drawings by some of America's most famous authors and artists of books for children, relating real and imaginary childhood memories that celebrate the joys of reading and the magic of children's…

This collection of 52 articles reprinted from the "Horn Book Magazine" (1949-66) is intended to stimulate discussion on all aspects of children's reading and children's books. The articles are collected under seven headings: "Inspiration--How It Comes;""Goals and Guidelines for Writers and Illustrators;""Re-creating Other Times;""The Matter of…

Children are naturally drawn to award-winning books. Those who work with children know that the appeal of these books often comes from the shiny gold, silver, or bronze seals affixed to the covers of these special books. Teachers and librarians, however, need to be aware of the fact that the Newbery and Caldecott, and lesser known awards, are…