Topics in Literature for Children: Genre, Censorship, and Selection Dr. Meghann Meeusen Children’s Literature Lecture

What is Genre? A group of texts with similar enough conventions or characteristics that a reader has a set of expectations associated with books of this nature Less a classification than a series of signals to guide the reader Clues and norms that help a reader or viewer interpret it Establishes boundaries of what is possible for a work’s plot (knowledge of boundaries creates expectation)

Fantasy Elements of the magical or supernatural Imaginary world unlike the world we know Distant study, both in place and time Events or experiences that could not take place in the known world Frequently includes a quest and/or or a leaving home to go someplace magical, returning home at the end

Types of Fantasy Anthropomorphic Fantasy (Charlotte’s Web) Secondary Worlds and High Fantasy: quest and struggles between good/evil, including a serious moral purpose (Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia) Fantasy That Inhabits Our World (Coraline) Portal-Quest (Wizard of Oz) Immersive versus Intrusive Fantasy (Ella Enchanted versus Wolves in the Walls) Liminal Fantasy: “magic hovers in the corner of our eyes” (Holes)

Realism A world we already know, at least to some extent, with a faithful rendition of environments or settings An emphasis on verisimilitude, which means that events could happen Avoidance of the magical and supernatural in favor of the scientifcally and physically possible Types New Realism: taboo topics Problem Novels

Magical Realism “A matter-of-fact world in which the extraordinary exists side by side with the mundane realities of everyday life” No separate fantasy environment, but rather includes magic in our own world, similar to the intrusion fantasy Marked by hybridity (or mixture) that blurs the line between fantasy and reality Usually only one element of the fantastic– everything else is realistic, but there is one magical element

Other Genres Science Fiction Utopian and Dystopian Fiction Detective and Mystery Fiction Horror Romance Formula Fiction

Genres: Big and Small What smaller or sub-genre categories can you think of when it comes to children’s literature. Write one genre that comes to mind, and list at least three texts that fit into it (for children or adults, in print or film/tv form). What are five conventions related to this genre? Is children’s literature itself a genre? If so, what characteristics define it?

Discussion What genre does Flora and Ulysses fit into? How does it fit several genres? Pick one of the genres that Flora and Ulysses fits and answer the following by looking at it through that lens: What lessons does the book teach related to this genre? As a text in this genre, what are the three most important events of the story? How does viewing the story in this way shape what is important in it?

Censorship/Selection Terms Censorship: government restriction or legislation of materials, including the banning of books Censorship can be on a large or small scale, and while institution can engage in censorship, removal of books from schools, libraries, or stores is the most common result Challenge: a written, oral, or public request directed to a librarian or teacher that a book be removed from a library or classroom Selection: the process of choosing to include or omit certain books from classrooms, curricula, and libraries Prizing: the giving of awards such as the Newbery Medal

Awards Newbery Medal: the author of the most distinguished American novel Caldecott Medal: the artist of the most distinguished American picture book Pura Belpré Medal: a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal: the most distinguished beginning reader books published in the United States Robert F. Sibert Medal: most distinguished informational book NCTE Orbis Pictus Award: promotes and recognizes excellent in the writing of nonfiction for children Coretta Scott King Book Awards: outstanding African American authors/illustrators that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values

Newbery Award Awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children published by an American publisher in the United States in English during the preceding year. Committee members need to consider the following: Interpretation of the theme or concept Presentation of information including accuracy, clarity, and organization Development of a plot Delineation of characters and a setting Appropriateness of style Each book is to be considered as a contribution to American literature. The committee is to make its decision primarily on the text. Other components of a book, such as illustrations, overall design of the book, etc., may be considered when they make the book less effective.

Discussion Why (do you think) that Flora and Ulysses won the Newbery medal last year? What qualities do you think should be the criteria for the Newbery medal? How can the Newbery medal (or other prizing for children’s literature) reflect trends in books written for children and how society views these books?