Children's Literature and National Identity Book

How do young readers see themselves and "others" in the texts they are encouraged to read? How are their sympathies recruited in tales of wars and conflicts ? Where do their loyalties lie? How do they approach and interpret books in translation? How do writers in other European countries portray adults? How universal are fairy tales? Books for children and young adults are deeply embedded in the culture and language of their origins. Although the multicultural nature of the UK is now more positively reflected in their children's books and the fact that there are many "Englishes" is acknowledged, the Englishness of English books is still strong. The questions of national identity and children's literature are considered by European writers from their own perspectives, to highlight what is often taken for granted about "other" in relation to "ourselves" and vice versa. Gathered here by renowned author Margaret Meek of the Institute of Education, University of London, the contributors include: Anthea Bell, famous translator of Asterix Penni Cotton, who ran EU-funded seminars on the international use of children's literature Robert Dunbar of Dublin, who examines traditional Irish children's literature and identity Carol Fox of early storytelling fame, who has been studying East European children's books about war Judith Graham of Roehampton Institute, looking at picture books Anna Jaszo of Budapest University, writing on international reading Gillian Lathey of Roehampton Institute, promoting European children's literature Francis Marcoin, critical theorist at the University of Artois Emer O'Sullivan, children's literature expert at Goethe University in Frankfurt Carla Poesio, a picture book specialist from Florence Morag Styles, who applies her expertise in children's poetry to the theme of national identity and Janet White of the QCA, who started inquiring into this topic and drew Margaret Meek into it.Read More