The Routledge Companion to Children's Literature is a vibrant and authoritative exploration of children's literature in all its manifestations. It features a series of essays written by expert contributors who provide an illuminating examination of why children's literature is the way it is. Topics covered include:

• the history and development of children's literature
• various theoretical approaches used to explore the texts, including narratological methods
• questions of gender and sexuality along with issues of race and ethnicity
• realism and fantasy as two prevailing modes of story-telling
• picture books, comics and graphic novels as well as 'young adult' fiction and the 'crossover' novel
• media adaptations and neglected areas of children's literature.

The Routledge Companion to Children's Literature contains suggestions for further reading throughout plus a helpful timeline and a substantial glossary of key terms and names, both established and more cutting-edge. This is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to an increasingly complex and popular discipline.