The Oxford Companion to Australian Children's Literature Hardcover - 1993

From nursery rhymes to epic fantasy, from picture-books to challenging novels for adolescents, reading is a crucial activity in the cultural and psychological formation of children. In The Oxford Companion to Australian Children's Literature, Stella Lees and Pam Macintyre examine the legacy and contemporary achievement of Australian children's writers. This encyclopedic reference work covers the earliest writings from the nineteenth century to the remarkable growth in publishing that followed the Second World War. Catholic in scope, democratic in tone, the Companion encompasses the most notable and influential nursery rhymes, illustrations, picture-books, novels and Aboriginal stories. Arranged alphabetically, 1600 entries cover authors, publishers, illustrators, famous characters, institutions and awards. There are entries on key Australian figures and events that have inspired children's books, such as Ned Kelly, the Eureka Stockade and the gold rushes. Thousands of individual works are discussed in succinct, learned entries. Although the focus is mainly upon individual works and careers, comics, film, radio and television are not overlooked. The Companion acknowledges the contribution of forgotten writers and illustrators such as Joseph Bowes, Evelyn Goode, Rufus Morris and Dora Joan Potter. Longer, essay-length articles examine the nature and importance of key features of Australian children's literature - annuals, animal stories, the Bush, literary criticism, fairy tales, etc. No one wishing to study or appreciate children's literature can afford to overlook this rich and varied reference book, which is an indispensable source for parents, educators and writers.