Question

In Children’s Literature: A Very Short Introduction, Kim Reynolds comments that

We don’t pay enough attention to what a remarkable cultural
resource they [Children’s Literature] are for adults and the
kind of cultural work they do for children, and the way they
have served writers and illustrators as a cultural space for
creativity, subversion, and opportunities to experiment with
new ideas.

Respond to the above statement by composing a comparative essay in which you examine how children’s literature performs the cultural work for children and adults as indicated by Reynolds. Choose three texts from this course, listed below, and demonstrate how your chosen texts facilitate cultural work for children and adults. One of your chosen texts must be Hana’s Suitcase or Little Pioneers. You may choose both if you wish.

Your discussion should respond critically to the statement above, and examine the genre of children’s literature within the larger body of literature and critical theory.
• Charlotte’s Web (E. B White)
• The Paper Bag Princess (Robert Munsch)
• Hana’s Suitcase (Karen Levine)
• Little Pioneers (Bessie Chua)
• Black and White (David Macaulay)
In addition to discussing your primary texts, your essay must cite and analyse at least one secondary source that is relevant to your argument. This should not include a dictionary, Wikipedia, and/or your Study Guide.

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