Children's Literature
EDST 241Z
Winter 2026
| Section:
01
|
| Crosslisting:
ENGL 235Z |
Probably the first literature we fall in love with, children's literature shapes individuals and cultures in profound ways, giving us ways of seeing and understanding the world, investing us with important mythologies, and guiding our identities and behaviors. But who or what is a child? Who creates "children's literature" and what is a child's relationship with it? "Literature," in this case, is often pictorial as much as literate. Our intensive Winter session class will begin with definitions of the child, using images as well as historical and scholarly discussions, then move to an examination of picture books. Illustrations and fairy tales both guide lessons in literacy and language skills, and illuminate the world the child is entering. Next, we examine three authors from the golden age of children's literature in the U.S.: Louisa May Alcott, Mark Twain, and Frances Hodgson Burnett. The course moves into the twentieth century with Laura Ingalls Wilder's creation of the American frontier mythology -- and Louise Erdrich's answer to it. We conclude with Christopher Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham and J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter: a specific history of the U.S., and the allure of historical nostalgia. |
|
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA EDST, SBS EDST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
|
Fulfills a Requirement for: (Education Studies Minor)(Education Studies) |
|
Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
:
Jeff A. Menges, ed. ONCE UPON A TIME
Martin Hallett and Marbara Karasek, FOLK AND FAIRY TALES
Mark Twain, TOM SAWYER
Louisa May Alcott, LITTLE WOMEN
Frances Hodgson Burnett A LITTLE PRINCESS
Laura Ingalls Wilder, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE
Louise Erdrich, CHICKADEE
Chistopher Curtis, THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM
J.K. Rowling, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCEROR'S STONE
|
Examinations and Assignments:
:
2 essay of 3-4 pages, midterm, and final |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
: |
| Instructor(s): Karamcheti,Indira Times: .MTWRF. 10:00AM-12:00PM; .MTWRF. 02:00PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK403; FISK403; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 4 | JR major: 4 | | |
| Seats Available: 13 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 3 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
|
|