What exactly is a children's book? How is children's literature defined
as a genre? A leading scholar presents close readings of six classic
stories to answer these questions and offer a clear definition of
children's writing as a distinct literary form.
Perry Nodelman begins by considering the plots, themes, and structures
of six works: "The Purple Jar," Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Doolittle,
Henry Huggins, The Snowy Day, and Plain City--all written for
young people of varying ages in different times and places--to identify
shared characteristics. He points out markers in each work that allow
the adult reader to understand it as a children's story, shedding light
on ingrained adult assumptions and revealing the ways in which adult
knowledge and experience remain hidden in apparently simple and innocent
texts.
Nodelman then engages a wide range of views of children's literature
from authors, literary critics, cultural theorists, and specialists in
education and information sciences. Through this informed dialogue,
Nodelman develops a comprehensive theory of children's literature,
exploring its commonalities and shared themes.
The Hidden Adult is a focused and sophisticated analysis of children's
literature and a major contribution to the theory and criticism of the
genre.