Provides a thorough history of British and North American children’s literature from the 17th century to the present day Now fully revised and updated, this new edition includes: • a new chapter on illustrated and picture books (and includes 8 illustrations);• an expanded glossary;• an updated further reading section. Children’s Literature traces the development of the main genres of children’s books one by one, including fables, fantasy, adventure stories, moral tales, family stories, school stories, children’s poetry and illustrated and picture books. Grenby shows how these forms have evolved over 300 years and asks why most children’s books, even today, continue to fall into one or other of these generic categories. Combining detailed analysis of particular key texts and a broad survey of hundreds of books written and illustrated for children, this volume considers both long forgotten and still famous titles, as well as the new classics of the genre – all of them loved by children and adults alike, but also fascinating and challenging for the critic and cultural historian. Key Features • Broad historical range• Coverage of neglected as well as well-known texts• Focus on the main genres of children’s literature• Thoroughly up-to-date in terms of primary texts and critical material