"This exemplary contribution to children's literature studies engages both general readers—those interested in Little Women or Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Wizard of Oz, Lewis Carroll, Huck Finn, even J. K. Rowling and Walt Disney—and children's literature specialists."
"This engaging book is particularly absorbing in light of the current adult fascination with the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings titles... Highly recommended."
"Terrific and important... Clark tracks the various moves by which 'Kiddie Lit' has been diminished and kept in its place, and she does this by tracing the historical reception of a half dozen or so representative works... A 'must read' for scholars in children's literature."
"[Clark's] thorough documentation of the vagaries of the reception of 'kiddie lit' proves that our negative valuations of youth culture deserve rethinking."
"Beverly Lyon Clark has succeeded admirably in portraying children's literature as a contested cultural field and revealing changes in the meanings and relevance in children's books over the course of 150 years. Her research is impeccable; her general perspective, sound; her arguments, provocative. This is a major work in the field."
"Offers a convincing plea for taking kiddie lit seriously, and for accepting the imaginative delight and serious literary pleasures such literature can offer."
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