10:20a-11:35a D (30) 3 cr.
We will read a range of materials from fairy tales to contemporary
young adult fiction, with
a special attention to how successful children's literature takes
children seriously. We
will sometimes look at literary reworkings of familiar "children's
stories" to consider
questions of audience. Lurking behind our course will be a constant
questioning of the
familiar topic: what does it mean to say a work is "suitable for
children." Some authors I
am considering (I haven't made a final decision on texts yet) are:
Mark Twain, Roald Dahl,
Angela Carter, J. D. Salinger, and Francesca Lia Block. At least two
papers and one final
exam will be required.