title: A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature (9th Edition)
author:  Rebecca J. Lukens 
description: <P style="MARGIN: 0px">This highly regarded resource gives future teachers, practicing teachers, librarians, and parents numerous examples of quality children&rsquo;s literature to help them select the best books for the classroom, library, or home. The <I>Handbook</I> analyzes children&rsquo;s books that the authors recommend as positive examples of the literary elements, formats, and genres that are the focus in the field of children&rsquo;s literature. The children&rsquo;s books are noteworthy titles, from classics to favorites to those just published, all selected because they are thought-provoking, important, or motivating choices. The authors suggest that readers examine the <I>Handbook</I> and then apply the literary concepts to additional reading from today&rsquo;s ever-expanding selection of children&rsquo;s books. </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">This Ninth Edition includes some outstanding new features, among them:</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B>Chapter 2, <I>Issues and Fundamental Change in Children&rsquo;s Literature</I> </B>, shares research on effects ofthe digital age on children&rsquo;s books, ways children interact with wordless picturebooks, graphic and verse novels, blended genres and postmodern picturebooks.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B>Inquiry Points in every chapter</B> <B>engage and motivate</B> readers to examine important concepts, clarify literary understandings, and become actively involved with critically examining children&rsquo;s books.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B>Textsets of children&rsquo;s books</B>, frequently annotated and grouped by theme, topic, genre, or perspective, are included in every chapter.&nbsp; These sets of related books deepen readers&rsquo; understandings of the chapter content and help them learn how to construct text sets for their own professional needs.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>Many more current, culturally varied, and just-published children&rsquo;s books are discussed throughout</B> each chapter; a bibliography of the recommended children&rsquo;s books appears at the end of each chapter.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B>Chapter 14<I>, Literature and Readers</I> </B>, discusses the benefits of interactions between books and readers.&nbsp; It expands the section, &ldquo;A Lifetime of Reading&rdquo; to include creating communities of readers by reading aloud, using textsets, and encouraging talk between readers.</P> <P style="MARGIN: 0px">&nbsp;</P>
zlib_text: Childhood's End
  
  By
  
  Arthur C. Clarke
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  "Fiction is more than non-fiction, in
  
  some ways… You can stretch people's
  
  minds, alerting them to the
  
  possibilities of the future, which is
  
  very important in an age where things
  
  are changing rapidly."
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Part I: EARTH AND THE OVERLORDS](Childhood_s_end_split_005.html#filepos4536)
  
  [Chapter 1](Childhood_s_end_split_005.html#filepos4815)
  
  [Chapter 2](Childhood_s_end_split_006.html#filepos15615)
  
  [Chapter 3](Childhood_s_end_split_007.html#filepos52729)
  
  [Chapter 4](Childhood_s_end_split_008.html#filepos109384)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Part II: THE GOLDEN AGE](Childhood_s_end_split_009.html#filepos151964)
  
  [Chapter 5](Childhood_s_end_split_009.html#filepos152126)
  
  [Chapter 6](Childhood_s_end_split_010.html#filepos158574)
  
  [Chapter 7](Childhood_s_end_split_011.html#filepos176339)
  
  [Chapter 8](Childhood_s_end_split_012.html#filepos216772)
  
  [Chapter 9](Childhood_s_end_split_013.html#filepos245746)
  
  [Chapter 10](Childhood