Children’s Literature and Literacy

Running head: CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AND LITERACY
Children’s Literature and Literacy
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1CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AND LITERACY
“A childhood without books – that would be no childhood. That would be like being shut out
from the enchanted place where you can go and find the rarest kind of joy.”
The above quoted lines of Astrid Lindgren clearly articulate the need as well as the
importance of the various literary works related to the genre of children’s Literature. In the
opinion of many people Literature forms an important aspect of life and offers an outlook or a
form of escape from the mundane realities of life (Fellowes & Oakley, 2014). Therefore,
many school as well as colleges their students to inculcate the habit of reading various
literary works on a regular basis (Gamble, 2013). The genre of children’s Literature can be
defined as the genre of Literature which “includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that
are enjoyed by children” (Frank, 2014). The entire cannon of children’s Literature is divided
into two broad categories namely “genre or the intended age of the reader” (Oakley et al.,
2013). It is to be noted that the various literary texts related to the genre of children’s
Literature not only entertains the children but also contributes to the literacy education of the
children (Oakley, 2011). This essay will try to analyze the significance of children’s
Literature in the literacy education of the children.
In the opinion of Sonya Hartnett “I believe that the only lastingly important form of
writing is writing for children. It is writing that is carried in the reader's heart for a lifetime; it
is writing that speaks to the future”. This particular statement of Hartnett provides a pertinent
account of the objective of the literary works related to the genre of Children’s Literature. It
is normally seen that the mind of the children is very impressionable and therefore the
concepts as well as ideas which are taught to them at a tender stays with for a very long time
(Dorfman & Cappelli, 2017). It has been proven scientifically that the rate of the
development of the brain is the fastest in the children in the age group of 0-8 years of age in
comparison to the other age groups (Dorfman & Cappelli, 2017). Therefore, the things which
the children come across at this tender are likely to leave a lasting impression on them for a

2CHILDREN’S LITERATURE AND LITERACY
very long time (Oakley, 2016). Thus, the various books and other literary works related to the
genre of children’s literature are not only intended to familiarize the children about the
various aspects of the world but also to provide them an effective vocabulary of sufficient
words so that they are able to communicate with their peers and family members in an
effective manner (McGillis, 2013). It is normally seen that the major problem which the
majority of the children face at the young age is the problem of communication. In the
opinion of many people the major reason for this their lack of knowledge about the relevant
words which are required for the purpose of communication (Oakley, 2016). Thus, many
people advise the children to read as many books as possible so that they develop their stock
of words in a bid to communicate better with their peers and also with their family members.
Talking about the place as well as the importance of Literature in the lives of the
individuals Saxby (1967) says “Literature entertains. It allows, too, for the re-creation of
thoughts, sensations, dreams, feelings, fears, aspirations. It causes awe and wonder. It can
bring joy.....Literature is life, illuminated and sweetened by the artist”. It is significant to
note that the present day writers of the children’s Literature books also intend to provide the
same kind of entertainment to the children with their books related to the genre of children’s
Literature (Nikolajeva, 2015). However, it is often seen that the various people try to
dispense the various literary works related to the genre of Children’s Literature as non-
significant and consider that the children should not waste their time on the reading of those
irrelevant materials (Van Coillie & Verschueren, 2014). A pertinent reply to this is provided
by P.L. Travers in the book “Mary Poppins”, “Don't you know that everybody's got a
Fairyland of their own?”. In addition to this, many people are of the opinion that the various
books and literary works related to the genre of children’s Literature help the children to
cultivate their imagination which is likely to help them in the later part of their lives
(Fellowes & Oakley, 2014). Thus, with this inherent purpose the children are taught are