Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction
Children's Fantasy Literature: An Introduction is a reference work by American author Michael Levy and British author Farah Mendlesohn, published in 2016 by Cambridge University Press. It follows the history of fantasy read by children over a period of 500 years. Events covered in the book include the collection of folk tales in the 16th century, the impact of world wars on British fantasy and the American response, and the emergence of modern children's and young adult fantasy.
First edition cover | |
Author | Michael Levy, Farah Mendlesohn |
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Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Subject | Children's fantasy literature |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Publication date | April 2016 |
Media type | Print, digital |
Awards | 2017 World Fantasy Award for Professional Work, 2018 Mythopoeic Scholarship Award |
ISBN | 978-1-107-01814-3 |
The book was well-received by critics, who praised how it traced the evolution of the genre in response to real-world events. A children's literature journal termed it a "foundational text", stating that it was the first in-depth study of children's fantasy. The Times Literary Supplement called it "magisterial" but criticized the presentation of the large number of works discussed, while another critic found it stimulating. Children's Fantasy Literature won the 2017 World Fantasy Award for Professional Work and the 2018 Mythopoeic Scholarship Award.