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When studying "children's literature," there is a very important aspect within the genre that must be examined: The reader. Furthermore, there must be an understanding towards the cultural and societal implications that are placed on the reader. In other words, to understand the evolution of the mass genre that is "children's literature," a scholar must take on the daunting task of researching the cultural view of "child" as well as the books.
For anyone passionate about children's literature, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of: Children's Literature: A Reader's History from Aesop to Harry Potter by Seth Lerer. His approach to researching the development of the genre is a valuable resource. Lerer approaches the genre through historical perspectives of "child" while giving representations of the evolutionary progression within the genre from its antiquity to modern day (i.e. the times of the early Greek to the phenomenon that was/is Harry Potter). With interesting highlights, Lerer presents a book about books that not only educates, but entertains as well. His writing will grasp the minds and hearts of all avid readers out there.
As Lerer states in his epilogue, "The history of children's literature is a history of image as well as word. It is a history, too, of artifacts: of books as valued things, crafted and held, lived with and loved." (p. 322)
For anyone who had a book shape their life early on; this is a must read.
