The Routledge Companion to Children's Literature is a vibrant and authoritative exploration of children's literature in all its manifestations. It features a series of essays written by expert contributors who provide an illuminating examination of why children's literature is the way it is. Topics covered include:the history and development of children's literaturevarious theoretical approaches used to explore the texts, including narratological methodsquestions of gender and sexuality along with issues of race and ethnicityrealism and fantasy as two prevailing modes of story-tellingpicture books, comics and graphic novels as well as 'young adult' fiction and the 'crossover' novelmedia adaptations and neglected areas of children's literatureThe Routledge Companion to Children's Literature contains suggestions for further reading throughout plus a helpful timeline and a substantial glossary of key terms and names, both established and more cutting-edge. This is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to an increasingly complex and popular discipline.