Oxford Companion to Children's Literature - Daniel Hahn

The last thirty years have witnessed one of the most fertile periods in the history of children's books: the flowering of imaginative illustration and writing, the Harry Potter phenomenon, the rise of young adult and crossover fiction, and books that tackle extraordinarily difficult subjects. The Oxford Companion to Children's Literature provides an indispensable and fascinating reference guide to the world of children's literature. Its 3,500 entries coverevery genre from fairy tales to chapbooks; school stories to science fiction; comics to children's hymns. Originally published in 1983, the Companion has been comprehensively revised and updated by Daniel Hahn. Over 900 new entries bring the book right up to date. A whole generation of new authors and illustrators are showcased, with books like Dogger, The Hunger Games, and Twilight making their first appearance. There are articles on developments such as manga, fan fiction, and non-print publishing, and there is additional information on prizes and prizewinners.This accessible A to Z is the first place to look for information about the authors, illustrators, printers, publishers, educationalists, and others who have influenced the development of children's literature, as well as the stories and characters at their centre. Written both to entertain and to instruct, the highly acclaimed Oxford Companion to Children's Literature is a reference work that no one interested in the world of children's books should be without.

Daniel Hahn is a writer, editor, and translator, with some fourty books to his name. With Leonie Flynn and Susan Reuben he has edited the award-winning Ultimate Book Guide series of reading guides for children and teenagers. He is on the board of a number of organizations that deal with literature and free speech.

Daniel Hahn's Oxford Companion adds up to a wonderful assemblage of past glories, present enchantments, intriguing rediscoveries, useful annotation, informed opinion and pointers to the future of a fascinating branch of English literature.
Irish Times, Patricia Craig

rarely a day goes by without me consulting this fascinating, invaluable treasure.
Joy Court, Books for Keeps

Anyone who wants to know more about the children's book world today will find this edition essential and one that will be dipped into time and time again.
Carousel, Chris Riddell

Every public library should have one [and] it is an essential purchase for any self respecting school library or English Department genuinely interested in promoting reading for pleasure.
School Librarian, Joy Court

the volume that Hahn has put together does a very good job in balancing the influential writers of the past with newer voices, and offering a real sense of how children's literature has grown over the years.
A Hermit's Progress, Victoria Addis 07/06/2015

a vast, rich yet contained network, in which new worlds can be discovered, and old worlds savoured afresh.
Times Literary Supplement, Philip Womack

an erudite, passionate dictionary of children's literature that runs from Aesop to Harry Potter... excitingly up to date
Daily Telegraph, Simon Mason

It remains an indispensable, comprehensive and readily comprehensible Companion for old hands and new, crafted with loving care. It is a distillation of knowledge of a depth and breadth that makes you boggle anew at what one book can do.
Guardian, Lucy Mangan

a learned and totally addictive guide
Times, Alex O'Connell

This is one reference work that no one interested in the world of children's books should be without.
Oxford Times, Jaine Blackman

A tremendous achievement and a very worthy successor to the original. You should buy a copy.
Achuka, Michael Thorn

perhaps best of all, Hahn has preserved the agreeably donnish atmosphere of the original version, with its long entries on obscure authors or titles all written with love as well as erudition...
I would not therefore ever want to be without the Oxford Companion, not so much despite but because of its endearing eccentricities, with its second edition admirably following up the charm and achievements of the first.
Books for Keeps, Nicholas Tucker

If you like children's books, there is no question about it; you need a copy of the second edition.
Bookwitch, Ann Giles