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An Examination of Children's Literature
There is debate about what actually constitutes childrens literature. Most often the term is used to describe those books which are written for and read by children and have been judged appropriate for children by such authorities as parents, teachers, scholars, and award committees. Some books which were originally written for adults are now considered childrens literature. Examples include both The Prince and the Pauper and Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain. It has also happened that so called childrens books are popular among adults. Today the books are often marketed in separate editions for children, adults, and young adults. Problems with Children's Literature
Many of the books which are considered childrens literature remain popular throughout ones entire lifetime, such as Alice in Wonderland. Books that were enjoyed in childhood become classic favorites in adulthood. The fact that these novels are enjoyed by both children and adults has led to problems through the years. One recent example of this is the demand that certain childrens books be pulled from library shelves as they are considered inappropriate for children by some groups. Huckleberry Finn is an example of such a book because of the offensive language that it contains. The books in the Harry Potter series are another example of this. While these books have truly inspired children around the world to read their inclusion of witchcraft has led many to call for their removal from the childrens shelves at both bookstores and libraries. Some adults feel that the lack of reality in any work of fiction is inappropriate for children. Others feel that reading works of fiction helps to stir a childs imagination. Childrens literature is now broken down by many publishers into different age groups. In the United States the current breakdown is ages 0-5 (pre-readers), ages 5-7 (early readers), ages 7-11 (chapter books), and teen books. These age brackets are not perfect, leaving the ultimate decision of what is appropriate for children up to parents. Parents must use their religious, cultural, and ethical standards to make the best choice for their families.
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