Children Literature

Learning Content Summary

The Children's Literature learning resource aims to provide an in-depth understanding of literature specifically written for children. It encompasses a variety of genres, including picture books, legends, fairytales, folktales, fables, short stories, fantasy fiction novels, poetry, non-fiction, and biographies. Learners will explore the criteria that define children's literature, such as simple themes, child heroes, and the instillation of moral values. The resource delves into the significance of children's literature in helping children understand the world, develop reading habits, and learn valuable life lessons. Additionally, learners will gain insights into the various forms of children's literature and their suitability for different age groups. By the end of this study, Learners will have a comprehensive understanding of the rich and diverse world of children's literature and its impact on shaping young minds.

Goals

At the end of this study, learners should be able to:

1. Define children's literature and its distinct characteristics, including the intended audience, simple themes, and child heroes.
2. Identify and categorize different forms of children's literature, such as picture books, legends, fairytales, folktales, fables, short stories, fantasy fiction novels, poetry, non-fiction, and biographies.
3. Explore the significance of children's literature in fostering reading habits, promoting imagination, and instilling moral values in children.
4. Understand the role of various genres of children's literature in helping children understand the world and learn from the experiences of characters.
5. Recognize the age-appropriate suitability of different types of children's literature and their impact on cognitive and emotional development.

Definition of Children Literature

Obi (2009) defines children's literature as "literature written solely for children." It refers to stories, poetry, rhymes, folk tales, and drama among others, specifically designed for children as the intended audience. The following criteria define literature as children's literature: first, the heroes are children, and second, the theme, which includes ideas, relationships, and language, is simple and not complex. Finally, they hope to instil moral values in their students. According to Corona (2022), most children are exposed to literature from an early age, being read books and told stories, and they will later go on to read on their own. These stories help children understand the world, and the characters teach them how to behave as people. Children's literature is classified into several categories or genres. Some are categorized based on the child's age or reading ability, while others are categorized based on the child's preference.

Forms of Children Literature

Picture books

Picture books are intended for young children between the age of 3-5 or first-time readers. They can be all pictures with no words, as in Raymond Briggs' "The Snowman," or all pictures with a little text, as in Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are." Picture books frequently include repetitive phrases to assist children who are learning to read. They can be of any genre and are only distinguished by their format . Examples of Nigerian picture books include The Tobi Series, Kob the Antelope, and Diary of a Toddler. They all focus on themes that help to develop an avid reading culture amongst children in Nigeria, using uniquely illustrated stories that depict activities or people in their environment.

Legend

This is a short story that is thought to be historical, but there is no proof that the events happened. Legends have a unique set of characteristics that distinguish them from other literary genres. You can tell if a piece is a legend by looking at the characterization, themes, and plot elements . Legendary stories are those of Robin Hood, suitably scaled to junior school children of any age, but they can normally be explored more successfully in a sustained and coherent way that makes for deepening understanding, with children between the ages of nine and twelve. Legends will provide children with endless material for their creative work. E.g. Nigerian Folktales and Legends by Cassandra Onwualu, Legends from Yoruba Land by Kemi Morgan, and legendary Queen Idia of Benin Kingdom, among others.

Fairytales

Fairy tales are stories with a lot of magic in them. They include stories about witches, goblins, fairies, and dragons among others. Magical elements are also frequently used in fairytales. Myers, (2017) stated that, while many fairy tales have their origins in oral tradition, many of them have been written by a single author. "Snow White," for example, is a traditional story passed down orally, whereas "The Little Mermaid" is a Hans Christian Andersen “Literary fairy tale,” story. Many traditional fairy tales include dark elements such as cannibalism and particularly gruesome deaths, while others end happily ever after. Other popular children's fairytales include Cinderella, the Dragon Princesses, the Arabian Nights, Aladdin and the wonderful lamp among others.

Folk tales

Folktales are instructive stories that have been passed down through the generations orally. Even though they were eventually written down, their origins date back hundreds of years. Folk tale characters are often stereotypes, such as the liar, the good son, or the evil stepmother. There is no magic in this world; good behaviour is rewarded, and bad behaviour is not tolerated. "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" and "The Three Little Pigs" are examples of folk tales. Obi also reiterated that children's tastes may shift from simple rustic tales like 'Jack and the Bean Stalk' to more literary works by Walter de la Mare, Oscar Wilde, and Arabian Nights. Folktales like Grants, monsters, and wicked stepmothers, for example, can become the source of a rather stereotyped vicarious horror, whereas a story like 'Beauty and the Beast,' which presents the horror figure ambivalently, can start a much-needed vein of new sympathy. Allegorical stories of the type of pilgrim's progress, kind of the Golden River, and The Soldier and Death; often tales of moral struggle, following the structure of an epic journey, can capture children's imaginations between the ages of eight/nine and eleven years. E.g. Ajapa the tortoise: A book on Nigerian Folktales by Margaret Baumann, Nigerian folktales and Children stories by Chinua Achebe, Yoruba Folktale: How Aayee & Aigboran became Enemies, The story of Oluronbi & Iroko Oluwere, the Spirit Tree, and An African Folktale by Willow Legge.

Fables

Fables are cautionary and instructive stories about plants, animals, and natural forces such as lightning and wind. All of these elements are human-like in some way. In fables, trees walk, the animals band together to overcome obstacles, and the elements of unseen forces purposefully cause events to occur. Fables are typically short, and they can be humorous while teaching. Aesop fable, an ancient Greek who wrote down over 600 of these orally transmitted tales, is responsible for the most well-known fables. Aesop most likely lived between 620 and 560 B.C., and the fables were already quite old by that time.

Short story

A short story is a type of juvenile literature, that accounts for past or imagined events. They are found in specialized collections but also appear in periodicals on occasion. Because they are short, these stories are usually limited in scope, many characters, and so on. Short stories have the distinct advantage of being easier to manage. A story can frequently be read to a class in one sitting or studied as a single assignment, whether in or out of the classroom. The short story can also be enjoyed by the entire class at the same time, which facilitates discussion and encourages comparison and imitation. My Naughty little sister is an example of the kind of storybook that bridges the gap between the familiar world of the average child and the My Naughty Little Sister is an example of a storybook that bridges the gap between the ordinary child's world and the unusually familiar world of little people like Peter Rabbit, little O, and the urchin. Stories within this range of experience and simplicity will continue to appeal to children up to the age of eight. Examples of Nigerian short stories for children include Listen! Mother Listen! by A.R. Olagunju, Magic Rainbow river by Mimi Werna, Pa Nase the Spider and the Village woman by Abdul Koroma, Aku and Sun Maker, etc.

Fantasy fiction novel

Any novel — or "chapter book," as they are commonly referred to in children's literature — that is based on fanciful or unrealistic events is referred to as a fantasy book. In children's literature, fantasy is common. Magic or the occult, paranormal events, science fiction, animal-based fantasy, and unusual or parallel worlds, such as the world in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, are all popular subjects. The Harry Potter books are perhaps the most well-known children's fantasy books of the late twentieth (20th) and early twenty-first(21st) centuries. Nigeria children's fantasy books include; The God and His Bride by Bebe Ernest, O.G.B.A.N.J.E (The Child of Thunder) by Ifeoma Isabella Okeke.

Poetry and verse

This is a form of nursery rhymes or lullabies are frequently the first literature introduced to a child. These types of poetic verse, with their lyrical appeal and short, direct themes, are seen by some as transitional works that prepare developing minds for longer forms of literature, (encyclopedia.com, 2022). Karen (2013) contends that children's poetry preserves the rhythms and pleasures of the body in language and promotes emotional and physical attunement with others. It is critical in creating a holding environment in language to assist children in managing their sensory environments, mapping and regulating their neurological functions, containing existential anxieties, and participating in communal life. Examples of popular Nigerian Children's poems include: Some have food but Cannot eat, oh my home o my home, Holiday is coming, the day is bright and Fair, Parents Listen to your children, Sanda Lily, Sanda Lily, Rain rain go away, all things bright and beautiful, all creature great and small, Row Row Row your Boat, Jack and Jill went up to a hill, my mother, who sat and watched my infant head, Pussy cat Pussy cat, among others.

Non-Fictions

They are a kind of children's literature that tells facts about the real world. They include informational books that explain a subject or concept for children to learn, (Cullinan, & Galda, 2002; Ashland 2022).  E.g. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lambs.

Biographies

These are a form of children's stories with a plot and a theme based on a person's life. They contain basic facts about famous people who led exemplary lives such as national leaders, artists, sports figures, writers, and so on. E.g. The Adventure of Warrior Gandoki.

Question for Practice

1. How does children's literature differ from literature intended for adults, and what are the defining criteria for a work to be classified as children's literature?
2. Name three forms of children's literature and briefly describe the characteristics of each, including their intended audience and themes.
3. How does children's literature play a crucial role in shaping children's understanding of the world and their moral development?
4. Discuss the significance of picture books in early childhood education and their impact on developing reading skills in young children.
5. Choose any fairytale or fable and explain how the magical elements or moral lessons in the story can positively influence a child's imagination and behavior.