So You Want to Write/Illustrate a Children's Book?

This blogger occasionally will attend afternoon lectures. The most recent one was "Children's Literature: Text, Subtext, and Context" by Professor of English, Children's Studies, and Journalism at Missouri Western State University, Mike Cadden. He presented a stimulating powerpoint on the boundaries of children's literature as part of the Children's Study Symposium at Washington University in St Louis.

Dr. Cadden outlined these parameters of children's literature: 1)when it looks like children's literature (text), 2) when it is about children's literature (subtext), and 3) when it is found and used where the reader expects it (context).

Text, for example, in "Pat the Bunny" has certain physical attributes like size, shape, and feel. Text also exhibits language of a certain syntax, plot, point of view, and genre (folklore, poetry, etc). Surprisingly, there is no Science Fiction within the realm of children's literature.

Subtext is the "breadth conveyed" by the text and it ranges from theme or subject at the top to morals or thesis at the bottom. The novel would be at the top, for example, "Little House on the Prairie". Morality can be shown by the folktale of "Little Red Riding Hood", which in the original Grimm Fairy Tale is about sexual predators and in the modern version is about Little Red's adventures.

Subtext is also how the topic is conveyed and can range from the radical to invisible or normal. The 1950's Golden Books on jobs portrayed women as mommies and nurses. "And Tango Makes Three" is two male penguins (fathers) raising a baby penguin (the child).

Context is the "play" of the text, that is, the readership is children. It requires a child and an adult and frequently serves both as education and pleasure. It is influenced by history, culture, and country. For example, the original tale of Cinderella by the Grimm Brothers is about vengeance against the evil step-sisters whereas the more modern tale by Piro is to teach manners.

Professor Cadden then read us "Arlene Sardine". This "easy to open" book was a Caldecott Medal Winner. Author Chris Rashka leads us in a friendly voice on the journey of a sardine through capture and canning. This anthropomorphism is not the fulfillment of a dream, but a march to her death. The audience was stunned after the reading of this book by Dr Cadden and an uneasy debate ensued among the audience members as to whether this was a children's book.

Why does it matter that we recognize the boundaries of children's literature? Dr Cadden said it matters for the selection of books at home, in schools, and in libraries; for censorship reasons; and for self-awareness of our biases. If you have ever wanted to write/illustrate a children's book, check out the children's book illustration class at the by James Ross at http://www.stlouisartistsguild.org/new/childrens-book-illustration-james-voss.