Warning! This unit contains mature content and may not be suitable for some students. Any student under the age of 16 who would like to enrol in this unit must first complete a Parental Consent Form.

Subject details

On completing the subject, students should:

  1. have gained a broad overview of kinds of children's literature, from children's first books to young adult literature
  2. understand a range of concepts employed in discussing and analysing children's literature, such as ideology, notions of childhood and adolescence, gender, and concepts derived from schema theory and theories of visual representation
  3. understand some aspects of literary theory currently used in discussions of children's literature, such as narrative theory, metafiction, intertextuality, and theoretical discussions of genre
  4. have attained a conceptual language with which to discuss children's literature and a level of visual, verbal and critical literacy
  5. be able to critically examine the uses of children's literature, with particular reference to social issues, subjectivity and the place of books in the socialisation and enculturation of children and adolescents.
    • Introduction: The Idea of Children's Literature
    • History of Children's Literature
    • Picture Books I
    • Picture Books II
    • Juvenilia
    • Writing by Children
    • Graphic Novels
    • Verse Novels
    • Realism
    • Contemporary Fantasy
    • Adaptation and YA Film
    • Subjectivity and Children's Young Adult Literature
    • Genre and Gender in Children's Literature
    • Conclusion

  • Study resources

    • Instructional methods

      • Discussion forum/Discussion Board
      • Online Quizzes/Tests
      • Online assignment submission
      • Standard Media
      • Streaming Multimedia
      • Web links

    • Online materials

      • Resources and Links

You must have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject:

MAQ-ENGX120-Approaches to English Literature , or MAQ-ENG110

Special requirements

  • OtherDetails -

    Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy are not permitted to enrol in OUA units offered by Macquarie University. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.

ENGX209 offers an introduction to the range of literature, both past and current, written for children, including picture books, poetry, and a variety of realistic and fantastic fictions (novel and film) for younger readers and adolescents. Key concepts and a common conceptual language employed in discussing and analysing children's literature will be introduced. Issues addressed include: the idea of a literature for children, visual and verbal textualities; notions of genre; gender representation; and the place of books in the socialisation of children.

  • Verbal and Visual Narrative Essay (30%)
  • Research Essay (40%)
  • Participation (20%)
  • Quiz (10%)

Textbook information is pending.

Related degrees

undergraduate MAQ-ART-DEG-2019

Bachelor of Arts
8 available majors
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  • Major in Ancient History
  • Major in English
  • Major in Modern History
  • Major in Philosophy
  • Major in Politics
  • Major in Society and Culture
  • Major in Sociology
  • Major in Creative Writing