Discussion on genres of children’s literature

Discussion on genres of children’s literature As we all know,genre is an important criterion which is used to categorize books according to the characteristics they share.In children’s literature,genre also plays a same role in it.In general,the two main categories separating the different genres of literature are fiction and nonfiction. However, there are many genres of literature that fall under the nonfiction category,such as children’s novel,children’s songs,fables,fairy tales,children’s prose,children’s dramas,children’s films and so on.Now I will describe three familiar genres of children’s literature,children’s novels,fairy tales and fables.This three genres are popular with the children,even the young audience,I will describe the children’s novels in detail.
As for children’s novels,in the book ”A Critical Handbook of Children’s Literature”(Lukens Rebecca J.,2006-4) has mentioned.Mrs Lukens has chapters about character,plot,setting,theme,point of view,style and tone,each chapter follows a similar format,beginning with a definition of the topic,explainning its functions and importance to literature, and concluding with how to evalute the topic in children’s novels.At the same time,Mrs Lukens shows how each topic functions in all kinds of novels from traditional folk tales to modern fantasy and realism.For example,she defines theme,describes several kinds of themes found in children’s novels,show how to evaluate thems,and also includes a discussion of didactic themes in children’s books.Tone,style and point of view are aspects of literature difficult to explain to students, yet Mrs Lukens has taken these three topics and explained them satisfyingly,citing several examples reflecting the different facets of these topics.In the chapter on point of view,she presents the various view points a writer may choose and explains the value and function of each in specific kinds of books.Her examples are fine novels in miniature,revealing not only the function and value of point of view,but also explaining how it can contribute to the overall quality and artistry of a novel.In the book,it said”we should not only notice the contents of novel and the episodes of the stories,but also we should take the time to think and appreciate the meanings of the novels. ”
According to the description,I think that when we are reading a book,we should pay more attention to the potential meanings behind the stories,instead of noticing only the meaning of the words.For example,when reading the book,"Charlotte’s Web"(Mircea Eliade,1999-12-08),I still remembered before Sherlock’s death,weaving”humble”two words,they kept in my heart and sang the praises of Sherlock.In the book,it told”Wilbur was killed on the Christmas will make bacon,ham.As a pig,the grief-stricken Wilbur seems to only accept the mercy of fate.However,tiny,little spider Charlotte said:”I save you”.So Charlotte in the pigsty weaved by human beings”.Maybe the story told a pig and a spider only from the perspective of words,but it really expressed that friendship is a miracle and eternal love,it may change one’s fate sometimes.The meaning behind the words is the real point which the writers want to transmit to the readers.
So each genre has its unique characteristics,but they may have the eternal meanings under the meaning of the words.
Reference：
A Critical Handbook of Children's literature:Lukens Rebecca J.,2006.4，we should not only notice the contents of novel and the episodes of the stories,but also we should take the time to think and appreciate the meanings of the novels. ”
Charlotte’s Web:Mircea Eliade,1999-12-08,Wilbur was killed on the Christmas will make bacon,ham.As a pig,the grief-stricken Wilbur seems to only accept the mercy of fate.However,tiny,little spider Charlotte said:”I save you”.So Charlotte in the pigsty weaved by human beings”。