Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to describe and analyze contemporary children’s literature in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Children’s literature in the PRC has grown rapidly during the last two decades. With increased quantity and improved quality in children’s books, literature for children is earning acceptance and respect from parents and teachers. Currently, publishers, authors, and illustrators share a strong and unified educational mission regarding children’s literature: to transfer cultural heritage, to establish moral values, to sharpen thinking skills, to expand the knowledge horizon, and to enhance language development. In this chapter we describe four major genres of children’s literature (traditional tales, realistic stories, informational books, and poetry) and examine how they fulfill their intended goals.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, R., Gafmey, J. S., Wu, X., Wang, C, Li, W., Shu, H., Nagy, W., & Ming, X. (1998). Shared book reading in China. Unpublished manuscript, Center for the Study of Reading, University of Ilinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Chen, J. X. (1994). Foreword. In Central China Chinese Language Department (Ed.), A series of selection of Chinese folk culture. China: Wubei Hubei People’s Publishing House.
Fan, F.J. (1993). Foreword. In M. Chen & M. Chang (Eds.), Zhong guo dang dai er tong wen xue jing pin. China: Chang Jiang Publishing House.
Garber, E. (1988). “My kinsman, Major Molineux”: Some interpretive and critical probes. In B.F. Nelms (Ed.), Literature in the classroom: Reading, texts, and contexts. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English.
Gardner, H. (1989). To open minds. New York: Basic Books.
Guroian, V. (1998). Tending the heart of virtue: How classic stories awaken a child’ simagination. New York: Oxford University Press.
Huck, C. S., Hepler, S., Hickman, J., & Kiefer, B. Z. (1997). Children’s literature in the elementary school (6th. ed.). Madison, WI: Brown & Benchmark.
Jin, C. X. (1994, October). Book reading in primary school. Presentation at the Children’s Literature and Language Arts Seminar. Beijing, China.
Li, Y. M. (1994, October). Genres in Chinese children’s literature. Paper presented at the Children’s Literature and Language Arts Seminar, WuhanBeijing, China.
Louie, B.Y. & Louie, D. H. (1995–1996). Chinese comics in transition. Bookbird, 33,31–34.
Louie, B.Y. (1996). Children’s literature in the People’s Republic of China. The Reading Teacher, 49,494–496.
Lukens, R. J. (1999). A critical handbook of children’s literature (6th. ed.). New York: Longman.
Nebiolo, G. (1973). Introduction. In E. Wilkinson (Trans.), The people’s comic book. New York: Doubleday.
Pang, Y., & Bang, M. (1998). Foreword. In W.J., Qin, Xiao Ren Jing Ding Bao. China: 21st.Century Publishing House.
Qin, W. J. (1998). End Notes. In W.J., Qin.Xiao Ren Jing Ding Bao. China: 21st. Century Publishing House.
Scott, D. H. (1980). Chinese popular literature and the child. Chicago: American Library
Shu, H., Anderson, R. C, & Zhang, H. (1995). Incidental learning of word meanings while reading: A Chinese and American cross-cultural study. Reading Research Quarterly, 30, 76–95.
Tso, R. X. (1998). Foreword. In W.J., Qin, Xiao Ren Jing Ding Bao. China.
Wu, X., Li, W & Anderson R. C. (1999). Reading Instruction in China. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 31, 571–586.
Zhu, S. Y. (1994, October). Children’s literature in China. Paper presented at the Children’s Literature and Language Arts Seminar, Beijing, China.
Bing X. (1949). Letters to the Young Readers. China: Kai Ming Xu Dian.
Du, F. (1997). Egg yoke. In Y.Y. Ren, (Ed.), Zhongguo dangdai youer shenghuo gushi jingpin. China: Shanghai Education Press.
Zhejiang Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1993). Thirty minutes with daddy. China: Zhejiang children’s Publishing House.
Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1987). The head-using grandpa. China: Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House.
Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1992). The answers to 100,000 whys. China: Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House.
Lin, T. (1993). Waterfall. In M. Chen & M. Chang (Eds.). Zhong guo dang dai er tong wen xue jing pin. China: Chang Jiang Publishing House.
Lin, Z. Y. (1993). Ququ chi ping guo. In G.D. Ren (Ed.), Laizi huashullin de meng mian dao. China: Shanghai Educational Press.
New Century Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1996). The language and concept development series. China: New Century Publishing House.
Shui, F. (1993). The moving flower. In M. Chen & M. Chang (Eds.). Zhong guo dang dai er tong wen xue jing pin. China: Chang Jiang Publishing House.
Ye, Y. L. (1994c) Ye’s 365 science tales for children. China: Xinjiang Children’s Publishing House.
Yin, S. L. (1960). Let the poems bear wings. China: Zhejiang Publishing House.
Yin, X. L. (1992). The wild cat has really come. In Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team (Ed.). Cai tu youer gushi 100 ji. China: Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House.
Yuan, A. L. (Ed.). (1996). The changing world. China: New Century Publishing House.
Bing Xin. (1949). Letters to the Young Readers. China: Kai Ming Xu Shu Dian.
Du, F. (1997). Egg yoke. In Y.Y. Ren (Ed.). Zhongguo dangdai youer shenghuo gushi jingpin. China: Shanghai Education Press.
Zhejiang Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1993). Thirty minutes with daddy. China: Zhejiang children’s Publishing House.
Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1992). The answers to 100,000 whys. China: Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House.
Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1987). The head-using grandpa. China: Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House.
Lin, T. (1993). Waterfall. In M. Chen & M. Chang (Eds.). Zhong guo dang dai er tong wen xue jing pin. China: Chang Jiang Publishing House.
Lin, Z. Y. (1993). Ququ chi ping guo. (Crickets who love apples). In G..D. Ren, (Ed.), Laizi huashullin de meng mian dao. China: Shanghai Educational Press.
New Century Publishing House Editorial Team. (Ed.). (1996). The language and concept development series. China: New Century Publishing House.
Shui, F. (1993). The moving flower. In M. Chen & M. Chang (Eds.), Zhong guo dang dai er tong wen xue jing pin. China: Chang Jiang Publishing House.
Tien, C. (Ed.). (1993). The children’s illustrated science series. China: The Beijing Science and Technology Publishing House.
Ye, Y. L. (1994c). Ye’s 365 science tales for children. China: Xinjiang Children’s Publishing House.
Yin, S. L. (1996). Let the poems bear wings. China: Zhejiang Publishing House.
Yin, X. L. (1992). The wild cat has really come. In Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House Editorial Team (Ed.). Cai tu youer gushi 100 ji. China: Juvenile & Children’s Publishing House.
Yuan, A. L. (Ed.). (1986). The changing world. China: New Century Publishing House.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Louie, B.YY., Louie, D.H. (2002). Children’s Literature in the People’s Republic of China: Its Purposes and Genres. In: Wenling, L., Gaffney, J.S., Packard, J.L. (eds) Chinese Children’s Reading Acquisition. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0859-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0859-5_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5274-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0859-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive