Only Connect: Readings on Children’’s Literature

First published in 1969, Only Connect is widely accepted as an essential volume for everyone concerned with children’s and young adults’ literature. This new edition offers a new selection of more than 40 essays and brief studies on history and criticism, literary standards, changing tastes, science fiction, young adult literature, fantasy, the problem novel, racism, and sexism. None of the articles have been featured in either of the previous two editions. Among the essayists are Joan Aiken, Margaret Mahy, P.L. Travers, Perry Nodelman, Brian Attebery, John Rowe Townsend, Myra Cohn Livingston, Peter Hunt, and Jane Yolen. Its assembled learning, common sense, and wit are certain to help librarians, authors, critics, and parents ＂connect＂ with children’s literature, and thus with the children themselves.

Sheila Egoff is the author of Thursday’s Child: Trends and Patterns of Contemporary Children’s Literature and Worlds Within: Children’s Fantasy from the Middle Ages to Today and co-author (with Judith Saltman) of The New Republic of Childhood: A Critical Guide to Canadian Children’s Literature inEnglish. She is Professor Emerita of the School of Librarianship, University of British Columbia. G.T. Stubbs, L.F. Ashley and Wendy Sutton are professors in the Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia