CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

     This is an aspect of literature which has not been sufficiently looked into. In this branch of literary production, books are published largely with children's interests and gains in mind. The mode of writing children's literature is different from that of the adult literature. Children's literature focuses on children and portrays children in their innocence and in a view that makes them respond with imagination and pleasure. The writer of children's literature must bear in mind that the psychology of children is different from that of the adults and that their understanding of words and perceptions of situations is different from those of the adults. The aim of most children's literature is to teach morals and entertain the children.
     A literature designed for children must draw its settings, actions and events from the things the child is familiar with, like using the house, the school, the church, etc. Values must be inculcated in the child through the literature and the literature must arouse the child's creativity and imagination. Children books must have pictures to aid understanding.

STYLE OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

1. SIMPLE LANGUAGE: Simple words and sentences should be used to aid understanding.
2. PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION: Pictures of the actions and events in the book capture the child's attention.
3. It must teach morals.
4. PLOT STRUCTURE: The linear plot should be used. use of complex plot structure would confuse the child.
5. Familiar characters, settings, events, actions and language should be used.
6. It must be entertaining to arrest the children's attention.