Children's literature takes many forms - works adapted for children in antiquity, picture books and pop-ups - and now includes the latest online games and eBooks. This vast and amorphous subject is both intimately related to other areas of literary and cultural investigation but also has its own set of concerns, issues and challenges. From familiar authors including Beatrix Potter and Roald Dahl, classic books such as Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and The Secret Garden, to modern works including Harry Potter and the Twilight series, thisVery Short Introduction provides an overview of the history.

Profiles the lives and innovative work of the following popular authors: A. A. Milne, C. S. Lewis, E.B. White, Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Maurice Sendak, and Judy Blume.