Children's Publishing: History, Context & Craft

3 units

Publishing for children requires creativity, craft, and the ability to engage with the complex culture of childhood. This course will examine various facets of the children's publishing world-its history, its creative products, and its professional applications. In this course, we will explore critical moments in the history of children's publishing, including the innovations of notable publishers both in the Ango-American context and in East Asia, highlighting how social, educational, and technological factors impact publishing outputs. As part of this study, we will also explore current publishing houses and their philosophies, and interrogate a publisher's responsibility amid contemporary controversies. An analysis of representative and innovative board books, picture books, early readers, middle grade novels, and young adult graphic novels will facilitate a deeper understanding of genre, audience, and trends.