Constructing the Canon of Children's Literature

This incisive study dismantles the myth of a timeless, objective children's literary canon, revealing it instead as a dynamic construct shaped by powerful cultural institutions. Anne Lundin meticulously traces how schools, libraries, and media outlets have historically collaborated to anoint certain titles as "classics" while excluding others. Her pioneering analysis provides a crucial framework for understanding that the books we deem essential for young readers are not born, but made, through a complex interplay of professional and societal forces. This is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the politics and power dynamics behind children's literature.

Lundin’s work is particularly vital for aspiring librarians, educators, and scholars, offering them the critical tools to question the received wisdom of the literary establishment. By including a comprehensive list of historically canonical titles, she provides both the evidence for her argument and a practical resource for further study. This book fundamentally shifts the conversation from what is in the canon to why it's there, empowering a new generation to critically engage with the past and consciously shape the future of children's literary heritage.