Children's Literature: Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends provides students with high quality critical material on a selection of important classic and contemporary children's books. From Louisa May Alcott's Little Women to J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to Melvin Burgess's Junk, each has been selected because they still find a favoured place on the bookshelves of today's children and because they are widely studied on university courses. These case studies explore children's literature across a variety of genres and ages, bringing together lively and accessible scholarly essays by leading scholars, some reprinted and others newly commissioned. The collection is supported by detailed introductory material, suggestions for further reading and a colour plate section reproducing covers and illustrations.