Children's and Young Adult Literature: Fantasy
Fantastic!
"One element characteristic of fantasy is the presence of magic, or any other form of the supernatural, in an otherwise realistic, recognizable world. This presence may be manifest in the form of magical beings, objects, or events, and it may be unfolded into a whole universe or reduced to just one tiny magical bit... Fairy tales take place in one magical world, detached from our own both in space and in time. By contrast, the initial setting of fantasy literature is reality: a riverbank in Oxford (Alice in Wonderland), a farm in Kansas (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), or a manor house in central England during World War II (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe). From this realistic setting, the characters are transported to some magical realm, and most often, although not always, brought safely back."
Zipes, J. D. (2006). The Oxford encyclopedia of children's literature. Oxford University Press.
Professional reading
Powerful Magic by "This dynamic book delves deeply into children’s responses to literature, and in particular, to works of fantasy. Through close observation over time of children’s natural and spontaneous reactions to books they are assigned or choose themselves, Mikkelsen demonstrates how children and adults can engage as equal partners in learning, and also provides important insights into how adults can create settings in which children can experience the joy of literature."--pub. desc.
Teaching Thinking Skills with Fairy Tales and Fantasy by ISBN: 1591583209Providing teachers, librarians, and staff development personnel with a comprehensive, step-by-step introduction to teaching thinking skills, this book - written by a former professor of Education turned national consultant and author specializing in reading, gifted education, library media, and children's literature - offers a unique approach to this important issue. Addressing over 30 skills in all - ranging from deductive reasoning to inferential and perceptual thinking - each thinking skill is presented in a one-page, reproducible format followed by several self-contained activities.
Featured title
Ariane's life is already a mess when she hears the singing. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. Ariane bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. Now she's become the prime target of the meanest clique at school. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she starts hallucinating-about a lake, a lady and a sword.
Locating fantasy literature for youth
Browse the USask Library Catalogue to locate selected fantasy literature in our collection.