Foundations of Children's Literature: For EFL University Students

Abstract

Foundations of Children’s Literature: For EFL University Students introduces the study of literature for young readers through adult, university-level analysis. It serves international EFL students, assumes no previous university course in the subject, and explains necessary concepts in clear B2-oriented academic English. Fifteen chapters examine childhood and readers, literary histories and cultural contexts, narrative and close reading, reader response, picturebooks and visual storytelling, traditional and oral stories, poetry and wordplay, fantasy and adventure, realistic and historical fiction, nonfiction and life writing, comics and graphic narratives, representation and values, translation and international circulation, adaptation and digital storytelling, and the evaluation and selection of children’s literature. Students learn to compare texts and images, distinguish observation from inference, evaluate sources, and justify interpretations and selection decisions. Original teaching stories provide a shared analytical basis, while published works are treated within the evidence available for the specified edition. Chapter roadmaps, worked examples, guided activities, five Practice and Apply tasks per chapter, review infographics, short quizzes, and complete explained answers support classroom teaching and independent study. The book includes a glossary, subject index, sources, and optional reading suggestions and is planned for approximately 35–45 classroom contact hours. Part of English Language Studies for EFL University Students, Literary Studies. First Edition, Version 1 (2026). Project Director: Prof. Munassir Alhamami, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. Developed with assistance from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and NotebookLM, with final editorial responsibility retained by the Project Director. The complete digital edition is free. Original content is CC BY 4.0 except where otherwise stated; third-party material retains its stated terms. Series website: https://sites.google.com/view/els4efl/home AI-use disclosure: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and NotebookLM assisted with research, drafting, revision, visual development, and production of this textbook. ChatGPT Images created the new cover artwork, four narrative illustrations, and the artwork for the chapter and whole-book roadmaps and infographics; exact typography, teaching labels, QR codes, and instructional diagrams were prepared with layout and diagram tools. The Project Director, Munassir Alhamami, is responsible for the final editorial decisions and released version.