EAC273: Children’s Literature

Choose one of the topics below for your paper.  

1. Examine the illustrations in both And Tango Makes Three and The Paper Bag Princess and compare/contrast how the use of line, colour, shape, and/or texture – i.e., the stylistic decisions behind an illustration – add to or complement plots, characters, settings, and themes in the stories?

2.   Social issues are a part of life and our society.  For example, divorce, abuse, alcoholism, racism etc.  Many authors explore these issues through novels, picture books etc.  Choose one fiction (either Charlotte’s Web or The Paper Bag Princess) and one non-fiction (either Hana’s Suitcase or And Tango Makes Three) book that deals with a social issue.  The issues should be similar in nature or complementary.  Compare and contrast how the author deals with the subject matter in each. 

3. Do you think children’s books should be monitored for violent or offensive material? Discuss the issue of censorship in children’s literature.  Choose one picture book (either And Tango Makes Three or The Paper Bag Princess) and one prose work (either Hana’s Suitcase or Charlotte’s Web) and compare the two.  You must include at least three of the following literary devices in your discussion: character, theme, plot (including conflict), tone.