1 Approaching Children’s Literature // 2 History and Histories // 3 The Early History of Children’s Literature // 4 Maturity, 1860-1920 // 5 The Long Weekend, 1920-1939 // 6 Equal Terms: 1940 to the Present // 7 Uses and Abuses, Themes and Variations // 8 Conclusion: Stalking the Perfect Children’s Book // A Chronology of Children’s Literature Notes // Short Bibliography Index