Journal of Children’s Literature

Children’s Literature Assembly

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The Journal of Children's Literature is a refereed journal devoted to teaching and scholarship in the field of children's literature. It is the product of the Children's Literature Assembly of NCTE and is published twice annually. To join CLA and subscribe to the Journal of Children's Literature, click on the Membership link.

*** Call for Editor(s) ***

From the Editor of the Journal of Children's Literature (call for manuscripts)
accepting submissions until Oct. 25 (extended deadline)

As editors of the Journal of Children’s Literature, a refereed journal of the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English, we invite those interested in issues and topics related to children’s and young adult literature to submit manuscripts for publication in future issues. We request articles that are grounded in current theory and research, features about authors of children’s books, reviews of research, creative teaching strategies at all levels from elementary to college, criteria for evaluating literary works, and current issues relative to children’s literature. Submissions may be articles, reviews, interviews, letters, or essays.

Manuscript Guidelines

Manuscripts should not exceed twenty double-spaced, typed pages. Use APA (5th edition) format. Author’s name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and school/professional affiliation should be on a separate cover page. The author’s name or any reference that would en­able a reviewer to know who the author is should not appear on the manuscript. Please indicate in the cover letter which themed issue the manuscript is being submitted for. Manuscripts will not be sent out for peer review until this information is provided. All manuscripts will be reviewed by at least two members of the editorial board. Decisions will be made within 8-12 weeks of publication of the journal for which the submission was made. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Please submit all manuscripts to the co-editors, Cyndi Giorgis and April Bedford, at jcl@unlv.edu.

Note: Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Call for Manuscripts:

As editors of the Journal of Children’s Literature, a refereed journal of the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English, we invite those interested in issues and topics related to children’s and young adult literature to submit manuscripts for publication in future issues. We request articles that are grounded in current theory and research, features about authors and/or illustrators of children’s books, reviews of research, creative teaching strategies at all levels from elementary to college, criteria for evaluating literary works, and current issues relative to children’s litera­ture. Submissions may be articles, reviews, interviews, letters, or essays. Sections of the journal include:

 

· Concepts and Themes. These refereed articles focus on trends, recent research, issues of critical theory,

genre studies, and other concerns. Upcoming themes include:

 

Blurring Genre Boundaries (Spring 2010) Due: October 25, 2009 (extended deadline)
Authors and illustrators of children’s books are currently crossing genre boundaries in a variety of ways including combining nonfiction and poetry, visual and verbal texts telling different stories, multiple storylines on the same page, and novels written in verse. These authors of children’s and young adult literature are using multiple genres to tell a story. What are some of the best books that mix writing genres and how do   they impact the field of children’s literature? How are children’s literature instructors and classroom teachers Incorporating literature-based multi-genre projects into their teaching?

 

Literature that Promotes Healing, Compassion, and Activism (Fall 2010) Due: March 1, 2010 In the aftermath of disasters and other traumatic events around the world, numerous books for children and young adults are being published that deal with both natural and man-made tragedies. This literature is being written to offer information, to promote healing, and to prompt readers to think critically about the   social structures that led to such disasters as well as those that provided aid during a time of crisis. How does literature help children heal after traumatic experiences? What connections do readers make that create empathy for those who have not directly experienced traumatic events? What are some specific   examples of literature that promotes healing and compassion and possibly stirs readers toward social activism?

 

•         Creative Process. This section of the journal will contain interesting and lively refereed articles and
interviews by and about children’s authors and illustrators and their work that will give us insight into the   creative process. If possible, these interview and articles should also reflect the theme of the journal for which they are submitted. We believe that understanding more about the creative process enhances our knowledge about the literature that we share with students and that is the focus of our own   research.

 

•         A Dozen Great Books. We invite submissions of brief annotated lists of 12 great books that fit the theme

of a particular issue or another topic of interest to readers. The books listed in this feature must be those    that are currently in print. Several of these “A Dozen Great Books” features by various contributors will be included in each issue of the journal. This feature of the journal is not peer reviewed.

 

Manuscript Guidelines: Manuscripts should not exceed twenty double-spaced, typed pages. Use APA (5th edition) format. Author’s name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address, and school/

professional affiliation should be on a separate cover page. The author’s name or any reference that would en­able a reviewer to know who the author is should not appear on the manuscript. Please indicate in the cover letter which themed issue the manuscript is being submitted for. Manuscripts will not be sent out for peer review until this information is provided. All manuscripts will be reviewed by at least two members of the editorial board. Decisions will be made within 8-12 weeks of publication of the journal for which the submission was made. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.

 

Please submit all manuscripts to the co-editors, Cyndi Giorgis and April Bedford, at jcl@unlv.edu.

Two Articles from the Upcoming Journal (click on them to read the articles /pdf)

 

· Swinging with the Sweethearts: A Conversation with Marilyn Nelson and Jerry Pinkney by Janelle Mathis

· 2009 Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts