From Instruction to Delight

In this anthology Patricia Demers illustrates the development of the genre of Children's Literature, from its earnest beginnings to the dawn of its Golden Age, introducing each selection and placing it in historical context. From early colloquies and hornbooks to charming miniature libraries, the selections - many of which are accompanied by their original illustrations - provide a window through which to trace the developing concept of childhood and the cultural value of the child. This expanded third edition reflects recent important gains made in the academic study of children's literature. It also offers a number of new selections and illustrations.

From Instruction to Delight is an anthology that traces the development of the genre of children's literature from its earnest beginnings to the dawn of its Golden Age. This rich survey of children's literature from the middle ages to the mid-nineteenth century features a remarkable variety of literary forms, including fairy tales, fables, letters, and poems. Drawing on an ever-growing body of scholarship, this anthology places each selection in the context of its era and helps students develop an appreciation of early children's literature.