This class is designed for graduate students who have not taken a class in children’s literature. The class is divided into two parts. In part 1, we deal with the oral tradition underlying all children’s literature—folktale and mythology. In part 2, emphasis shifts to written literature and is divided into three genres—fantasy, historical fiction, contemporary fiction. There are three course packs, a book of Greek myths and hero tales, and three novels: Norton’s The Borrowers, Hunt's Across Five Aprils,   Paterson’s Bridge to Terabithia. The approach is lecture and discussion. After the class, a student should possess enough basic information and critical skills to undertake advanced study of children’s literature or to enter a classroom without trepidation. It is not a course in methods of teaching; it is a literature class. There is a seminar paper and four tests.