Guides: Creative Writing and Literature: Children's Literature

Children's Literature In focus

Children's literature is an art form which, though it has a simpler voice, can communicate deeper concepts. This page provides some resources for writing children's literature.

Is writing children's stories easier than you think? Run time: 12 min 25 sec

Pedagogies in Practice collection

Find children's literature by searching the Library Collection or browsing the shelves at 823 in the Pedagogies in Practice Collection (Magill and Mawson Lakes Library).

Search tips

If you know the exact title type it into the search box and select the title option e.g. A bus called heaven
Find an author / illustrator by typing their name into the search box and selecing the author option
e.g. Shaun Tan
Try the following subject searches to find picture books in the collection: j uvenile fiction or CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia)

Resources

AustLit the resource for Australian literature

ICDL - International Children's Digital Library - The ICDL Foundation promotes tolerance and respect for diverse cultures by providing access to the best of children's literature from around the world.

National Centre for Children's Literature Databases - These databases support respect for cultures and social inclusion in the education sector in Australia and worldwide.

Project Gutenberg Children's Literature Collection - Project Gutenberg is an online library of free eBooks.

Journal of children's literature.
Published by Children's Literature Assembly
Children's Literature Review
This multifaceted resource provides researchers of children’s literature with access to a wide variety of critical information from English-language sources in the field.
Children's Literature Association Quarterly
This periodical publishes first-rate scholarship in children's literature studies. Each issue features an editorial introduction, juried articles about research and scholarship in children's literature, and book reviews.

Untapped: the Australian Literary Heritage Project - Once out of print, these lost Australian books have been brought back to life. You can borrow them from most local libraries in Australia as ebooks, or buy digital copies from all major online booksellers. Explore the collection here.

Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year Awards

Every year, the Children's Book Council of Australia celebrates Australia’s most creative authors and artists with the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

Established with the first awards in 1946, the annual CBCA Book of the Year Awards releases its Notables list in late February, followed by the Shortlist of nominees about one month later. The festivities culminate in Book Week, in mid-late August, where the winners of the awards are announced.