Children's Folklore

A groundbreaking collection of essays on a hitherto underexplored subject that challenges the existing stereotypical views of the trivial and innocent nature of children's culture this work reveals for the first time the artistic and complex interactions among children. Based on research of scholars from such diverse fields as American studies anthropology education folklore psychology and sociology this volume represents a radical new attempt to redefine and reinterpret the expressive behaviors of children. The book is divided into four major sections: history methodology genres and setting with a concluding chapter on theory. Each section is introduced by an overview by Brian Sutton-Smith. The accompanying bibliography lists historical references through the present representing works by scholars for over 100 years.