Children's literature continues to be one of the most rapidly expanding and exciting of inter-disciplinary academic studies, of interest to anyone concerned with literature, education, internationalism, childhood, or culture in general. The second edition of Peter Hunt's best-selling International Companion Encyclopedia of Children's Literature offers comprehensive coverage of the subject across the world, with substantial, accessible, articles by specialists and world-ranking experts. Almost everything is here, from advanced theory to the latest practice - from bibliographical research to working with books and children with special needs.(86) This edition has been expanded to nearly 700,000 words and includes over fifty new articles. All of the other articles have been updated, substantially revised or rewritten, or have revised bibliographies. New topics include Postcolonialism, Comparative Studies, Ancient Texts, Contemporary Children's Rhymes and Folklore, Contemporary Comics, War, Horror, Series Fiction, Film, Creative Writing, and 'Crossover' literature. The international section has been expanded to reflect world events, and now includes separate articles on countries such as the Baltic states, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Iran, Korea, Mexico and Central America, Slovenia, and Taiwan. The Companion is divided into five sections: 1 Theory and Critical Approaches - ranging from ideology, feminism and psychoanalysis through to linguistics, narrative, intertextuality and the theory of picture-books 2 Forms and Genres - including myth, fairy and folk tales, Iona Opie's classic account of Playground Rhymes, poetry, high fantasy and domestic fantasy, pony books, drama, storytelling, and metafictions 3 Contexts - the design, publishing, reviewing and censorship of children's books, and their relationship to television, film, awards and research 4 Applications - including teaching fiction and literacy, selecting books for young children, special needs, bibliotherapy, and creative writing 5 National and International - prefaced by essays on, for example, culture and developing countries, postcolonialism and the theory and practice of translation, over 50 essays deal with the history and current state of world children's literature from (alphabetically) Africa to the USA. Using the latest research and the resources of the major international children's literature organisations, the Companion presents a fascinating range of different ideas and stimulating voices. It remains an indispensable and entertaining reference work. Consulting Editors Carmen Diana Dearden, Banco del Libro, Caracas, Venezuela Maria Nikolajeva, Stockholm University, Sweden Emer O'Sullivan, Insitut fur Jugendbuchforschung, Johan