The Cambridge Guide to Children's Books in English is an alphabetised reference work providing a critical and appreciative overview of children's books written in English across the world. It gives due weight to the history of children's books from pre-Norman times to the present - respecting the canon but also recognising current developments in publishing practices and in children's own reading. In addition to the long established traditions of children's writing from Britain and the USA, the Guide covers the increasing range of successful children's books produced in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and India; and the exciting renaissances in children's books taking place in Ireland and South Africa. In acknowledging that a great deal of what children read has little to do with classrooms and not much to do with what is considered 'literary', the Guide contains entries on television, comics, annuals and the growing range of media texts.