Children’s literature. Thirty years of studies in Italy

Abstract

In Italy, critical studies on children’s literature have undergone a significant increase in quality and quantity since the 1970s. This evolutionary path of criticism has been based above all on a re-evaluation of the role of illustrations, the identity of the child reader and the opportunity to bring historical research into line with current pedagogical practices. In recent years, children’s literature as a subject of research has proven to be an extraordinary source of information for gaining a better understanding of the history of cultural processes and investigating the origins of the major issues in contemporary education.