ABSTRACT
For good criticism, it is sometimes said, you need good texts to criticise. Many classic (and not so classic) children’s books exist in corrupt versions. There are hundreds of substantial collections of children’s books around the world, which could yield invaluable information on the history of children’s literature-and history in general-and yet they remain largely uninvestigated. The complex history of publishing for children is only beginning to be unravelled. This chapter reviews recent work on these fascinating areas.
