From Picture Book to Literary Theory provides teachers of secondary English from about Year 9 to Year 12 with a lively and practical means of helping students understand some of the central concepts in modem literary theory. The contemporary picture book is generally recognised as an important area of experimentation in ways of knowing and communicating, and thus provides teachers with a challenging and economical way of dealing with current theories of text production and reception. 

The book also has an 'Alternatives' section, which lists and provides activities on a number of titles that can be substituted for the titles in the twenty-three units, giving the book greater flexibility. 

The units in the book are designed for small group discussion, beginning with the familiar reader response theory, and moving on to such concepts as the distinction between "story" and "discourse", and the notions of focalisation, intertextuality, metafiction. In particular, the difficult concept of ideology is explored from many angles. 

Each unit has a page for the teacher with necessary background information, and a photocopiable activity page for students.

Picture Book to Literary Theory Contents