Children's book: a terminological analysis

Abstract

The article deals with definitions of «children's book», «book for children», «children's literature», «literature for children», «children's reading circle». The mentioned terms are divided into two groups. The first group includes those authors, who consider material and the structural aspects of book, its reader's purpose, printing and design. This issue was studied by S. G. Antonova, N. Z. Ryabinina, I. A. Zharkov, I. F. Pavlova, S. A. Karaichentseva. The second group considers genre and thematic characteristics of book, its effect on children development. Among researchers should be called I. N. Arzamastseva, I. G. Mineralova, S. A. Nikolaev, E. E. Zubareva, T. D. Polozova. All submitted definitions are discussed in details in the context of those tasks that solve children's editions. The author has collected theoretical and practical views of philologists, bibliologists, historians, editors on definitions of children's book and its essential meaning for each field of science. Based on scientific historicism methods and terminological analysis of general components of children edition, its material and structural sides, genre and thematic characteristics have been revealed. Functions of the children's book are determined: communicative, administrative, cognitive, educational, aesthetic ones. The article objective is studying the phenomenon complex, based on which the author has given an independent interpretation of this definition. Additional information on children's literature specific features and its «special» design is presented at National Standard GOST 7.60-90 «Editions. Fundamental types. Terms and definitions», as well as branch standards: OST 29.130-97 «Editions, terms and definitions», OST 29.127-96 «Publishing books for children», OST 29.127-2002 «Quality requirements of book and journal editions for children and adolescents». The resulting terminological analysis will be useful both for professionals of publishing and editorial business, researchers studying the history and formation of children's books, historians, as well as for teachers in the educational course «Children's Literature», «Bibliology». The conclusion is that the children's book will have a stable cover, which content and variety depends on time, professional activity of authors, artists, editors, publishers, and other persons relating to the book publishing system of the country and regions.