A groundbreaking collection of essays on a hitherto underexplored subject that challenges the existing stereotypical views of the trivial and innocent nature of children's culture, this work reveals for the first time the artistic and complex interactions among children. Based on research of scholars from such diverse fields as American studies, anthropology, education, folklore, psychology, and sociology, this volume represents a radical new attempt to redefine and reinterpret the expressive behaviors of children. The book is divided into four major sections: history, methodology, genres, and setting, with a concluding chapter on theory. Each section is introduced by an overview by Brian Sutton-Smith. The accompanying bibliography lists historical references through the present, representing works by scholars for over 100 years. "This collection can (and indeed should) be used as a source for all folklorists, fieldworkers, and ethnoraphers, not merely those interested in children's folklore...recommended reading for every new student in folklore and a book that any floklorist will count as a valuable addition to his or her library." -- Journal of American Folklore