Comments on: Metafiction in Children's Books

By: Bjorn Halden Parramoure

Bjorn Halden Parramoure — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 19:13:24 +0000

I'm searching for this book. Had it as a kid, and it changed my whole view of nature.

The cover has a rabbit holding a copy of the book itself, and it says, "Here is a book about a rabbit holding a book about a rabbit holding a book..."

Inside, there was a flea circus, and on the back if one of the fleas there was a tinier flea circus...

Every page had a new depiction of a self-reflexive situation.

I've been searching for it for years!

By: Erica

Erica — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 19:07:01 +0000

In reply to Lisa. Thanks for the recommendations!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 13:43:45 +0000

I don't know if you ever revisit and add to these lists but some newer metafiction books we enjoy include The Bear Who Wasn't There by LeUyen Pham, The Panda Problem by Deborah Underwood and We Are In a Book by No Willems. Thank you for your site and recommendations, I'm so happy to have found it!

By: Erica MomandKiddo

Erica MomandKiddo — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 22:11:46 +0000

In reply to Violet. No, I never did. I thought about it, sort of felt overwhelmed by which ones to choose!

By: Violet

Violet — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 03:56:02 +0000

In reply to Mom and Kiddo. I was just catching up on your posts from before I discovered your blog and was interested by this topic. Did you ever write a chapter book list on metafiction? The Never Ending Story was my absolute favorite book in middle school, but it's been years since I read it. Seven Day Magic by Edward Eager was also a favorite of mine.

By: Erica MomandKiddo

Erica MomandKiddo — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 10:25:11 +0000

In reply to Even in Australia. And how are you liking it? I love his writing, but this is my favorite of all his books.

By: Erica MomandKiddo

Erica MomandKiddo — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 10:23:25 +0000

In reply to Even in Australia.

Yes, it is. But more broadly metafiction is a style of narration in which the author self-consciously refers to its status as narrative, or comments in some way on how texts and books are constructed. Looking back, I think I might not include "Cat Secrets" in this post, although I can't remember exactly what made me include it! This is a great post and video on metafiction in children's books: http://www.philnel.com/2010/09/04/more-metafiction/

By: Even in Australia

Even in Australia — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 00:14:01 +0000

Coincidentally, I just started The Great Good Thing last night. However, I thought metafiction was fiction ABOUT fiction.

By: Mom and Kiddo

Mom and Kiddo — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:36:32 +0000

In reply to ang paris. Thanks! The feeling is mutual. :)

By: ang paris

ang paris — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:06:53 +0000

What a great post - I'd never heard of meta fiction before! Thanks for linking up to the Kit Lit Blog Hop! I was thrilled to cohost again check out some awesome blogs, like yours 🙂