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The Journal of Children’s Literature, a refereed publication of the Children’s Literature Assembly of the National Council of Teachers of English, explores issues of current concern to scholars in the field of children’s literature, librarians, and classroom teachers—preschool through middle school.
Mission
As a peer-reviewed professional publication, the Journal of Children’s Literature features research-based and scholarly articles that explore contemporary issues that are of interest to elementary and middle grade teachers, scholars and researchers of children’s literature, teacher educators, and librarians. It also recognizes the diversity of methodologies and theories and seeks critical perspectives on issues related to race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, dis/ability, language and other similar topics in children’s literature
We value the unique position JCL occupies in the field, bridging theory and practice by publishing research-based and theoretical manuscripts that have immediate implications for the ways in which children’s literature is shared in elementary and middle grade classrooms, and discussed in communities outside the classroom.
With the November 2015 approval of NCTE’s “Resolution on the Need for Diverse Children’s and Young Adult Books, JCL is committed to the recognition of diverse voices, the support of emerging IBPOC scholars and researchers, and to excellence in interdisciplinary research and scholarship in the field of children’s literature. We therefore welcome submissions that center literature studies in relation to issues of social justice, and equity, the representations of populations that have been historically marginalized or under-represented in children’s texts and culture, as well as the intersections between popular culture and identity.
Journal information
Publication model: Subscription based
Publishing format: Online
Publication frequency: Two issues per year
Launch date: 1975 (first as CLA Newsletter and later as Ripples and the CLA Bulletin) / 1994 as Journal of Children’s Literature
Peer Review model: Double-blinded
Indexed in: EBSCO, ERIC
Journal statistics
Acceptance rate: 8-10%
Review Time: After the issue submission deadline, all submitted manuscripts will first be screened by the editorial team. Incomplete submissions will not be sent out for peer review. Any manuscript that is selected for peer review will be reviewed by at least two reviewers. Final decisions will be made approximately 8-12 weeks prior to issue publication.
Publication fee
No publication fee
Sponsors and affiliated institutions
The Journal of Children’s Literature is funded by the Children’s Literature Assembly of NCTE. The Mary Frances Early College of Education at the University of Georgia and the Berks Campus of Penn State University also contribute funds toward the publication of the journal.