Introductory Readings

Online & Open Access

A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Childhood” – a brief overview from HRAF

Why Anthropology of Childhood? A Brief History of an Emerging Discipline” by David Lancy. 2012, AnthropoChildren (1) [Open Access]. 

Edited Volumes / Survey Texts / Introductory Articles

coverBluebond-Langner, Myra, and Jill Korbin. 2007. Challenges and Opportunities in the Anthropology of Childhoods: An Introduction to ‘Children, Childhoods, and Childhood studies. American Anthropologist 109(2): 241–246.

James, Allison, and James, Adrian. 2008. Key Concepts in Childhood Studies. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

anthro of childhood cherubs chattel bookLancy, David F., John Bock, and Suzanne Gaskins, eds., 2010. The Anthropology of Learning in Childhood. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.

Lancy, David F. 2008. The Anthropology of Childhood: Cherubs, Chattel, Changelings. New York: Cambridge University Press.

anthro and child dev reader bookLeVine, Robert A. &  Rebecca S. New, eds. 2008. Anthropology and Child Development: A Cross-Cultural Reader. Wiley-Blackwell.

LeVine, Robert A. , S. Levine, S. Dixon, A. Richman, P. H. Leiderman, C. H. Keefer, T. B. Brazelton. 1996. Child Care and Culture: Lessons from Africa. Cambridge University Press.

Montgomery cover 5 (chosen)Montgomery, Heather. 2009. An Introduction to Childhood: Anthropological Perspectives on Children’s LivesMalden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Smith, Karen. 2011. Producing governable subjects: Images of childhood old and new. Childhood 19(1):24-37.

sociology of childhood bookThorne, Barrie. 2008. Sociology and Anthropology of Childhood. In Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society. Advameg Inc., The Gale Group, Inc.

Mayall, Berry. 2013. A History of the Sociology of ChildhoodIOE Press.

small wars bookSchwartzman, Helen B., ed. 2001. Children and Anthropology: Perspectives for the 21st Century. Bergin & Garvey.

Scheper-Hughes, Nancy and Carolyn F. Sargent, eds. 1999. Small Wars: The Cultural Politics of Childhood. University of California Press.


Do you have something you’d like to see added to our resources? Please email the content coordinator Robin Valenzuela robinvalenzuela1708[at]gmail[dot]com to contribute. 


By providing links to other sites, the ACYIG does not guarantee, approve, or endorse the information or products available on these sites.

One thought on “Introductory Readings”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *