A new course for spring semester, IS 491 International Youth Literature, will give students a chance to study children's literature from around the world, culminating with an optional trip to Seoul, May 22–30, after the semester has concluded.
Taught by Associate Professor Sarah Park Dahlen, the course focuses on children's and young adult literature not originally published in the United States. In the course, students will examine diverse perspectives, the current state of global children's literature, and issues related to transmission between languages and cultures. They will also explore tools for developing awareness of current international youth literature, as well as library collections, programming, and pedagogical considerations.
In preparation for a final book talk on three to four books from one country or region, students will study titles from around the world, including the Philippines, New Zealand, Greece, Egypt, India, Brazil, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. The last few weeks of the course will look at literature from Korea.
"Korean children's books are increasingly gaining international attention for their innovation and beauty,” said Dahlen, cofounder of the open-access journal Research on Diversity in Youth Literature and a 2026 Kirkus Prize juror for young readers' literature.
While many iSchool undergraduates choose to study abroad for a year or semester through other programs, this iSchool course will offer the first study abroad component since 2017.
In addition to lectures and meetings with Korean authors, book publishers, and the Korean Board on Books for Young People staff, the trip will include visits to "many places where people and books come together," Dahlen said, including Paju Book City, the National Library for Children and Young Adults, and children's book libraries and museums on nearby Nami Island.
The course is fully online and is open to both graduate and undergraduate students.