The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature "endeavours to account for all the most significant . . . works that have played a role in the history of children's literature in the world." That said, it does have a stated focus on the Anglo-American tradition, with the inclusion of entries on English-language authors from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and African countries as well as those from other countries whose works have been translated to English. The scope of the set is impressive and ambitious, as shown by the topical outline in the last volume: it covers 39 countries and regions (for example, Arab world; China; South America, Spanish-speaking); 105 "Special Subjects and Terms" (Critical approaches to children's literature, Mad magazine, Publishers and publishing, Witches); 106 genres or types of literature (Crossover books, Graphic novels, Horse and pony stories, Television and children); more than 150 individual titles and characters (Cinderella; Hardy Boys series; Nutcracker, The; Paul Bunyan; Ring-a-ring-a-rosy); and more than 2,700 entries on authors, illustrators, librarians, and other important people (Arbuthnot, May Hill; Blackman, Malorie; Hoffmann, Heinrich; Opie, Iona, and Peter Opie; Peet, Bill; Rowling, J. K.). The chronological span encompasses medieval times through the present. A brief, readable introduction provides background for the mutable concept of "children's literature."